Peer Review of Fable --

Goal:  To find ways to revise and by revision improve the fable.

Follow these instructions:

1.     Print three copies of the fable you think strongest and most interesting.

2.     Read your fable to your group:

• Read your new fable to your group members while they look at the text and take notes.

• Questions the audience should ask themselves while they listen and make notes.

  • Do the characters speak like real people and does the dialogue reflect the character of speakers?

  • Is there any striking or memorable word choice or phrasing that audiences would likely remember after reading or hearing this piece?

  • Is the writer using a variety of strong verbs and concrete/specific nouns or are the verbs repetitive and weak or the nouns general and abstract?

  • Is the aphorism/moral/thesis/abstract relevant to ALL parts of the narrative or does some revision needed to make the piece cohere from beginning to end?

3.    Listen to what your group has to say:

• The reader is not allowed to speak, but must take notes on their copy of the fable while the audience discusses the piece.

• The responding audience must start with a positive -- what struck you as most important, most interesting, best said.

• The responding audience must make several constructive comments.  They can not simply say, "I don't like that."  They must make suggested changes.

4.    Final consideration:  Is the piece punctuated correctly?  Do not address this problem until the very end of your conversation.

5.    Repeat with new Reader.

You have 15 minutes per reader.

6.     A:    Quickly revise your fable,

        B:    Print the new version out,

        C:    Staple new version in with your previous work -- two fables, one with notes and comments, and the newest version of one fable,

        D:    Turn in to teacher.