6.4: Evaluate
- Page ID
- 331512
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Once you’ve written your draft, it’s time to take a step back to see how you’ve done. It can be difficult to be objective when evaluating your own writing. Using the rubric for the assignment can be helpful. You can also go section by section, and point by point, asking yourself, “is this pointing to my thesis?"
Getting feedback from others is an important and helpful step when drafting any writing. Professional writers have editors or other writers read and critique their work. This isn’t always pleasant, but it’s important to get feedback from a different point of view since we can’t always read our own work objectively. In addition, other people may provide helpful ideas or other perspectives. When you receive feedback, consider it a way to improve your work and your writing rather than negative criticism. That’s easier said than done, but know that the people who read your work, whether your teacher, your peers, or your friends, want you to do well and grow as a writer.
Peer reviews:
Most writing students will participate in peer review workshops in their classes. When done well, peer reviews can be very helpful. Hopefully your teacher provides sufficient guidelines to lead you through your workshop.
Sometimes students don’t feel comfortable critiquing another student’s work. They might feel they don’t know enough about writing or don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. However, you are a member of the class community and have an objective and valuable opinion on your peer’s paper. Here are a few suggestions for commenting on a peer’s work.
- Talk about the writing, not the writer.
- Start by finding something that you like about the paper.
- Make suggestions about clarity such as: “I’m not sure I get this part…” or “This is hard to understand for me.” or “This could be clearer.”
- Ask questions. “I wonder if it would help to…” or “Does this mean…” or “Could this be explained a little more?”
- Make a small suggestion. I think I’d add…” or “Maybe this could move to…” or “I’d take this out if it were me.”
Another way to get valuable feedback is to take advantage of a in-person or online writing center. There are usually tutors trained in writing who can offer helpful suggestions. Be aware that their job is to give feedback on writing, not proofread or edit. They will not go through your paper and check the grammar. They will, however, look at your thesis, organization, paragraphs, and sentences.
Besides getting feedback on drafts, tutors at the writing center can help you throughout your writing process. They can help you choose topics, brainstorm ideas, organize your thoughts, think of a thesis statement, and help you with citations and bibliographies. So, don’t be afraid to visit your school’s writing tutors. They’re probably just waiting for someone to come in and ask for help.
If your teacher has been kind enough to offer to read and comment on your paper, take advantage of it. When they do give advice, take it seriously. The same goes for when papers are returned with comments. Read them carefully and take them as advice for the next paper. If your teacher allows revisions after grading, then follow all the advice to improve your next draft. Instructors are very busy, so if they take time to give you feedback, appreciate it.