Your description paper is now ready for the feedback that can help it
improve. By giving feedback, you will be discovering writing skills that
are often hard to perceive and work with in your own writing. The value in
these peer reviews is less in the suggestions you receive -- but in what you
learn as you invent solutions for others. In addition, we'll do some
practicing with Clarity.
Routine Startup
Open a second browser
the first browser shows these instructions. Press Control-N to open a
second browser and use it to follow links and carry out the instructions.
Start your email in a third browser
If you didn’t save your Outlining exercise
(outline_yourlastname)
in the shared folder during the last lab, please do so now
Revisit the forum
Add one more reply to a topic that has few responses.
Write your last name on the
whiteboard and put a check beside a name that hasn’t been selected
Open a classmate's paper
In Word, open the description paper in the shared folder written by the student
whose name you have selected
IMPORTANT: Begin by saving the document
on your flashdrive or on the desktop with your own name added at the
end of the filename (description_writerlastname_yourlastname)
Prepare for adding comments by using Track Changes
Your Track Changes options are probably still in place on your
computer. Just briefly add and delete something and see if the
changes are in red AND blue. If not, here are the steps to take:
In Word, click the Review tab at the top, then click on the words
"Track Changes"
Click on Change Tracking Options
for Insertions, confirm the choice is "Underline" and change the color to Blue
for Deletions, confirm the choice is "Strikethrough" and change the color to Red
for Changed lines, change the choice to (none)
for Use Balloons, change the choice to Never
click on OK
Click on the Office button (large, in the upper left corner),
then Word Options, then Advanced. Look for "When selecting, automatically select
entire word." If there is a checkmark there, remove it and
click OK.
To turn Track Changes on or off at any time, click the Review
tab at the top, then click on the icon ABOVE the words "Track
Changes"
You can switch back and forth between two views of
the document (you'll see a box under the Review tab that lists the current view) -- try "Final Showing Markup", and "Original"
Please don’t
use the "New comment" feature (it’s not compatible
with some versions of Word)
Make suggested changes directly in the document
Make insertions and deletions that you think improve the writing.
Comment within the text on what you think is written well and give
specific re-wordings that might work better. Can the language be more
efficient and direct? Try cutting words without damaging the meaning.
IMPORTANT: you are not attempting to say that your suggestions are Right
versus Wrong … you are offering an opinion in the clearest possible way,
and the author is free to consider the change or ignore it.
in every case, don’t point out an error or weakness without
suggesting a solution (that makes your comments constructive and
improves your own writing abilities)
briefly explain why you are suggesting the change. Add
comments by typing directly in the text and surrounding them with [[ and
]] to make the comments easily visible. Please don’t use the "New
comment" feature in Word XP (it’s not compatible with earlier versions
of Word)
Write a response at the bottom of the paper, addressed directly to the
writer. Point out the places in the paper that you think are strong,
either in the content of what is being said, or how it is said, or both.
Point out the places where the paper could be more effective. Raise
unanswered questions, and suggestions on how to deal with them.
Close the document that has your own
feedback and copy it to the
English shared directory using My Computer. In addition, to ensure
that the original writer will have access to your feedback, send it as
an attachment by email with the Subject Line: Paper Two feedback
(you don't need to CC me for this).
IMPORTANT: do this
again for a second paper, adding a second checkmark on the
whiteboard. Each of you should do (and receive) two sets of
feedback.
if you aren't able to start (or finish) a second paper, save the
one you have selected to your flashdrive or email it to yourself and
have feedback prepared in time for the next class
When you find that your own description paper has had feedback added, open it and
check it using Tools / Track Changes / "Final Showing Markup" (select
this in the box at the upper left). If you don’t see any comments at all,
confirm that "Final Showing Markup" is selected.
you don't need to do the revising now -- your improved paper will be
looked at as part of the final portfolio
Revising for Style: Clarity
This exercise resumes from the previous lab. You will be able to finish
it during this lab -- but if not, have it done by the start of next lab.
Read all the steps to get an overview before you click on the link
In Word, start a new document and Save As clarity_yourlastnameon your flashdrive or on the desktop
Don’t bother cleaning up the formatting, and add your revised
sentences directly into the document
Send your answers as an email
attachment to me with clarity as the Subject Line
Clarity, continued
As with any skill, your proficiency increases by a conscious
attention to the details while you are 'in training'. You can't expect to jump
straight in and ace the skill by confidence alone! The period of training may
be slow and (sometimes) boring -- but time spent now pays off greatly later
when what you've learned comes back to you smoothly and unconsciously as you
need it.
Check the exercise
After you have sent your original exercise to me, open a new document
in Word called clarity-check_yourlastname and save it on
your flashdrive or on the
desktop
Look at Clarity: suggested changes and copy its
contents into your Word document. Follow the instructions written at the
top. Add your comments in a
different colored font.
Save clarity-check_yourlastname in the shared folder
