Writing Workshop: Sharing Guidelines

Writing Workshop: Sharing Guidelines During Conferencing: Do this! * As the writer, you are responsible for keeping a record of the oral/written feedback you receive; in other words, write notes about what people say on the draft and/or reflection and remember to collect and save all written feedback. You will receive participation credit for participating in the group and demonstrating that you used feedback to revise. Guidelines for Conferencing  Try to use statements beginning with "I."  Be constructive with your criticism.  Don’t be “nice” at the expense of the reader; give your respectful opinion.  Write as the author reads, as you read, and as others respond. *Give any written peer responses to the author!  Make sure you've had a good chance to read the writing.  Give specific reactions to specific parts—passages, lines, phrases, individual words.  Avoid technical errors; your focus should be on what is said and how it is said.  Bottom line: Tell the author what left an impression on you!

What to say: Starter ideas from students…  This part was great because it made me think of . . .  I thought these words/sentences are effective because …  I could visualize this . . .  I was right there with you when…  I think this part really showed that you . . .  I think it would be cool if you…  I heard your voice come through when…  I was confused by the part when . . .  I'm having trouble with . . .  I think this part interrupts the flow when…  I'm still not sure what you're trying to say . . .  I don't quite understand why . . .

Ex: I think you were strongest in your first paragraph. I was hooked by your first sentence and excited by the details you gave about the story of receiving this object as a gift. I would try to add more sensory images to the description of the object—I’m having trouble seeing exactly what it looks like. I think it would be cool if you described it using an unfamiliar sense, like smell or taste; this would give a more complete description. Your voice really comes through in the conclusion, especially when you use words like “bunnylicious” and “straight-from-the-dryer-soft”—it’s so you! This really adds to your paper. I felt like your conclusion didn’t really conclude though…I still have questions about what role the object plays in your life today.