Now whether you're a student in middle school, or a professional businessman or women, everyone has had to go through the process of writing a paper and having a peer edit it. Many problems come from peer editing, including one of the biggest problems: focusing on spelling and grammar instead of bigger issues and the concept of the paper. Now I know when I read over a friends paper, I usually only look over it and check his spelling, grammar, and possibly some confusion in word order along the way. Obviously I have this process wrong and need some help, which I am working on. One should really focus on these big issues and concept problems rather than specifically only correcting spelling errors. Another idea to keep in mind is that one should grade someone else's paper as one would grade and edit one's own paper. One should also be honest with the author of the paper and tell them what is wrong and what is right, but in a appropriate manner. Many other problems occur with the way people share their comments to the author, and I happened to stroll upon a funny video that covers these ideas precisely. Here is the video for your viewing pleasure:
I hoped you enjoyed it! I thought it was pretty humorous, especially the fact that most of those kids are too young to have actually have written an in depth paper and have had it edited. But it did successfully portray the ways that an editor can poorly give his or her thoughts on one's paper. One has to be appropriate in the way that one expresses his or her feelings about someone else's paper; you don't want to look like mean Margaret or speedy Sandy!
With age comes the ability to accept criticism on one's paper, but sometimes this is not true. When a "defensive Dave" attacks the editor because they are "just to mean to them", he is making a big mistake and won't get the honest opinion from the editor. I found a funny image online that shows a little about this idea, although it is in cat form:
Well I don't know if it made you laugh but it sure got me chuckling to myself. Anyway, this image supports the idea that one should definitely not be to harsh on an author or an editor, and be appropriate in the way they portray a message. Silly Cats.
I recently went through the process of writing a large paper and had several peers, including some classmates, edit it and read over it. Although some of them gave me ideas I did not end up using, it was helpful nonetheless to hear some different opinions and go over some options for my paper. I suggest to anyone having a hard time closing up that conclusion, or figuring out that thesis statement to find a peer and have them read over it to see what they think. Who knows, maybe they will be right!
Finally, I would like to leave you with a list of guidelines to follow when you're peer editing. This list of guidelines is brought to you by Ms. Legler, my Expository Writing student teacher:
-edit the draft the same way you would edit yours
-focus on concepts; not spelling and grammar
-write comments in the margins
-use proofreading symbols
-be specific with problems and strengths; provide examples
-praise the meritorious parts of a paper
-be polite, but be honest
One last thing all authors should remember is to thank your editor for a job well done and for being honest and making your paper top-notch!
Well, that's all for this time blogging world. I will see you next time. Be safe out there.
Godspeed.
Work Cited
Video #1: Youtube.com - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBuq4qgRhCc
Image #1: Denisedumars.com - http://www.denisedumars.com/img/lolcats/wrong.jpg
List #1: Ms. Legler - Peer Editing Guidelines Worksheet - January 4th, 2011
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