How peer review affects Chinese college students' English writing abilities

Abstract

The quantitative study investigates whether the method peer review can improve Chinese college students' English writing abilities. The subjects are 64 students from Minzu University of China. The research finds that the method peer review can improve the students' writing level and be appreciated by most students because it has many advantages. For example, peer review helps students to revise their papers, to improve the content and organization of their writing and to build interest and confidence in English writing. On the other side, a few students regret it, as they feel instinctively that only a better writer (or a native speaker) is qualified to judge or comment on their written work, or they think that peer review consumes time. The author believes that systematic training can help Chinese college students review their peers' paper better. © 2012 ACADEMY PUBLISHER Manufactured in Finland.