PeerCommentaryTheme1

Peer Commentary, Theme 1

Instructions: Develop a written commentary (300-350 words) in response to the Written/Creative Product from someone else in the course. First, read through the product, and imagine that you are having an extended dialogue with the author. Then, write your response (address the author in the first person) by making use of the "Pointing, and Center of Gravity" format for responding to writing (Elbow and Belanoff, 1999, A Community of Writers: A Workshop Course in Writing):

• "Pointing: "Which words or phrases or passages somehow strike you? stick in mind? get through?" Center of gravity: "Which sections somehow seem important or resonant or generative?" You are not asking necessarily for the main points but rather for sections or passages that seem to resonate or linger in mind or be sources of energy. Sometimes a seemingly minor detail or example-even an aside or a digression-can be a center of gravity. ...Center of gravity response is particularly interesting for showing you rich and interesting parts of your piece that you might have neglected-but which might be worth exploring and developing. Center of gravity can help you see your piece in a different light and suggest ways to make major revisions."