Peer Editing Sheet
Peer Editing Checklist
Name of author: ______
Title:______
Reviewer: ______
Needs Work / Good / Outstanding1. Writing holds the reader’s interest.
2. Writing is well organized, with introduction, body, and conclusion.
3. Grammar and spelling are correct.
4. Sentences and paragraphs are punctuated properly.
5. Sentences are clear and concise.
6. Writing contains vivid verbs and vibrant adjectives.
7. Piece of writing has an engaging title.
8. Piece of writing is the required length and uses dialogue.
9. Describe the tone of this essay.
10. Describe your initial reaction to the essay (First Reading Response). You could discuss ethos, pathos, logos. You could discuss whether or not you identify a sense of entitlement. Other ideas?
Organization & Detail
Have all the instructions for the assignment been followed?
Did the writer use an attention-getter (hook)? Does the first paragraph make you want to keep reading? Are their any anecdotes, specific details, facts, and statistics to increase interest in the essay?
Is there clear focus in the paper? Write a statement below that summarizes what you understand to be that focus.
How does the writer support all the main details? Give specific feedback concerning what you discover in this regard.
Is there a title? Does it connect with the heart of the essay? If no title, help the writer brainstorm a title.
Content
Do you sense a structure in the paper? Can you determine the logic behind it? Is the argument easy to follow in his or her arrangement?
Do the transitions (both between sentences and between paragraphs) help to connect ideas? If not, what other structural changes could the writer make? Would other transitional devices be more appropriate?
If the writer is working with fiction, is the plot summary of that fiction too lengthy? Or does the writer strike a good balance between his or her ideas and details from the argument?
Is the paper interesting? What are the most interesting/convincing sections of the paper? How could the writer expand upon these sections or make the rest of the paper as interesting?
Are there sections of the paper that are better written than others? If so, do you think these sections are better focused, with the ideas more completely defined? How can the writer bring the rest of the essay up to this level?
Style
Is the style understandable? Also, is the style appropriate for the intended audience? Are there too many linking verbs (is/are/was/were) in the writing? Check, too, for overuse of the passive voice ("was written").
Is the writer too tentative about her or his thoughts? Does she or he rely heavily on phrases such as "I think.” or "It seems" or "approximately?”
Read one more time for conventions. Use editing marks to correct grammar and spelling errors.
Do you see a better order for the paragraphs than the way they are now?
Additional Feedback
Write three positive comments about the paper.
1. ______
2. ______
3. ______
Write three suggestions for improvement.
1. ______
2. ______
3. ______