peer editing

I understand that peer review is an important part of the writing process. I am would change how peer editing is done though. To start with I would have a set of two distinct peer reviewers. One reviewer would be someone in your class; this review would have to have some knowledge about the topic you are writing about. The second reviewer would be someone outside of class. The two different reviewers will help make sure that your writing can be understood by two different audiences. One of the audiences that bring to the reading knowledge that is already known about the topic of the paper and the other audience will be able to read the paper with no prior knowledge, a true test to see if your paper makes sense.

The next change I would make to peer review is the steps of revision. Each peer editor would review the same paper three times. The first time reviewing the paper, the editor would focus just of the grammar used in the paper. This step is followed by a reading and a review of the organization and structure of the paper. The second review of the paper is important; because now that the grammar is set it is important to make sure your paper makes sense. Some of the changes in this step can be to change the paper to lead with a quote instead of a question, or to change the order of your points. A lot of the changes done here goes with the psychology of the reader and how the differences in the structure and the organization of the paper can make a difference in how strong your paper is. The last step in this peer editing and review would be to read the paper to make sure the paper is written with purpose. This last step means to make sure that the paper along with each paragraph and sentence in the paper gives meaning to the topic you are writing about.

Peer editing and review is important to every writer. Throughout any peer review you do it is important to have discussions about your paper and its changes with your peer editor. The communication is key in your writing and in the editing process between you and your peer review. I would not design a class on peer editing, but in high school I would spend a two weeks to teach some of the steps in peer editing after their first paper. Peer editing and reviewing is just like the rest of life; in life to succeed you need to be able to take and use advice.