Peer Critique: Scene Analysis
This is not a test to see if you have done things “correctly”; rather, this is an opportunity for you and your partner to give and receive responses and feedback about your drafts from a reader who is familiar with the goals of this assignment. As you've likely head me say before, good writing is a process and takes place over a period of time. This critique assignment is part of that process.
There are two parts to the peer critique process. You are responsible for both of them.
You should have exchanged papers with someone else in class for this critique (exchanged MS Word documents).
Part 1: On the first read through your partner's paper, inside of the Microsoft Word document, using the review function, record questions that pop into your mind as you read (anything at all). Do not make statements. Do not mark through someone else's words, and do not mark grammar/mechanical issues. Simply highlight the section that prompts a question in your mind for whatever reason and record it on the document.
Part 2: Read your partner's essay for a second time. After you've read it a second time, go to the top of the next blank page inside of the Word document with their draft, and there, after reading the draft a second time, you will answer each of the following questions using complete sentences only. Do not simply answer yes or no. If you feel inclined to answer yes or no to any question, you must explain why.
Your response to each question should be detailed.
After you have finished with both parts of your critique, save the MS Word file with your questions on your partner's draft, as well as your answers to the peer critique questions, as one MS Word document and upload this to ulearn by the specified date on the course schedule.Later in the classroom, you will have an opportunity to have a verbal conversation with your critique partner about your response to their essay (and their response to yours). After that in-class conversation, you should email your partner the critique you completed of their paper, and they should email you the one that they completed for you.
Peer Critique Questions:
1.Does the essay begin with an interesting and a catchy lead-in that will engage the reader in a personal way with the theme they have chosen? Would it make the theme relevant to the reader's own life and make them want to read the remainder of the essay? How might the author improve these?
Does the essay begin with an interesting and a catchy lead-in that will engage the reader in a personal way with the theme they have chosen? Would it make the theme relevant to the reader's own life and make them want to read the remainder of the essay? How might the author improve these? 2.Does the title reflect the entire content of the essay and mention the title of the film and the director as well as the theme/central idea that is examined? How might these be improved?
Does the title reflect the entire content of the essay and mention the title of the film and the director as well as the theme/central idea that is examined? How might these be improved?3.Does the essay focus on a single, clearly defined interpretation of the film (a theme) and a single 3-5 minute scene from the film? Identify the essay’s primary claim (thesis). Clearly highlight and mark it on your partner's draft. It should be something similar to: the central idea communicated by this scene is...
Does the essay focus on a single, clearly defined interpretation of the film (a theme) and a single 3-5 minute scene from the film? Identify the essay’s primary claim (thesis). Clearly highlight and mark it on your partner's draft. It should be something similar to: the central idea communicated by this scene is...4. Does the intro clearly preview the entire content of the paper? Why or Why not? Does the writer explain why they chose this scene and think it best communicates the theme? Do they explain where in the plot the scene occurs (This is the background/context)? Does the writer use a "so what?" statement at the end of the intro that makes the theme relevant to the reader's everyday life? How might this be improved?
5.Because most readers will probably have different interpretations of a film and a scene, does the writer show which film elements (set design, camera shots, costuming, lighting, themes, etc.) prompted their response to the scene? Do they identify the several specific moments from the scene that prompted their response early on in the essay and provide a brief summary and explanation of the significance of the film's overall theme to this scene? This can also be a part of the background context in the intro, but each of these should also be the focus of the subclaims in the body of the essay. How could this be improved?
Because most readers will probably have different interpretations of a film and a scene, does the writer show which film elements (set design, camera shots, costuming, lighting, themes, etc.) prompted their response to the scene? Do they identify the several specific moments from the scene that prompted their response early on in the essay and provide a brief summary and explanation of the significance of the film's overall theme to this scene? This can also be a part of the background context in the intro, but each of these should also be the focus of the subclaims in the body of the essay. How could this be improved?6. Identify at least one paragraph in which the supporting evidence is strong. Then identify at least one paragraph in which the writer makes assertions without sufficient supporting evidence (Remember supporting evidence will be quotes from the text to support general statements). Explain to your partner why you found these strong or weak.
7.Does the author use the present tense throughout the essay to relate the events of the film's plot? Identify any verbs that are in the past tense.
Does the author use the present tense throughout the essay to relate the events of the film's plot? Identify any verbs that are in the past tense. 8.Are there any areas in the draft where the author merely gives a plot summary rather than offering analysis of why the director made specific choices and why those are important (recounts the event of the film without offering their own interpretation of its meaning? Identify these). Every example should be an argument for why the director made specific film tool choices to best convey something specific about the theme.
Are there any areas in the draft where the author merely gives a plot summary rather than offering analysis of why the director made specific choices and why those are important (recounts the event of the film without offering their own interpretation of its meaning? Identify these). Every example should be an argument for why the director made specific film tool choices to best convey something specific about the theme.9. Is the content of each paragraph clearly connected to the theme/central idea of the film that is identified in the introduction? How might the author improve this?
10.Is the essay well organized? How might the author improve the organization of the paper? What transitions might be added to aid the flow of the paper and make it clear? Explain.
Is the essay well organized? How might the author improve the organization of the paper? What transitions might be added to aid the flow of the paper and make it clear? Explain. 12.How does the conclusion bring the audience to the acceptable ending? Does the conclusion summarize the main points made in the body of the paper and restate the claim made in the intro? Does the writer include an effective "so what?" statement as their final sentence that hits home the idea for why their theme is relevant to the reader's everyday life?
How does the conclusion bring the audience to the acceptable ending? Does the conclusion summarize the main points made in the body of the paper and restate the claim made in the intro? Does the writer include an effective "so what?" statement as their final sentence that hits home the idea for why their theme is relevant to the reader's everyday life?13. When read together, do the intro and conclusion form one idea? Do the essay's title, intro and conclusion form one idea when considered together?
14.Does the paper convince you? Why or why not? What does the paper still need?
Does the paper convince you? Why or why not? What does the paper still need?15.Note: the language in this essay must be formal and academic. Does the author use appropriate language? Cite examples of inappropriate language, such as slang or informal expressions (“I,” personal pronouns, or contractions).
Note: the language in this essay must be formal and academic. Does the author use appropriate language? Cite examples of inappropriate language, such as slang or informal expressions (“I,” personal pronouns, or contractions). 16.Revision plan. List three key changes that the writer should make during the revision.
Revision plan. List three key changes that the writer should make during the revision.17.Add any editing suggestions you might notice while you’re reading.
Add any editing suggestions you might notice while you’re reading.