Studies have shown that we can learn to write and speak more effectively by critiquing the writing and speaking of others. To help you become better communicators, the structure of this class is based on the dual processes of writing and reading, informing and being informed, talking and listening, composing and critiquing. You will learn about how to send the right and the clearest message by receiving messages and documents from your peers in the class. You will have the opportunity to critique the writing and presenting of others and to be critiqued by your peers before you have to hand in an assignment or make a presentation for grading.

Early in the semester, students in each lab section will be assigned to a particular lab team of 4-5 members. Team members will act as supporters and constructive critics of each other's work each week during lab. Each team should think of itself as an office or division within an engineering consulting firm, able to provide services in many sub-disciplines of engineering. The consulting firm is the entire lab section and should have a name (and perhaps a logo) each lab member may use on written documents.

You will also have the opportunity to work in a two-person partnership on your semester-long project, sharing with your partner the writing of your written assignments and the presenting of your work throughout the semester (at least the Final Oral Presentation). Toward the end of the semester, you will hand in a written evaluation of how you and your partner (or your lab mates) worked together. Please download the form now: PEER PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Peer Review

 

Project Rationale and Methodology questions

For each written assignment, you will first write a draft the week before the assignment is due. For that lab session, you will bring the draft (both hardcopy and an electronic form) and swap it with another student. That student will read it and write a review at the same time that you are reading and reviewing his/her draft. Your draft will be returned to you with comments on its strength, clarity, purpose, structure, and language. These comments should help you to revise and edit your draft, both in lab and on your own, until you have a polished final version ready for turning in to the instructor. A couple of labs will focus on critiquing oral presentations (as preparation for your Final Presentation).

 

Don't forget that a significant percentage of your class-participation grade is based on the thoughtfulness and the writing strength of these reviews. Please take all these peer reviews seriously -- ultimately, you will be the beneficiary.

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