1. Decide who's going first.
2. When it's your turn to read, pass out your reading copies.
3. Before you read, tell your group your topic and briefly explain your paper's organization to orient your readers.
4. Read your paper aloud. Be sure and speak up so everyone can hear you.
5. For those of you acting as peer responders, follow "Priorities in Reading a Draft" and "Guide to Reading a Draft" (see below) in giving feedback. If you'll notice, the way the "Priorities" are set up, the major problems that can occur in a paper top the list; there's no need to worry about punctuation and spelling if the paper will most likely change substantially. You don't have to touch on every item; you may be able to tick off the first four, or seven, without even commenting on them. Conversely, you may not get past the second one. The list is a guideline to give you an idea of where to start with your comments.
6. But first, each person in the group should say at least two good things about the paper and be specific. For example: you might say, "I like the transition between paragraphs 2 and 3," or "Your thesis statement is very specific; it predicts your paper well," or "The example you give in the introduction is so touching, it makes me cry."
7. Then move on to constructive criticism. Don't say: "Your paper stinks!" That's not very helpful. Instead, think about asking questions, like: "How did you decide on the order of the points you raise?" Or, "I like these two ideas, but I don't see the connection between them; could you explain it to me?" This type of feedback will help the writer think through problem areas.

Priorities in Reading a Draft for Peer Response

1. Check draft for APPROPRIATENESS. Does it meet the assignment expectations? Have all the necessary parts? Do everything that it's asked?
2. If #1 is in order, check the draft for FOCUS. Look for a central idea, either expressed or implied, holding the paper together. Is the idea worthy of discussion, and limited enough to be discussed thoroughly?
3. If #2 is in order, check the draft for ORGANIZATION. Is each paragraph connected to the thesis? Are the paragraphs connected to each other in a logical way? Are all the remarks about one idea located in the same paragraph (or consecutive paragraphs)?
4. If #3 is in order, check the draft for DEVELOPMENT. Are claims and statements supported by sufficient examples, details, and illustration? Where did the essay leave you feeling unsatisfied or unconvinced?
5. If #4 is in order, check the introduction and the conclusion. Do they accurately reflect the body of the paper? Does the introduction engage your interest? Does the conclusion provide a sense of closure? Is it more than a repetition of the introduction?
6. If #5 is in order, check SURFACE FEATURES such as punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, and documentation.
7. If #6 is in order, check DICTION and STYLE (word choice, sentence structure, conciseness).
8. If the writer has a polished draft, help proofread for last-minute typing or printing errors; also check the format.

Guide to Reading a Draft for Peer Response

1. What are the draft's strengths? Consider issues such as content, persuasive power, adaptation to audience, clarity, conciseness, interest (or anything that strikes you). Be specific. Point to areas in the draft that support your opinion.
2. What are the draft's weaknesses? Is there anything that distracted you, bored you, or confused you? Was it difficult to read (or hear)? (Again, be specific.)
3. Make specific suggestions ask to how the text might be improved.
4. What questions does this draft raise for you about the topic? Does the writer arouse your curiosity or leave gaps in his or her presentation that you'd like to see addressed? If so, ask those questions.

Sample #2

1. Be honest. No one wants to hear a draft is perfect, good, great. It’s a draft, so by definition it still needs work. If you are dishonest, you will lose credibility.

2. Be tactful. Even though you may be pointing our problems, you can do so in a constructive way that does not create hard feelings.

3. Be specific. You won’t help if you just say “the wording is confusing” or “it’s too formal.” Show exactly what you mean with quotes, and make detailed suggestions for improvement. Example: You wrote, “A typical consumer market segment can be assumed to be mostly of the female sex in the 25-35 age range.” That sounds too formal. Try to stay simple with something like “Typically, the market is female, ages 25-35.”

4. Listen and don’t be defensive. Listen to what your peers have to say and decide for yourself if their comments are valid or their suggestions helpful. You decide what advice to take and what advice to ignore.

Procedure for review

In your group, each of you gets a chance to be the writer, while the others act as critics.

1. Writer: Read the paper aloud once. If you notice errors while you read, go ahead and fix them or make a note to fix them later. But don’t slow down the reading too much.

2. Critics: On this first reading, don’t make any comments. Just listen and try to understand what the writer is saying.

3. Critics: After the first reading is done, divide a sheet of paper into three columns labeled “Strengths,” Weaknesses,” and “Questions.” 

4. Writer: Read the paper again, fairly slowly.

5. Critics: On the second reading, make notes in your three columns about what you think are the paper’s strengths and weaknesses. Things you don’t understand or have questions about can be noted in the questions column.

6. After the second reading critics will take turns making comments of the paper, and the writer should listen and make notes. The writer may not speak during this process.

7. Repeat this process for each writer.