312 chAPTER 10 | FRom REvising To EdiTing: WoRking WiTh PEER gRouPs• ^ Were topics always brought up with a question or a comment?
• ^ Who initiated talk more^ frequently^ —^ the writer or the readers?
• ^ What roles did different group members play?
• did each author open with specific questions or concerns?
• did the readers begin by giving specific reactions?
After answering these questions, identify two things that are working well
in your group. then identify two things that you could improve. How
would you go about making those improvements?
When we asked our students what they thought contributed to effec-
tive conversation in their writing groups, here is what they told us:• ^ honest and spontaneous expression
• ^ free interaction among members
• ^ high levels of personal involvement
• ^ members’ commitment to insight and change
• ^ the sense that^ self-^ disclosure is safe and highly valued
• ^ members’ willingness to take responsibility for the group’s effectiveness
• ^ members’ belief that the group is important
• ^ members’ belief that they are primary agents of help for one another
• ^ members’ focus on communication within the group over other
discussions10_GRE_60141_Ch10_286_312.indd 312 11/3/14 8:13 AM