SQR #2

G. Berenise De La Rosa

ENG 1320/1301. 161

Trang Phan

Sept. 9, 2010

SQR #2

Citation: Gloria A. Neubert and Sally J. McNelis. “Peer Response: Teaching Specific Revision Suggestions”. The English Journal, Vol. 79, No. 5 (Sep., 1990), pp. 52-56.

This article is mainly about how students give feedback on other’s drafts. Teachers have grieved over the use of peer-response groups. (pg. 52) They used a special technique that has helped students, especially in high school and college. They usually put students in groups so they can focus on the task. This technique -- Praise-Question-Polish, also known as PQP, has been introduced to middle school students and it was used through a “fishbowl” technique. This PQP did indeed help students focus and stay on task. Later they started to tape the students and they recognized a preponderance of vague PQP responses. They mainly had to do class activities that had follow-ups, Individual work, and group activities. In class activity, teacher gives one or two questions during a previous peer-response. Then someone leads the class into discussion and student/volunteer responds and explains evaluation. In small group activities students get a worksheet and students have to explain why it is effective or not effective. After that they have a group discussion and then a class discussion. Individual work, students have to work on their own. What this is mainly about is on how to use PQP and if it helps out students.

Q: How is PQP technique described in the article? Why is is important to have Praise, Question, and Polish parts?

A: PQP technique in this article is described as a technique to help students improve in their writing. PQP technique helps a lot when a student is helping another student or several students, more like working in groups. They all have to write something and then do the PQP which means they have to go through steps to correct what they wrote. It is very important to have Praise, Question, and Polish parts because it is a way students can learn on how to write. When students write about something they need to praise it, they need to ask questions about it and then they need to polish it, also like revise it. Yes the writer does provide her point of view in this writing as in why it is important to use PQP and how if it is a good technique to use. In page 52, on the second paragraph it says, “We found that this technique helps students focus on the task at hand as well as maintain a positive attitude toward the critique process”. This means that it is important because they know that for a fact it has helped students focus on what they are doing and are able to work with each other in either a group or the whole class.