Peer editing

You cannot always count on a teacher to review your writing. Your teacher may have many students in her class. Or you may not have a formal teacher. Perhaps you have an online teacher, or you are learning to write on your own. “Flying solo” is not something writers should do. For every writer there must be a reader. The first reader is you. Reading a piece of writing and making/suggesting corrections is called “proofreading”. After you proofread your own writing, find a “peer editor” to check your work again and make suggestions.

Peer editing is an excellent strategy. It helps the writer receive input and guidance, and it also helps the peer editor understand how to improve his or her own writing

Why peer editing?

• to help writers see their writing from a reader’s perspective
• to share what is working well and any suggestions to improve the piece
• to assist writers in revising with a real reader or audience in mind, creating a dynamic and friendly partnership
• to help writers formulate an agenda for revision, brainstorming a helpful list of actions to develop a stronger piece of writing

Who is peer-editor?

The peer editor helps the writer submit, post or publish a piece of writing. This person does not fix all of the mistakes. The peer editor helps the writer fix her own mistakes. Think of your peer editor as a teacher or tutor. It is easier to spot another person’s mistakes than it is to spot your own.

Descriptive paragraph

A descriptive paragraph describes a thing, a person, or a place. Detailed information allows the reader to form an image in his or her imagination. The better the description, the clearer the image.

A descriptive paragraph provides a vibrant experience for the reader through vivid language and descriptions of something. Unlike narrative paragraphs, which must include personal thoughts, feelings, and growth, descriptive paragraphs do not need to be personal in nature. Instead, descriptive paragraphs must focus on vividly and objectively describing something to the reader. In order to provide this vivid detail, the writer must use language that appeals to the reader’s five senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. To appeal to these senses, the writer must use descriptive language, usually in the form of adjectives, that describes the sensations felt by the senses.

Explanatory paragraph

Explanatory paragraphs, also known as expository paragraphs, give an overall description of something that may be difficult to understand. These paragraphs are comprised of information that concisely and clearly explain a process or present other people’s opinions or views in detail without being overly analytical or critical, according to Word-Mart.com, an online grammar and writing resource. Effective explanatory paragraphs are written smoothly and have fluidity.

Transition words

Using transition words in your writing can help you enhance the readability of your content. These words help your text flow and show readers the relationship between phrases and paragraphs. That’s why the readability check in Yoast SEO provides feedback on your use of transition words. But what are they exactly? Why are they so important? And how should you use them?

Transition words are words like ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘so’ and ‘because’. They show your reader the relationship between phrases, sentences, or even paragraphs. When you use them, you make it easier for your readers to understand how your thoughts and ideas are connected. What is more, they prepare your reader for what’s coming.