How To Review Other People’s Writing
Asked to review a friend’s writing and got no idea what to do? Here’s a list of the things you need to focus on if you’re gonna be of help:
1. Find out the writer’s goals. What does the writer intend to do? Who’s the audience for the paper? What is the work trying o accomplish? Those things ultimately define whether a piece succeeds or not. Read the draft completely once, without suggesting any changes, to check if it accomplishes these aims.
2. Offer appropriate criticism. Avoid being harsh. There’s immense value in being honest, but you don’t need to be a dick about it. It’s fine to criticize, but be mindful of the writer’s feelings when you do.
3. Focus on a few specific things.
- Point out which parts of the draft are great. That way, they’ll get positive feedback about the effective elements of the work.
- Concentrate on the large issues and the primary ways in which it can be improved. It’s fine to overlook the small stuff – the writer will likely have limited time to revise anyway, so focusing on the big changes needed should prove more helpful for them.
- Pay particular attention to the introduction and conclusion. Does the former clearly announce the topic on hand, suggesting the approach that will be taken? Does the latter sufficiently close up the piece, tying the individual components together?
- Describe what you perceive as the writing’s main point, its organizational style, its most effective rhetorical patterns and other things. That will give the writer an idea of how an audience will pick up on what they wrote.
4. This goes without saying, but always suggest your friend use a comprehensive writing software during their drafts.