You will write in circles of 3 to 5 (at least 3 so you get more than one

other opinion). You may be working on the same genre at the same time. Perhaps everyone in the circle is working on a personal narrative. We follow this procedure:

1. You appoint a recorder and brainstorm together for memories for

personal narratives.

2. When you have a long list (happy memories, sad memories, scary

memories, first times, etc.), you each choose three of your own to

work on.

3. Individually you start webbing or listing details you remember.

4. In the group you rehearse your paper by telling your stories to

each other. Each group member has a person appointed as his/her

recorder, who jots down the details as the person tells his story.

5. Group members then ask questions of the writer and the recorder jots

down the answers to the groups questions.

6. Recorders give your notes to the writer who, with the recorder

notes and his/her own listing or webbing, then writes the rough draft.

7. When all members have your rough drafts, you get back into the

group and read your drafts twice to your group members. The first

time group members just listen. The second time you jot down comments

and questions (What I really liked, what I didn't understand, what I

would like to know more about and What I heard, What I noticed, What I wonder – check the practice peer review site)

8. Group members jot down the answers or writers comments on your

questions.

9. Group members give your comments and questions to the writer who

then writes the second draft.

10. Groups then read each other your new draft and add any more fine

tuning to comments.

11. Individual members then conference with the teacher on your

papers, and take feedback back to do your final draft.

12. Group members prepare the clean copy of your final draft, correct

any grammatical errors that you recognize and publish your writing,

either on the class bulletin board or on your individual web sites.

13. This is how we will do each piece of writing. Sometimes the group collaborates on one piece of group writing (Choose Your Own Adventure Stories, or HYperlinked Fables). Then you are working together to write one group piece.

14. You will form different groups several times throughout the semester so that you get used to working with each other