GUIDELINES FOR EDITING YOUR WORK /PEER EDITING

 

REVISING FOR CONTENT:

·        Does the writing have a main idea or central focus? Is the THESIS clear?

·        Is there enough detail/evidence to support the thesis? Where might the writer add                                                                                 a telling detail,                                                  revealing quotation, or vivid example?

·        Is any material irrelevant, unnecessary or confusing?

 

REVISING FOR STRUCTURE:

·        Is the writing unified, so that all ideas and supporting evidence relate to the main idea or                                                           advance the thesis?

·        Is the writing clear and coherent? Is the flow of sentences and paragraphs smooth and logical?

·        Does the writer need to include any transitional words or phrases to make the relationships among                                                  ideas clearer?

·        Are the sentences well constructed? Are they varied? Are there any sentences that might be                                                      combined to improve the grace and rhythm of the writing?

 

PROOFREADING TO CORRECT MISTAKES IN GRAMMAR, USAGE & PUNCTUATION

·        Are there any run-on sentences or fragments?

·        Do all verbs agree with their subjects?

·        Do all pronouns agree with their antecedents?

·        Are all verb tenses correct and CONSISTENT?

·        Are all words spelled correctly?

·        Is there any punctuation missing, needed or incorrectly applied?

·        Are all proper nouns and adjectives capitalized?

 

PEER READERS SHOULD:

·        Respect the writer’s feelings.

·        Make sure you know what kind of feedback the writer is looking for, and then respond                                                              accordingly.

·        Use “I” statements such as “I would like…” or “I think that…” or “It would help me                                                                                       if you…” Remember  that your opinions and impressions may not be the same as others.

 

PEER READERS: Please make comments at the end of the paper you are editing that                                                                      reflect the above categories and are constructive. DO NOT RE-WRITE THEIR PAPER; rather,                                                                                        make suggestions for improvements,  ask clarifying questions, and DO offer specific praise for                                                             parts of the paper that are especially well done.