Author:
OER Administrator
Subject:
English Language Arts, Composition and Rhetoric
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Level:
High School
Grade:
12
Tags:
  • Argument
  • Grade 12 ELA
  • Writing
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial
    Language:
    English

    Final Peer Review

    Final Peer Review

    Overview

    In this lesson, students will review each other’s Character Analysis Essays. Then they’ll revise their essays again based on their partner’s feedback.

    Preparation

    • Read the lesson and student content.
    • Anticipate student difficulties and identify the differentiation options you will choose for working with your students.
    • Facilitate writing conferences with students. After working with students who have requested conferences, conduct conferences with the rest.

    Questions for a Peer

    • Give students a couple of minutes to write their questions.

    Opening

    What concerns you about your Character Analysis Essay?

    • Write two questions or issues in your Character Analysis Essay that you’d like a peer to respond to.

    Open Notebook

    Peer Review

    • Encourage students to find different partners than they have used before to get a fresh perspective on their work.
      • ELL: Remind students who come from cultures where critiquing is not regarded as something positive that in this country, we appreciate clear and specific feedback, and we consider it an important element in improving ourselves and our work.

    Work Time

    Find a partner who read a different book than you did and has not read your Character Analysis Essay.

    • Before exchanging essays to give each other advice, give your partner a brief description of your essay, naming the character, the work, and a social class and/or legal issue you have used in the essay.
    • Take time to read your partner’s essay carefully.
    • After you have read it, if necessary, ask your partner questions that would help you understand the work of literature she or he used.
    • Tell your partner at least two things you would most like her or him to look for when reading your essay.

    Peer Advice

    • Give students time to give advice, emphasizing how helpful they could be for one another if they give honest, constructive feedback.
    • Circulate through the room to offer advice or encouragement.
    • Confer with students who have not completed an essay.
      • SWD: Providing feedback requires a very good and solid understanding of the topic and the ability to discern gaps. Be sure that students are able to do this activity successfully. If this is not the case, offer support.

    Work Time

    Exchange advice with your partner.

    • Answer all of the questions on the Character Analysis Essay: Peer Advice sheet for your partner’s essay, and share your advice with your partner.
    • Determine where you believe your partner’s essay would score on the Grade 12 Informational Writing Rubric, and discuss your reasoning with your partner.
    • Consider the advice from your partner, and ask about anything that is unclear.
    • Begin to make necessary revisions to your essay.

    Writing Discussion

    • Facilitate a Whole Group Discussion about writing.

    Closing

    Discuss these questions with your classmates.

    • How did you approach writing about your chosen novel when classmates were writing about other novels?
    • Were some novels more challenging to write about than others?
    • How important is it to have a sympathetic protagonist when writing a character analysis?

    Final Draft

    • Remind students that their Character Analysis Essays are due Lesson 28.

    Homework

    The final draft of your essay is due next lesson.

    • Prepare your polished, final essay.
    • Proofread for spelling and grammar. Use a spelling and grammar checker if available. Note any spelling or grammar questions that arise so you can ask about them in the next lesson.