Week 14-15: Mentor Like a Writer

Peer Review Mentor Text

1. Course wrap-up.

2. Levels of edit.

3. Review each draft for key writing principles using levels of edit.

   • Development: What would we expect to see in an essay about lifelong learning?

   • BLUF: What should the BLUF include?

   • Evidence: What evidence is provided? What is missing? Is it compelling?

   • Style: What areas need the most attention? Plain Language.gov

   • Design: What typography and graphics support the main points? See Making your points visual and Making your point clear.

Assignment

Resources

• Mentor text peer review worksheet

• PICA course evaluation instructions

  1. Go to https://pica.tamu.edu.

  2. Click on “Student Login.”

  3. Login with your NetID and password.

  4. Select appraisal from the menu.

  5. Submit appraisal on or before December 5.

This is your opportunity to have input into the course(s) as a student. Please give your honest and candid comments. All of your responses will be confidential. I will not be able to link your response to you.

Instructor Notes

• 1. Use one of the essays for this assignment (not the memo).

  2. Label each callout: BLUF, DESIGN, STYLE, etc.

  3. Use a smaller type size (e.g., 9 point) for callouts.

  4. If you use the Word comment tool for your callouts, save as a PDF and check to see that the entire comment appears. Remember that I won't be able to open your comments in turnitin.com.

  5. Include at least one example of high-impact style. (Put the BEFORE in the callout, pointing to the AFTER in the essay.)

  6. Read for the verbs, replacing weak "be" verbs (am, is, are, was were, be, etc.) with strong verbs: "was dependent on me" = "depended on me" (served, volunteered, committed, decided)

  7. Include captions with your graphics.

  8. Include which essay you revised in the file name and submission title. Ex: Mentor Text Revised HIE or Mentor Text Revised LL.

  9. Give me your best work! :)

Purchased from iStock: 000004768217 (Sept. 30, 2015)