Expository Essay

I’m in the process of working on a mid-term exam for my Ethics class, and it’s time for a break. My thoughts during this break are on the various writing projects I’ve had to for this class, as well as for my Writing 101 class. We’re in the process of writing expository essays that will go through a peer reviewing process. My topic is:

Explain the consequences of having a job while in high school

I just received the essay I need to work on a peer review for and, I’m finding the process very exciting and rewarding. It’s much like a partnered critique in that we’re working together on each other’s work in order to create a polished final copy. The difference between critiquing and peer reviewing, though, is that the comments and biases are left out of the process.

More specifically:

• Peer review is the evaluation of creative work or performance by other people in the same field in order to maintain or enhance the quality of the work or performance in that field. [source]
• critique [kri-teek] noun, verb, -tiqued, -tiquing.
  –noun
  1. an article or essay criticizing a literary or other work; detailed evaluation; review.
  2. a criticism or critical comment on some problem, subject, etc.
  3. the art or practice of criticism.
  –verb (used with object) to review or analyze critically. [source]

I’m always VERY nervous when my work is put under a microscope, no matter what the circumstance is. Now that the break from my mid-term exam has concluded, it’s time for me to get back to work. I’ll begin work on the peer review of my partner’s work this evening. She’s chosen a great topic: Private School vs. Public School. I can’t wait to read her work!