Peer Critique: Essay 1, Narrative
Please read your peer’s draft and answer the following questions thoughtfully and thoroughly on a separate sheet of paper. USE COMPLETE SENTENCES. Simple “yes” and “no” answers are not acceptable. Your response must be typed. This is not a test to see if you have done things “correctly”; rather, this is an opportunity for you to receive responses and feedback about what you have written from a reader who is familiar with the goals of this assignment. After you have finished with your response, make sure your name is on the critique you have written. You will then give it back to the author, and the author will read it and make necessary revisions. Each author should have a peer critique with a name on it in his or her folder when turning in the position paper. I will look for the name on your sheet and give the appropriate person credit for completing the critique.1.Does the essay begin with an interesting title and a catchy lead-in? How might the author improve these?
Does the essay begin with an interesting title and a catchy lead-in? How might the author improve these?2.Does the writer orient the reader in time and space in the first paragraph?
Does the writer orient the reader in time and space in the first paragraph?3.Does the author make detailed observations of people, places, and events? Identify the most memorable descriptions.
Does the author make detailed observations of people, places, and events? Identify the most memorable descriptions.4.Where might the author use more description?
Where might the author use more description?5.Does the author guide you from the beginning of the essay to the end by creating scenes set in time and space? Are there places in the essay where you are confused as to time period, location, characters who are present, etc.? Identify any such places and suggest how the author might improve these. What additional information should the author add?
Does the author guide you from the beginning of the essay to the end by creating scenes set in time and space? Are there places in the essay where you are confused as to time period, location, characters who are present, etc.? Identify any such places and suggest how the author might improve these. What additional information should the author add?6.Does the author “show” and not “tell”? In other words, does the author totally recreate the scene/memory for you as it occurred addressing the five senses? Identify any areas in the draft where the author “summarizes/tells.” Suggest how they might improve these.
Does the author “show” and not “tell”? In other words, does the author totally recreate the scene/memory for you as it occurred addressing the five senses? Identify any areas in the draft where the author “summarizes/tells.” Suggest how they might improve these.7.Does the author make use of dialogue effectively? How might they improve this aspect?
Does the author make use of dialogue effectively? How might they improve this aspect?8.Does the narrator change during the course of the essay? How?
Does the narrator change during the course of the essay? How? 9.Does the author note comparisons (similarities) and/or contrasts (differences) between people or ideas or between two different memories?
Does the author note comparisons (similarities) and/or contrasts (differences) between people or ideas or between two different memories? 10.What is the conflict that the narrator faces? How do they overcome this obstacle?
What is the conflict that the narrator faces? How do they overcome this obstacle? 11. Explain how the author might strengthen these changes, contrasts, and/or conflicts.
Explain how the author might strengthen these changes, contrasts, and/or conflicts.12.Does the author make connections between past events, people, or places and the present? How might the author strengthen such connections? Do these connections emphasize the importance of the moment of discovery in some way?
Does the author make connections between past events, people, or places and the present? How might the author strengthen such connections? Do these connections emphasize the importance of the moment of discovery in some way?13.Does each scene lead the reader up to the moment of discovery? In other words, does the information related in each scene reveal why the moment of discovery is important or how it came about? Are there scenes present in the essay that are not needed? Are there additional scenes that you would like to see? Explain your reasoning.
Does each scene lead the reader up to the moment of discovery? In other words, does the information related in each scene reveal why the moment of discovery is important or how it came about? Are there scenes present in the essay that are not needed? Are there additional scenes that you would like to see? Explain your reasoning. 14.How does the conclusion bring the audience to the acceptable ending? How does the ending relate to the moment of discovery?
How does the conclusion bring the audience to the acceptable ending? How does the ending relate to the moment of discovery? 15.Does the author “show” the discovery rather than “tell” the reader what was learned? Does the author end with a memorable image? How might the author improve the ending?
Does the author “show” the discovery rather than “tell” the reader what was learned? Does the author end with a memorable image? How might the author improve the ending?16.Add any editing suggestions you might notice while you’re reading.
Add any editing suggestions you might notice while you’re reading.17.Revision plan. List three key changes that the writer should make during the revision.
Revision plan. List three key changes that the writer should make during the revision.18.What additional suggestions can you give the author?
What additional suggestions can you give the author?