Helpful Revision Questions:

An important aspect of this class is the ability to ask helpful questions about your papers and respond to peers's questions about their papers. An "A" portfolio will include "evocative" questions for respondents, a "B" portfolio will include "thoughtful" questions, and a "C" portfolio will simply include questions. One of the most challenging--and rewarding--aspects of this class is figuring out good questions to ask of your respondents. It's challenging because most of you haven't been asked to do this in the past. It's rewarding because receiving thoughtful responses to equally thoughtful and evocative questions can help strengthen your paper and give you new insights.

Here are some guidelines for questions.

Don't ask: Does my paper flow? Is it organized? Does it make sense?

These questions REALLY irritate me (something you should know!) probably because I've heard them a thousand times. More specifically, they are yes/no questions (bad strategy), they lack any thought, and shift the entire burden of organization to your reader. If your paper does "flow," you're not going to receive any helpful advice. If it doesn't "flow," there are probably other things going on that won't be addressed from this question. Additionally, it's your responsibility to take the time and consider whether your paper "flows." Writer's often (not always) know where there are gaps or where they're having difficulty.

Alternative questions:

I'm having some probelms with paragraphs 5, 6, and 7. They seem to be disconnected somehow to the rest of the text. What advice can you offer to make those paragraphs come together or apply to the rest of the text? Do they even belong in the text? Why or why not? What would you suggest in place of these paragraphs?

Don't ask: Is my grammar/punctuation okay?

Save this for copy editing. Because you'll be revising your text and may actually delete some of it, any effort expended regarding punctuation and grammar at this point will be wasted.

Don't ask: Should I have used more examples to support my argument?

Again, a yes/no question. If the answer is no, then you've gotten nowhere; if the answer is yes, then the only thing you've found out is that you need more examples. Now you're left with needing to know what kinds of examples, from whom, and so on. Only someone who knows about this topic can offer you advice and that won't help you if your respondent isn't an expert.

Alternative:

If you were writing this paper, what other evidence would you offer in support of your argument? Altenatively, what problems do you have regarding my evidence or sources?

Take an oppositional stance and identify evidence that you would use to weaken my claims.

The Writer's Memo

Questions are two-way streets. That is, a good question really deserves a well-thought out response. By the end of the semester, you should be able to write a detailed response to the writers--a writer's memo--sometimes a couple of pages long.

Your first duty is to respond to the questions the writer has asked the readers. Follow this format:

To: (the person who receives this memo)

From: (your name)

Re: Writer's Memo to (text title)

Copy and paste the first question here. Double space and give your response. Follow this procedure for the remaining questions.

If you don't think your response will be helpful, note that and identify something else that will help the writer.

If a writer has failed to ask good questions, you still have a responsibility to help this writer by writing a constructive response, but you can also note that you don't know how that question will help the writer. Perhaps you can offer an alternative question and respond to it.

It is VERY important that you save this document for your own unit and give a copy to the person to whom you are responding.