An Excellent Editing Checklist to Help Students with Their Writing

Here is an excellent resource from ReadWriteThink to help students with their writing.  Editing Checklist for Self and Peer Editing is a tool that allows your students to edit their writing along a number of predetermined set of criteria. They can also use it to peer-edit their peers writing.  The checklist is designed in such a way to raise students awareness of writing conventions and therefore enhance their writing style. More specifically, using the Editing Checklist, students will be able to assess their writing against four main criteria: punctuation, capital letters, grammar, and spelling. However, this Editing Checklist is best used after students have already gone through the revision stage in their writing process.

‘When they are ready for the editing stage of the writing process, students should edit their writing and then meet with a partner to engage in peer editing. Prior to having students use this tool independently, it is important to model its use. To do this, display sample text on an overhead projector, document camera, or SMART Board so that all students can view it. Model the use of the self-edit column with the displayed text, with you assuming the role of author. Then have a volunteer fill out the peer-edit column so that all students can hear and view the process. Finally, discuss what went well and what could be improved in the editing steps that were modeled. ’

Check out this page for ideas and tips on how to use  Editing Checklist for Self and Peer Editing with your students.