OK, sorry to take so long with this, but here are results of my investigation re: tech problems. I did manage to be successful copying and pasting directly from MS Word onto blog. At the top of posting window, there are two tabs: compose and edit html. Make sure the compose tab is the active one. I did go back and add an extra line space between paragraphs, which makes essay more readable I think, so please do this. (If you’ve already posted your essay, you can go back and edit to do this.)

Even though I was successful this time using my Mac computer at home, I did have trouble doing it this way on BCC PCs, and the help forum on blogger says that indeed there is often a problem coping and pasting from Word (I’m not sure if there are similar problems with other word processors). If you do run into problems, the fix seems to be to copy text from ord processor into notepad (or textedit for Macs), then copy from that onto the blog. In this case as well, please add extra space between paras. to make more readable. Hope this helps! (Please post comments to this post reporting on any problems or other solutions you may have found.)

Now, to get to work at hand, once your essay is successfully posted, here are the steps to follow:

1. Please read Straub’s essay “Responding–Really Responding–to Other Students’ Writing” from course text (p. 289 in 3rd edition; check index for other editions). Pick at least two significant quotes from that essay and copy into writer’s notebook. (You do not need to read through the sample in second half of essay where he looks at a particular piece of student writing.)
2. From peer review group list below, find your name and identify the two (or three) other students in your group. Read those essays, using links on the right,and post a comment on your group members’ essays that includes the following info:
   • What seems to be the main “message” of the essay? What does the author seem to be saying about this experience/person/etc. that you can connect to on a more universal level? Point out any resonant lines that seem to have particular significance or emotional power (which may or may not be developed in the rest of the essay).
   • Consider the writer’s use of specific detail. Identify any particularly sharp, effective use of detail (by para. number or context, as in “I really get a clear picture of Uncle Eddie”). Indicate places where you think the writer might add more detail (eiter because something is unclear or could be made more vivid or engaging or understandable). If possible, include questions for the writer: “Could you give an example of a time when yr gramma was cruel?”, “This seems to be the crucial scene of the essay. Maybe add some dialogue here?”)
   • What is/are the most successful aspects of the draft? What/s working well? You might indicate a particular part of the essay (lead, fight scene, reflection at the end) or point to the author’s voice or tone, choice of subject matter, vivid descriptions, wonderful style, etc.
3. Then go back to your writer’s notebook and reflect on the quotations you selected, writing specifically about how you used (or had difficulty using) them in doing your peer review.

Try to get peer review done by early this coming week, and reflections in notebook by midweek or so.

MANY OF YOU STILL NEED TO POST ESSAYS!! I will check back later this afternoon and add names to group lists as people get stuff up. If you’ve posted something and yr name doesn’t get added by early evening, please send me an email to let me know it’s up. Also, if you’re having problems posting and you’ve emailed me yr essay, if you wouldn’t mind sending me yr blog password, I can post essay for you (for this first one only!)

8 am class

group 1: Kate, Sara,  Sandra, and Jeremy (you only need to comment two people’s essays; look for someone in group who has 0 or 1 comment so that everyone gets responses)

group 2: Angela, Samantha, and Melinda

group 3: Kendra, Tatiana, and Lindsay

group 4: Calbert and Meredith (someone else to be added)

9 am class

group 1: Cecily, Melissa, and Jacob

group 2: Greg, Nikki, Tammylou, and Richard (you only need to comment two people’s essays; look for someone in group who has 0 or 1 comment so that everyone gets responses)

Noon class

group 1: Jess, Kevin, and Victoria

group 2: Caitlyn, Jackie, and James

group 3: Katrina, Samantha, Eva, and Matt (you only need to comment two people’s essays; look for someone in group who has 0 or 1 comment so that everyone gets responses)

2 pm class

group 1: Becky, Kristen, Loretta

group 2: Lauren, Michael, Tim

group 3: Jared, Matt, Tonya, and Trisha (you only need to comment two people’s essays; look for someone in group who has 0 or 1 comment so that everyone gets responses)

group 4: Erica, Ryan, Gene, and Sam (ditto comment above for 4-person groups)