Week+5

During today's class we focused on alternatives to giving peer and teacher feedback (e.g. writing groups and oral feedback) and we watched the video __Beginning Writing Groups__ before participating in our own writing groups using our second draft of our writing autobiography.
 * __Week 5__**


 * __What we liked about the writing groups as described in the video__:**
 * Several students appreciated the diversity of students represented in the writing group, which would allow for different perspectives.
 * Several students mentioned that by having several students summarize the piece of writing after the writer reads, it would show the writer whether or not the focus and purpose of the piece is clear.
 * Several students liked how the format of the writing group did not allow for the writer to respond to the reviewers' comments. This format would drive home the point that a writer's message in his/her writing needs to be clear because usually the reader is not able to engage in a conversation with the writer.


 * __What concerned us about the writing groups as described in the video__:**
 * Several students commented that the student feedback was superficial (I like, I don't like) and did not provide the writer with constructive feedback.
 * Several students were concerned that requiring students to read their paper aloud twice would waste class time and would cause student reviewers to become distracted the second time the paper was read.
 * Several students commented on the added pressure students would feel when asked to read their writing aloud.

//Now that you have had the opportunity to experience a writing group, have your thoughts about this alternative to peer feedback changed? What would you change about the writing group format to make it more effective for your students? How would you need to prepare your students before they would participate in a writing group?//
 * __Step Back__:**