If you have submitted the writing task for this session, you can assess someone else’s writing. By providing feedback to your classmates‘ writing,  you apply what you have learned and thus you become active in your learning. You can learn from the successes and mistakes of others and develop a better understanding of writing as a skill. Peer reviews are anonymous. You do not see the identity of a person who submitted the text, and you will not be able to see who assesses your writing. 

To provide peer assessment, go to Writing Task 2, choose one contribution, read it (at least twice) and provide feedback as a reply to a particular forum entry. Please choose a contribution that hasn't been assessed by anyone else yet (if possible). Here are some criteria you can take into consideration:

• Does the paragraph begin with a topic sentence? (not applicable in this case as you were given a topic sentence)
• Is the theme or the description supported by specific details?
• Is the paragraph unified? (that means that the paragraph deal with one topic only and it’s the topic introduced in a topic sentence)
• Are the ideas presented in the paragraph logically organized?
• Is the language used appropriate (formal)?
• Is the paragraph properly concluded?
• Is the paragraph revised so as to correct grammatical, spelling and punctuation mistakes?

You will get the points for peer assessment if you write at least 5 sentences.

Comments on paragraph writing

1) Activity 2: topic sentence

Well crafted topic sentences:

(B)

Drinking water is important for your health. (Joshua Wheeler)

The human body needs to be hydrated to function properly. (Adriana Czanner)

Hydration is essential for human bodies to function properly. (Jitka Kadrnožková)

(C)

Well balanced diet is crucial for maintaining a healthy body. (Veronika Čevelová)

The key to healthy lifestyle is a proper diet. (Valentýna Bechná)

Balanced diet is the key to your well-being. (Kateřina Suková)

2) Common expressions to state your opinion:

I think/ suppose/ believe that ... ; in my opinion; from my point of view; to my mind; as for me; speaking personally

You don't need to use those expressions when it is clear that you express your own ideas, e. g. when you write about your favourite book/country/movie etc. It is appropriate to use them when you contrast your opinion with someone else's opinion.

3) Grammar and spelling mistakes

To avoid grammar and spelling mistakes, you can try using one of the online grammar checkers. I can recommend Grammarly which I find extremely helpful. It's free, easy to use, it can find and fix all kinds of mistakes, including punctuation (Czech students have a tendency to overuse commas), it also provides grammar explanations, it suggests synonyms for too colloquial expressions. 

https://www.grammarly.com/

4) Examples of good paragraphs

Notice a proper use of linking words (this is because ...; in addition to this) that make the text easy to follow:

The biggest benefit of going to university is not what you learn, but the people you meet there. They can have a significant impact on your personal life but similarly on your work life too. This is because in the current working world it is not about what you know rather who you know. Networking and making connections is essentially everything, it not only provides mutual benefit for all parties involved but is also capable of catapulting one’s professional career. In addition to this, professional connections allow an opportunity for growth and advancement in knowledge and skill as they enable you to exchange information with different peers. Despite the many benefits that having links and contacts possess, all of them are of no use if not utilized effectively. To do this one must use all the resources they have to their full advantage and be intentional when making connections making sure that they will be able to aid in the necessary ways. Seeing as networking is not unilateral, one must also seek out ways to help others especially those that have assisted them in the past, which will help make the relationship stronger and long-lasting. (Deisy Nhatuve)

When the topic sentence prompts you to be more personal, it is better to write about your own experience:

I have always loved literature. Ever since I was a child, I have immersed myself in various tales and fantasies to escape my tedious life at home. Although I am much fonder of illustrated pieces because of the captivating images, I can appreciate non-illustrated writing as it exhorts me to make use of my vivid imagination. My deep love for literary text has pushed me to write and publish my own work. At the beginning of this journey, I struggled tremendously when selecting the plot as I just could not choose. I had a plethora of ideas bouncing around in my head and at such a quick rate that I could barely jot all of them on paper. Fortunately, I have managed to organize my thoughts and finalize the main idea for my writing project. (Deisy Nhatuve)

I have always loved literature. The main reason for that is the great relaxation it offers. The feeling when I sit on my favourite bench, listening to nature sounds and immerse myself in the story is irreplaceable. Also, I believe that our imagination and memory is improved greatly thanks to reading and what is more, we can broaden our horizons and widen our vocabulary. I will never forget those days when I was reading Harry Potter stories, one of the first books I had ever read. I used every spare minute to find out more about Hogwarts and the wizarding world and loved talking about the story with my friends. I am confident that books will always be a very vital part of my life and I would love everyone to enjoy them the same way. (Barbora Pencová)

Many of you also managed to conclude the paragraph in a meaningful way:

 Computers are very useful for learning English. With the aid of the Internet, there is a vast amount of resources to study the language from. Whether it be from YouTube videos, learning applications (such as Duolingo) or reading .pdf files of well-known books in English, without the need to spend money on the physical copies. Some English textbooks are even available online. You can also join Facebook groups or Discord servers for foreign learners of English. Computers make studying a language and creating communities easier than ever. (Denisa Puršová)

Computers are very useful for learning English.
The usage of e-learning programs has grown in popularity over the last decade. Schools use e-learning in many subjects, especially when it comes to foreign languages such as English. Apart from these more controlled activities, computers offer students a plethora of options. The most notable ones are countless reputable dictionaries, for example, Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries. With the help of computers, learning English is more engaging and flexible. (Tomáš Boček)

Computers are very useful for learning English. Nowadays, with the continuous progress of science and technology, computer has become an indispensable part of our life, of course, English learning is no exception. For those of us who are not native speakers, it is really important to create an English environment for ourselves in the process of learning English. That’s where the computer comes in. We can try to find a language-exchange partner via internet, as well as to watch some original English movies or TV shows, and also to download English novels and read them when we on our leisure time, etc. All of these things which we can get only through computers and the Internet when we are living in a non-native English-speaking country, might help us to create an English-speaking environment by ourselves, and continue to grow in English learning. (Xuechun Hao)

5) Feedback on your feedback
Many of you provided useful comments (Yumi Grace Okereke, Julie Secová, Lucie Pokorná and many others), thank you. I also appreciate that many of you did not focus just on mistakes and flaws but highlighted passages you liked.

Please use this forum to ask any questions you have about this course, to share your tips, to brainstorm about tasks