Contributors


Writing Program
English Dept

Workshopping a Text in Groups:

Workshop Guidelines:

You must read each essay for your group the night before it is discussed and make some WRITTEN notes These do not have to be full written responses, but they should be enough to help prompt your memory of the the essay for discussion and what points you wished to make.

All authors must remain silent while their own work is being discussed. After the group has finished discussing the piece, the author may ask questions, for advice, or defend their rhetorical choices.

Remember, the goal of this is to help your portfolio revisions. As you respond to and discuss the paper, your are working to help the author think about how he/she can globally revise their paper.

Stay on task! Be careful not to stray too far from the author's paper that you are currently discussing. A workshop is disastrous if certain authors get a lot of great feedback while others basically get none because the group lost its focus.

Try to give an equal amount of time to each person whose essay is being discussed that day. Be kind, but don't be afraid to offer plenty of suggestions and/or point out where there are weaknesses in the paper. Most of us have a hard time revising unless others point out to us the areas in which our papers need strengthening.

Please cover the following questions/issues in your groups in relation to each essay:

1) Does the opening paragraph draw you in and make you want to keep reading? If not, what are some suggestions you have for the author to create a catchier introduction? (Hint: There may already be another paragraph in the essay that would be more effective as an introduction.)

2)What is the purpose of the paper? If the paper doesn't seem to have one, what do you think is causing this problem (Lack of focus? Too many ideas? Unnecessary sections of text? Unclear text?

3) To what audience does this paper seem to be targeted (consider age, gender, interests, knowledge level about the subject etc.)? Does the author do a good job of targeting this particular audience? Why or why not?

4) What does the tone of this paper seem to be (e.g. angry, bored/disinterested, upset, excited, energetic, etc.)? Does this tone help or hinder the purpose of the paper?

5) Is there anything in the paper that doesn't seem to fit/ belong? Why or why not? Does it disrupt the flow? Not fit with the overall purpose/goal of the paper?

6) How does the paper seem to be organized? Is it effective? Is there a more effective strategy?

7) What are some global revision suggestions you have for the author? (Consider additions, deletions, and transpositions (moving items within the text)). Are there any sections that need expansion or clarifying?

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