Homework Response 8

Ive never experience a peer workshop truly, but I remember way

back when in middle school our teachers would often let students
check other students work, primarily after we completed a rough draft
of some sort. I wouldnt really consider that a peer workshop because
the purpose wasnt to enhance another students writing, but to correct
grammar and offer little tips of advice based on how we write
ourselves. Now I have had teachers edit and revise my work numerous
times, which I honestly felt like it helped me. I mean if the teacher
offers advice and you follow it and implement what they suggested
into your paper, it just made sense that you would end up getting a
good grade, so thats why I liked it when my teachers would edit and
revise my papers. At points I didnt like it however. Some times I felt as
if my teachers were trying to not enhance my writing, but to
alter/change my writing. Everyone has a different style to writing, and I
felt that my teachers wanted us to write a certain way, like how they
write. So when they would revise and edit my paper, I often saw
them rewording paragraphs, and changing the flow of my writing.
Another annoying thing was I usually couldnt read their suggestions
because the teachers would try to cram comments in between each
line of texts. Overall, I still enjoyed my teachers editing to some
degree.
Contrary to what I believed before, there is a distinct difference
between editing and revising. Revising is more like changing the
complex of your writing, like how your words flow, placements of ideas,
and how things should correspond and go in a chronological order.
Revising in my opinion should be done after your rough draft, because
it makes no sense to basically finish up your paper, and then have the
possibilities of having to alter a lot of substance in your paper. Editing
deals more with the little conventions in your writing, like punctuation,
grammar, spelling, and anything that would help lessen imperfections
in your writing. Editing should be done when you are done revising,
and are happy with the content of your writing.
I want to implement a better use and understanding of critiquing
students work. I feel like when I revise my peers work, or they revise
mine, I dont want them to praise my writing too much, or to give a
bland explanation on what I should do to make my writing better. For
instance Straub stated you need to express what you like and dislike
without being critical (Straub 140), and I plan on implementing that as
well as students implementing that to my writing. I also liked where he
said you should ask real questions instead of simple ones. (Straub 141)
That would really help me revise my work.