CS 100: Term Paper Buffer Credit via Review

Buffer Credit is additional credit that can be garnered to make up for mistakes in other parts of an assignment. If credit is lost in a required section, completing the Buffer Credit section replaces the lost credit. Buffer credit will not move the total score for an assignment above 100%.

You may earn up to 10% buffer credit on term paper. There are two ways to earn buffer credit on the term paper. You may only utilize one of these for buffer credit. Both follow a similar pattern.

• Finish a draft of at least 2 pages of your paper (not counting figures, single spaced, 11-12pt font)
• Print a copy of this page along with the reviewer evaluation form at the bottom.
• Find a reviewer to look over your paper. Reviewers can be either a Peer Reviewer who is another student or a Writing Center Reviewer.
• Discuss the strengths, weaknesses, and omissions of your paper so that you know how to make improvements to it
• Have your reviewer fill out the reviewer evaluation form.
• Turn in the filled out reviewer evaluation along with other materials by the deadline at the top of this page to earn your buffer credit.
• Buffer credit will be assigned based on the review form scores and any other materials you submit.
• Late submissions will receive no credit.

• Find a peer student who is in CS 100.
• Give your peer reviewer a printed draft of your assignment and have them review it making annotations on the printed draft. When your peer reviewer is finished reviewing the paper, discuss their feedback with them and formulate a plan of how to make improvements.
• Have your reviewer fill out the reviewer evaluation.
• Make a photocopy of your annotated draft to submit.

A good strategy is to find a partner and swap paper drafts. Review each others paper and then have a meeting where to discuss with each other how to improve. You may both earn buffer credit this way.

Submit two things in class.

• The filled out reviewer evaluation AND
• A photocopy of your draft as annotated by your reviewer along with any notes about how you plan to improve the paper.

The GMU Writing Center is a great resource for getting help with your writing. A face-to-face tutoring session is an excellent way for you to get feedback and make improvements to your paper. You can eve make appointments via an online scheduler at the writing center. To get buffer credit by visiting the writing center, do the following.

• Make a face-to-face appointment (no video appointments)
• Bring a draft of your paper that is at least 2 pages long, single spaced
• Discuss the paper and work with the writing center tutor to make improvements to your paper

Submit one thing in class.

• The filled out reviewer evaluation

Reviewers of your term paper draft should fill out the following information on a printed/physical copy of this page. You will hand this form in to earn buffer credit.

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Student Name:

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Reviewer Name:

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The reviewer is a (circle one):

• PEER REVIEWER
• WRITING CENTER REVIEWER

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REVIEWER: Rate the student on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (brilliant) for the following criteria.

Preparedness

The student's draft was at least 2 pages single-spaced and contained content relevant to their topic and effort devoted to writing quality.

Circle one:

(Bad!)

1

2

3

4

5

(Brilliant!)

Engagemenet

The student participated in the review, listened to feedback, benefitted from the review, and made a plan to improve.

Circle one:

(Bad!)

1

2

3

4

5

(Brilliant!)

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Reviewer Signature:

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