Grammar: 🔄 Review & Consolidation (C1) - Activity Guide: Peer Review & Editing Sessions

🔄 C1 Activity Guide: Peer Review & Editing Sessions

Congratulations on reaching this final C1 consolidation activity! A vital skill for any advanced writer is the ability to revise and edit their own work. One of the best ways to learn this is through peer review¹—the process of sharing your work with classmates and giving each other helpful, constructive feedback. This guide will show you how to do it effectively.

The Goal: To Be a Helpful "Test Reader"

Your goal is not to criticize or say "this is bad." Your goal is to be a fresh pair of eyes for the writer. You are helping them see if their ideas are clear, logical, and persuasive. The aim is always to provide constructive criticism² that helps your partner improve.

How to Give Effective Feedback: The Compliment Sandwich

A proven and respectful method for giving feedback is the "Compliment Sandwich." It has three simple steps that ensure your feedback is balanced and well-received.

1. The Top Slice (Positive): Start by telling the writer something you genuinely liked about their essay. Be specific! (e.g., "Your introduction was very powerful," or "I thought your example about tourism in Siem Reap was excellent.")
2. The "Meat" (The Suggestion): Clearly and politely point out one or two areas for improvement. Ask questions to help the writer think. (e.g., "I was a little confused in the second paragraph. Could you perhaps clarify the main idea in your topic sentence?")
3. The Bottom Slice (Positive): End with an overall positive and encouraging comment. (e.g., "Overall, this is a very strong argument, and I think with a few small changes it could be even more persuasive.")

Peer Review Checklist

When you read your partner's essay, use this checklist to guide your thoughts.

• Overall Structure: Is there a clear thesis statement? Does each body paragraph have a clear topic sentence? Does the conclusion summarize effectively?
• Cohesion³ & Clarity⁴: Is the argument easy to follow? Are ideas connected with good linking words?
• Grammar & Style: Does the writer use a variety of advanced sentence structures (e.g., conditionals, inversion, participle clauses)? Is the vocabulary precise and the tone appropriate?
• The Reader's Response: What is the single strongest part of the essay? What is one part that could be made clearer?

🧠 Language for Giving Feedback

Using polite and indirect language is key to good feedback. Try using these phrases.

To Give Positive Feedback:

• "I really liked how you..."
• "Your use of [inversion/passive voice] here was very effective."
• "This is a very strong and persuasive point."

To Make a Gentle Suggestion:

• "Have you considered...?"
• "I was a little unclear about this section. Perhaps you could..."
• "Maybe adding a specific example here would make your argument even stronger."

📝 Your Task: The Peer Review Session

Now it's time to put this into practice. This activity is your final task for the C1 level.

1. Find a partner in your class. Exchange the argumentative or discursive essays you have written previously.
2. Read your partner's essay carefully two times. Use the "Peer Review Checklist" to help you analyze it.
3. On a separate piece of paper, write a short "Compliment Sandwich" (3-5 sentences) for your partner, using the polite language from this guide.
4. Meet with your partner and discuss your feedback respectfully. Listen carefully to the feedback you receive. The goal is for both of you to learn and improve.

Congratulations on applying your advanced English skills in a practical, collaborative way!

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Peer Review: (Noun) - ការពិនិត្យដោយមិត្តភ័ក្តិ (kaa pĭ'nĭt daoy mĭt'pheăk) - A process where students evaluate their classmates' work and provide feedback. ↩
2. Constructive Criticism: (Noun Phrase) - ការរិះគន់ដើម្បីស្ថាបនា (kaa rĭh'kŭn daəm'bei stʰa'pâ'na) - Feedback that is helpful and intended to make something better. ↩
3. Cohesion: (Noun) - ភាពស្អិតរមួត (phéap s'ăt'rŭm'muət) - The way in which different parts of a text are linked together to create a unified whole. ↩
4. Clarity: (Noun) - ភាពច្បាស់លាស់ (phéap ch'bah'leah) - The quality of being easy to understand. ↩
5. Feedback: (Noun) - មតិកែលម្អ (m'tĭ kae'lâm'ɑɑ) - Information about reactions to a person's performance of a task, used as a basis for improvement. ↩