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Saturday, April 22, 2023

Kid Friendly Guide: Writing Process with Peer Editing Examples

A kid-friendly guide to writing with peer editing. Here are some tips and expanded examples that should help:

Step 1: Plan Your Writing 
Before you start writing, it's important to plan what you want to say. This can help you stay on track and make sure your writing is clear and organized. 

Some things you may want to consider when planning your writing include:

Who is your audience?
What is the purpose of your writing?
What information do you need to include?
What order should you present your ideas in?

Example: Let's say you're writing a story about a boy who finds a magic key that unlocks a hidden treasure. Before you start writing, you might want to think about who your audience is (maybe other kids who like adventure stories), what the purpose of your writing is (to entertain and excite your readers), what information you need to include (details about the boy, the key, and the treasure), and what order you should present your ideas in (maybe start with the boy finding the key, then describe the treasure, and end with the boy using the treasure to help his family).

Step 2: Write Your First Draft 
Once you've planned your writing, it's time to start writing your first draft. This is where you get all your ideas down on paper (or on the computer). Don't worry too much about making everything perfect at this stage - you can always go back and revise later.

Example: Using the plan we made in the first step, you might write something like:

"Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jack who lived in a small village. One day, while exploring the woods behind his house, he stumbled upon a magic key hidden in a tree. Jack couldn't believe his luck! He knew that magic keys were very rare and could unlock all sorts of amazing things. So, he decided to take the key and see what it could do.

After a long search, Jack finally found the door that the key unlocked. Behind the door was a hidden treasure room filled with gold, jewels, and all sorts of magical objects. Jack was amazed! He couldn't believe he had found such a wonderful treasure. He knew that it would help his family who were struggling financially. So, he took as much treasure as he could carry and headed back home."

Step 3: Peer Editing 
Peer editing is when you ask a friend or classmate to read over your writing or read it aloud to them to give you feedback. This can be really helpful because sometimes other people can see things you might have missed or have suggestions for how to make your writing better.

Example: Let's say you ask your friend to read over your story about Jack and the magic key. 

Here are some things they might suggest:
Add more details about what Jack looks like and how he feels when he finds the key

Describe the treasure in more detail (what kind of jewels and magical objects are there?)

Make sure to use transition words (like "first," "next," and "finally") to help the reader follow the story

Check for spelling and grammar errors

Step 4: Revise Your Writing 
Based on the feedback you received from your peer editor, it's time to revise your writing. This is where you make changes to your first draft to make it better. You may need to add more details, fix mistakes, or reorganize your ideas.

Example: After receiving feedback from your peer editor, you might revise your story to include more details about Jack and the treasure. Here's an example:

"Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jack who lived in a small village with his parents and younger sister. Jack had curly brown hair and big blue eyes that sparkled in the sunlight. He was always looking for adventure and loved exploring the woods behind his house.

One day, while wandering through the woods, Jack stumbled upon a hollow tree. As he peered inside, he saw a glimmering object tucked away in the back. It was a small key, but it looked different than any other key he had ever seen before. It was made of gold and had a small diamond embedded in the top. Jack couldn't believe his luck! He knew that magic keys were very rare and could unlock all sorts of amazing things. So, he decided to take the key and see what it could do.

After a long search, Jack finally found the door that the key unlocked. Behind the door was a hidden treasure room filled with gold, jewels, and all sorts of magical objects. There were ancient books filled with spells and potions, a crystal ball that could show you the future, and even a flying broomstick! Jack was amazed! He couldn't believe he had found such a wonderful treasure. He knew that it would help his family who were struggling financially. So, he took as much treasure as he could carry and headed back home.

As he walked through the woods, Jack thought about how he could use the treasure to help his family. He knew that his parents had been working long hours at the farm and still struggled to make ends meet. With the treasure, they wouldn't have to worry about money anymore. They could buy new clothes, fix up their house, and maybe even take a vacation.

When Jack finally arrived home, he showed his family the treasure and explained how he had found it. They were shocked and grateful. From that day on, things were different for Jack and his family. They had a newfound sense of security and joy. And Jack knew that he would always treasure the memory of his adventure in the woods."

Step 5: Edit and Proofread 
After revising your writing, it's important to go back and edit and proofread it for any errors. Check for spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and make sure everything makes sense. You may also want to read it out loud to make sure it flows smoothly.

Example: After revising your story and making changes based on feedback, you might edit and proofread it to make sure it's perfect. Here's an example:

"Once upon a time, there was a boy named Jack who lived in a small village with his parents and younger sister. Jack had curly brown hair and big blue eyes that sparkled in the sunlight. He was always looking for adventure and loved exploring the woods behind his house.

One day, while wandering through the woods, Jack stumbled upon a hollow tree. As he peered inside, he saw a glimmering object tucked away in the back. It was a small key, but it looked different from any other key he had ever seen before. It was made of gold and had a small diamond embedded in the top. Jack couldn't believe his luck! He knew that magic keys were very rare and could unlock all sorts of amazing things. So, he decided to take the key and see what it could do.

After a long search, Jack finally found the door that the key unlocked. Behind the door was a hidden treasure room filled with gold, jewels, and all sorts of magical objects. There were ancient books filled with spells and potions, a crystal ball that could show you the future, and even a flying broomstick! Jack was amazed! He couldn't believe he had found such a wonderful treasure. He knew that it would help his family, who were struggling financially. So, he took as much treasure as he could carry and headed back home.

As he walked through the woods, Jack thought about how he could use the treasure to help his family
. He knew that his parents had been working long hours at the farm and still struggled to make ends meet. With the treasure, they wouldn't have to worry about money anymore. They could buy new clothes, fix up their house, and maybe even take a vacation.

When Jack finally arrived home, he showed his family the treasure and explained how he had found it. They were shocked and grateful. From that day on, things were different for Jack and his family. They had a newfound sense of security and joy. And Jack knew that he would always treasure the memory of his adventure in the woods.

Step 6: Peer Editing 
After editing and proofreading your story, it's a good idea to have a peer editor read it over and provide feedback. This can help you identify any areas that may need improvement and get a fresh perspective on your writing.

Example: Here's an example of how peer editing might work for Jack's story:

Peer Editor: 

"Hi Jack, I really enjoyed reading your story! Your descriptions were really vivid and I felt like I was right there with you in the woods. 

One thing I noticed, though, is that you didn't describe Jack's younger sister very much. 

I think it would be nice to know a little more about her and how she felt about the treasure. 

Also, you mentioned that Jack's parents were struggling financially, but you didn't really explain why. 

It might be helpful to add a little more backstory there. Great job overall, though!"

Jack: "Thanks for your feedback! That's a really good point about my sister. 

I'll try to include more about her in the next draft. And I can definitely add more backstory about my parents, too. 

Thanks again for your help!"

By following these steps, you can improve your writing and make it the best it can be. Remember to be open to feedback and willing to make changes to your writing, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a great writer!

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