The definition and peer review assignments taught me the importance of professional feedback. For the definition I experimented with a few words before choosing Botrytis Cinerea. The term had enough nuance and history to support a parenthetical, sentence and expanded definition. I also experimented with the structure of the expanded definition. My reading context was a customer asking questions about the winemaking process. The reading context informed my approach to writing the expanded definition. Botrytis Cinerea had to sound enticing to the customer. It was vital to include examples of wines that use botrytized grapes and the folk story. Editing and rewriting the definition gave me the opportunity to learn more about Botrytis Cinerea which is much appreciated.
The peer review process proved to very beneficial. In creative writing courses it is required that students provide feedback letters on their peer’s work. In feedback letters it can be challenging to provide critique without sounding harsh. The textbook and handout illustrated how to provide professional and polite feedback. It taught me how to clearly state the perceived error and politely make suggestions for revision. This includes using the word “would” when recommending suggestions in order to make feedback sound less confrontational. These instructions informed my peer review. The goal was to provide clear and precise feedback for my partner Ms. Lea Ang Salamanca. I hope she found my suggestions helpful.
Ms. Salamanca’s peer review highlighted both technical and structural issues in my definition. Her suggestions were helpful and they informed my revision. I added additional edits to my definition in order to enhance clarity. Peer reviewing a definition allowed me to practice writing professional feedback. I will apply the lessons I learned in this exercise to my creative writing feedback letters.
Revised Definition
Peer Review of Botrytis Cinera