I’m in grad school to become an elementary teacher. Last week in my Literature class, I learned how to do reading and writing assessments for my students. I found the whole experience rather fascinating.
Being a writer myself, I knew I’d need to critique my students’ writing, and I knew that I’d need to work with them on their reading. But it never occurred to me that I would have to do reading and and writing assessments. Check out this scan of the rubric we used in class for a fifth grade writing assessment. It’s intense!
Kind of overwhelming, right? Well, the good news is, students never see these. These rubrics are a tool for the teacher to monitor how the student is doing. I think they’re also kind of helpful to look at and think about my own writing strengths and weaknesses. Ooh! Which brings me to my next point.
In my class, as we listened to videos of kids reading and later read samples of students writing, our teacher taught us something cool. After we do our assessment form on a child’s reading or writing, we then make two sets of notes, right on the page. This is so we can remember what happened and make a plan. And also so we can look back and track improvement over the year to share with the student and parents. First we write “Strengths” and list what the student does well. Then we write “Next Steps” and list what the student needs to work on next.
I loved this!
I’ve never liked writing “weaknesses” on anyone’s manuscript, so I found the phrase “Next Steps” a perfect substitution. Notice also that my teacher started with strengths and ended with next steps. Later on, she’ll meet with each student and have a little conference as to how they’re doing in which she’ll share the strengths and next steps and a plan to tackle the next steps.
I think this is so great, and it is how I will critique in the future.
- Share strengths, what the writer is doing well.
- Share some next steps to work on to strengthen the writing.
- Give suggestions as to how the author could make a plan to improve on the things listed in Step 2.
Easy peasy! And really nice too.
If you’re new to the idea of critiquing, we’ve written many posts on Go Teen Writers on the subject of critiquing manuscripts. Here is a list of some posts that may help you:
–Suggestions for writing groups and critique partners (Part One)
–Suggestions for writing groups and critique partners (Part Two)
–Preparing to Get Your Manuscript Critiqued
–How to Receive a Tough Critique
–How to Give a Good Critique
–The Value of Critique Partners
–How To Be A Good Critique Partner
All this to say, the best way to use positive language when critiquing is to avoid using negative language. Saying “next steps” sounds proactive while “weaknesses” sounds like criticism. Honestly, it’s semantics. Yes, we are all weak in certain areas, and there is no shame in that. But putting our writing out there is a vulnerable act. And it’s helpful if, when others read our work, they use kind and affirming words.
What is your experience with the giving and receiving of critiques? Is is hard for you to use kind words? Do you prefer a harsh critique or a kind one? How can you be both kind and firm? Share in the comments. We can all help each other learn.
Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms, and the author of several young adult fantasy novels including the Blood of Kings trilogy. She loves teaching about writing. She blogs at goteenwriters.com and also posts writing videos on her YouTube channel and on Instagram. Jill is a Whovian, a Photoshop addict, and a recovering fashion design assistant. She grew up in Alaska without running water or electricity and now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two kids. Find Jill online at jillwilliamson.com or on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
I’m just starting a critique group with a few writer friends and have been critiquing some of their work lately, so this is interesting. It is a bit hard for me to use kind words, but I feel okay with that so long as I give the critiques with the express purpose of making their writing better–not judging them as a writer. If I can appear unbiased on things that need improvement and happy for them on things that they do well, I think that’ll work.
It likely will. One thing that was helpful in my former critique groups was to ask each person what they wanted from the critique, then give them that.
I don’t do much critiquing, unless its someone else’s paper in an English class, but this is going to be helpful if I ever get to the point! And in class too, because then I can be kinder about how I write something, and it’s easier to think of it as a “next step” as opposed to “weakness”.
Also, another way I critique something is just making suggestions. If they don’t want to use it, fine, that’s up to them, and if they do that’s good too. Unless its grammar, and them I’m kinda strict! ;P
Yes, I can attest that rephrasing criticism into suggestions sounds friendlier and is far easier to accept. Thank you for being one of those people. :0)
Yes, that’s awesome and very kind.
Ooh, I like the sounds of next step. I usually phrase weaknesses as: “Maybe consider reworking X, Y, and Z.” I try to sandwich my criticism with praise, so it starts and ends with a positive note.
I think a main factor with giving or receiving criticism is staying humble. No one has everything figured out, so being open to learn and share suggestions doesn’t have to feel intimidating.
I like how you do that! And that’s great advice, Samantha.
This is a really good article. I tend to be harsher in my editing, and personally like people to be direct and blunt rather than sugar-coating it. A lot of people have told me that they don’t appreciate it, so I’ve tried to make sure that I work on being kinder with the way I correct. 😉
I’m with you, Emily. I’ve had to learn to be kinder too. 🙂
I haven’t had to do a lot of critiquing, but I know that I am one of those people who likes gentle but honest critiques. So I love the sound of “next steps” instead of “things to fix” or “things to change” or something like that. 🙂 Great post!