Peer evaluation of writing

Is it worth taking time to let students evaluate others’ writing?

Recently I asked second graders to write stories based on the picture book, Flora and the Penguin by Molly Idle.  Since the book is wordless, the students were forced to write their own versions of the story relying not on the author’s words but rather on the illustrations for guidance.

Later, I selected portions of two students’ stories for comparison.  I typed and printed them side by side, so students could compare how the two students wrote the same parts of the story.

Here are some of the comments students (second through eighth grade) made:

• I like Student One’s opening because it tells when the story happens.
• I like Student Two’s opening because it names the girl.
• I like the word “poked” by Student One because it shows exactly how the penguin acted.
• I like all the ways Student Two shows what Flora and the penguin did. They skated, danced, jumped, twirled and slid.  You can see it happening.
• I like the dialog that Student Two uses when Flora asks, “What are you doing?”
• I like Student One’s word, “outraged.”  That is a strong word.
• I like Student Two’s word, word “disgusted” because it shows how Flora felt.
• I like Student One’s writing where it says that Flora feels sorry because it shows that Flora cares.
• I like when Student Two says “just like a fishing net.” I can see it.
• I like when Student Two says “they tugged and tugged,” but maybe there are too many “tugs.”
• I like Student One’s ending because it says Flora and the Penguin are happy.

After their blow-by-blow analyses, I asked my students what they learned from evaluating other students’ writing.  They said:

• Use details, lots of details.
• Use dialog or thoughts.
• Use names.
• Show emotions of the characters.
• Verbs are really important to show action.
• Use good vocabulary words.

One second grader, who rushes through her writing, compared her  plain version with the two shown here and said, “I’m starting over.”

A seventh grader who read the two versions, said, “Second graders?  Really?  I didn’t think I could learn good ideas about how to write from second graders.”

Is peer evaluation of writing a good idea?  You decide.