Online Workshopping Guide

Technical tips and process advice

Why we workshop

For writers:

Multiple perspectives

Reader reaction

“New Eyes”

For readers:

Analysis practice

“Stealable” techniques

Modeling (and counter-modeling)

How we do it

Most complex (MS Word Reviewing features)

Pros: Lots of features, built into Word, easier to use (once you know how)

Cons: Incompatible, sometimes unpredictable

FIRST STEP!

Save a new copy of the file with your name.

annas percy paper.doc > annas percy paper ian comments.doc

“Track Changes” in Word

“Track Changes” in Word

Review > Add Comment

“Track Changes” in Word

Review > Track Changes

Further Tips:

Group member doesn’t have MS Word? Export as PDF (Mac: “Save as PDF” in the Print window; PC: install a PDF exporter as a printer)

Use comments without “track changes”

If you don’t know how to do it: use something simpler

How we do it part 2

Not as complex (type directly in the document)

Pros: Compatible with everyone, relatively easy to use, very flexible

Cons: Gets confusing easily; every comment must be marked

Save a new copy with your name in the file

Type right into the document

Change the font color

Make sure you mark every comment

Further Tips:Use other methods to differentiate your comments (font size, etc), but make sure it’s clearly different from the text.

It’s harder to make corrections and deletions using this method; I usually just write “oops” next to mistakes.

Don’t get too fancy--it will just consume time

Learn about “Format Painter” (MS Word) or “Copy and Paste Format” (Mac) to speed this up

How we do it part 3

Easiest method (just type some comments at the end of the paper)

Pros: Foolproof, no need to format, allows you to reflect on the paper

Cons: Very hard to make specific comments about issues on individual pages, important to include a lot

End of the paper

My comments

Don’t forget!

Save a new copy with your name in the file before you make changes

Further Tips:Write a lot. Because there are no comments in the rest of the paper, you have to make it all up here.

Be specific. “Some stuff seems vague still” is not very helpful—try to be as clear as possible.

For all methods:Comment on every paper you receive on time. If you receive a peer’s paper late, then comments on it are optional.

Write about two substantive, specific comments (or questions) per page. Or, write about a half of page at the end.

:) and :-) are not comments. They are smiley faces. Also, “Nice Paper!!!” is almost meaningless. Try to be specific.