In workshop, after a reader has read, you take 15 minutes or so to re-read his or her piece while ANNOTATING it with extensive commentary. Write all the notes you can think of, ask questions, underline or star things you like, make marginalia notes about things you don't get or don't like. You will be handing this back to the author.
When you've finished your detailed notes, you need to take a moment to compose your thoughts and break down what you think is most important about your response to the piece. A big part of this is reflecting to the reader what your experience of reading their work was. A second piece is highlighting one or two things that stuck out to you positively and one or two suggestions for changes (not necessarily improvements; your suggestions could be exploratory). Grosso modo, your four comments should be:
1. Describe, in two or three sentences, what your general impression of this piece was and what you feel are the words that most clearly describe it.
2. Give an example of one or two of your favorite things about the piece. Quote!
3. Give an example of something that made you uncomfortable, confused, or dissatisfied in the piece. Quote!
4. Give a suggestion for a substantial change or expansion to be made. (E.G. "Develop a whole conversation where she tells him she's going to Vegas; consider making him reveal that he is actually gay) and explain WHY you think this change would be interesting or useful (don't be gratuitous or random).
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