Peer editing sheets

SHORT STORY PEER REVISION
Name of author:________________________Title of Story:_____________________
Name of editor:_________________________
Plot with Conflict (ideas and content, organization)

1. Rewrite the first sentence here:____________________________________________

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Does the first sentence make the reader want to read on? What technique do they use for an effective beginning?



How might this be improved?


Provide an example of a rewritten beginning (at least two sentences).


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2. Is the rest of the paragraph equally as gripping? Did it start in the “middle of things”? If yes, what was done exceptionally well? If not, what can be done to improve it?




3. List the external conflict(s) in the story.



Are there too many external conflicts for a three-page story? Is it too complex to slow down the action and fit the three-page limit? Explain.



Does the conflict involve a power struggle of some sort? Explain this struggle.

4. List the internal conflicts of the story.






5. Are there any internal or external conflicts the writer could add or elaborate on to increase suspense? Give at least one suggestion to raise the stakes.



6. Quote two passages that set up the conflict in the story.
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7. Are the conflict and plot (what happens) realistic? Do you believe it could happen?

Is it an original idea or is it too familiar?

What could be changed to make it more realistic or original?




8. What is the climax of the story (the most exciting part or turning point) of the story)?


How does the author slow it down? (provide specific examples of at least 2 techniques they use to slow this down).




9. What did the author do really well with the climax?




How could the climax be improved?



10. Should the story be cut? Mark any unnecessary or redundant information.




11. Is there a section of writing that does not relate to our conflict or climax?



Does it need more information? Where?





SHORT STORY PEER REVISION
Name of author:________________________Title of Story:_____________________
Name of editor:_________________________
CHARACTERS (ideas and content/ word choice/ voice)

1. Who is the main character of the story? Is the character realistic? Did the author go beyond stereotyping?

Describe this character in a short paragraph.








2. How do you know these details about the character? Did the writer avoid telling/ explaining the character? If not, point out places where the “telling” occurs.

How does the writer show (not simply tell) the character to the reader (through actions, dialogue, setting, interactions, etc.)?

Give two details from the story where the writer shows something about the character.






3. What are some sensory details the author could add to show more about the main character?




4. What is the character’s external conflict (or conflicts)?





5. What are the character’s internal conflicts?

6. Should anything be added to the character’s internal conflicts that fit the character’s personality? What would you suggest?

7. Does the main character speak? Do other characters speak? Where could dialogue be added to give characters a voice?



SETTING (ideas and content/ word choice/ voice)

1. Is there a sense of setting at the start of the story (within the first two paragraphs)? Quote two sentences that show the reader where the story takes place.





2. Did the writer avoid telling (explaining) the setting? If not, point out places where the telling occurs. If they showed the setting, write down examples of how they did this here.






3. Should there be more concrete details about the setting? Are sensory words used (sight, taste, smell, sound, touch)? Give an example for each of the senses where the writer explored these. Then, after the example, provide another way they could have described the setting.
Author’s example Editor’s example
SIGHT:


TASTE:


SMELL:


SOUND:


TOUCH:


4. Does the author create an emotional landscape? What emotion is being carried throughout the story? How does the author do this? If they are not doing this, what can they add or change to create this?






SHORT STORY PEER REVISION
Name of author:________________________Title of Story:_____________________
Name of editor:_________________________
SYNTAX (conventions, sentence fluency, and voice)


1. Are the sentences interesting? What makes them interesting? Provide a specific example in this space and explain why it’s interesting. Mark specific instances where you think the author has done a good job or needs to improve on their paper.



Give an example and mark specific instances where you think the author needs to improve.



2. Are there a variety of sentence lengths (short and long)?


3. Do the paragraphs flow and fit together? Are paragraphs indented?


4. Does the author indent each new speaker when using dialog?



5. Are there complete sentences? Mark where the author needs to improve and give suggestions.



6. Is the spelling, punctuation, and capitalization correct? Mark directly on their draft where changes need to be made.




7. Is the story written in the same tense (past, present) or does it switch?


8. What is the author’s voice (serious, funny casual, etc)?


Is it consistent throughout the story? If not, explain where it changes.