As educators, we want to give students more responsibility, accountability, and involvement in the learning process. Creating independent learners is the goal, and one way to approach that
goal is to have students monitor their own progress through peer editing.
Peer editing involves students working together to evaluate and revise each others writing. As students review the writing of their peers, they share ideas, create an atmosphere of cooperation,
develop independence and responsibility, identify strengths and weaknesses in their writing and reinforce editing skills.
An integral component of the writing process is rereading, evaluating, and revising written drafts. Often we find students who rewrite the same errors over and over again. I have found that
students don’t like to reread and edit their own writing. They gloss over what they’ve written and leave numerous errors in grammar, usage, sentence structure and punctuation.
(How many times have you reread your own writing and missed errors.) I have also found that when a student reviews the writing of another student, they read with a critical eye. They want
to seek out and find errors to be corrected.
As part of a writer’s workshop, peer editing can be done in pairs or in groups. As students review each others work, they should begin with a positive comment about the writing. We
all listen to criticism or suggestions with a more open ear when a compliment is given first. Specific corrections to be made should be pointed out. In addition to grammar, usage, spelling,
and sentence structure work can be reviewed for details, figurative language, choice of vocabulary, variety of sentence structure, organization, transitions, completeness of thought, and
writing style. Students might begin by having the writer read his written work aloud. This will help the peer editors establish the main idea of the piece and ensure that the writer rereads
his/her work. After revisions are discussed have the student-writer make the corrections on the paper. This will help the student internalize the corrections for future writing.
As each new writing skill is introduced in a guided mini lesson, students can make use of peer editing in revising errors related to the new skill either in their own writing or on a sample
piece of written work.
Students can use a rubric, sample writing checklist, or a class made writing checklist. For early childhood
grades, this checklist is appropriate. Upper elementary editors may use this peer editing guide.
Secondary students will find these editing checklists beneficial for editing a summary paper,
persuasive writing, descriptive paper, analysis, theme, comparing and contrasting. Students can refer to online
mini-lessons in grammar, usage, and style elements. A standardized set of editing symbols can
be used to indicate corrections that are needed.
Peer editing decreases the amount of paperwork for teachers. It develops self-esteem and encourages students to work more independently and produce a piece of standard-setting work. It enables
students to work cooperatively and reinforces writing skills. Peer editing is a technique that results in active, motivated participants in the learning and writing process.
