It seems like in every writing course I have had to write a paper for, I have had a peer workshop. I think these are helpful in a way, but then again I think they are a waste of time also. I feel that if a student has a lot of their paper done and another student comments on his or her paper, that student is not going to take the time to make all the changes the other student has mentioned to do if it is a big hassle. In a lot of cases I feel, that when students read other students work, their response is “oh good job” or “yes I think this is good” which does not really give the full feedback in what a student wants or needs. I think it is good to do a peer workshop when a student has an outline of what he or she is going to write about. I do not think it is very good to do a peer workshop when the student has a rough draft of what he or she is going to write about. When having an idea like an outline of what a student is going to write about, it is good for another student to make comments and concerns about their piece of writing so that student has a good idea of what is good and bad before he or she even starts writing. I think with the rough drafts, I think that should be a time where the professor or teacher is able to make comments or concerns with the piece of writing rather than the other students.

Overall I think peer workshops are a good idea, but from past experiences I know that many professors do it differently. I think sometimes it puts a lot of stress on the students to have a dead line for certain things he or she need to have done in time just for some feedback from other students. However, it may be a good idea because it could keep a student on task.