Student Organizer
Writing Commentary Guidelines

  Do's
  • Read a draft all the way through BEFORE you begin to comment on it.

  • Spend at least 20 to 40 minutes commenting on a single draft.

  • Use a number/comment system instead of LONG marginal comments.

  • Raise questions from a reader's point of view, for example, points that may not have occurred to the writer.

  • Focus on the overall problems of content before looking at surface level errors (e.g. grammar, spelling).

  • Phrase comments clearly and carefully. (The average person should be able to read the commentary and understand what needs to be changed.)

  • Make comments text-specific, referring explicitly to that writer's draft. Don’t use "rubber stamps" such as "awkward" or "unclear" or "vague."

  • Note breaks in logic, disruptions in meaning, and/or missing information.

  • Structure comments to help writers clarify their purposes and reasons for writing that specific draft.

  • Offer SUGGESTIONS, not commands.

  • Use questions, such as "This sentence confuses me a little; can you reword it to make it more clear?” and "Could you make a stronger transition between these two points?"

  • Concluding comments should identify the main STRENGTHS of a writer's draft as well as two or three of the most important things that need improvement.

  • If something seems too complicated to write in the commentary, just mention that you have something that you would like to talk to the writer about when you have your conference.

Don’ts:
  • Don’t write commentary in red ink.

  • Avoid turning the writer's paper into YOUR paper.

  • Don’t contradict yourself (for example, "Condense this sentence," followed by, "You need to be more specific and develop this paragraph.").

  • Don't overwhelm a writer with too much commentary.

  • If the writer is not sure that they have understood the assignment, and you aren't sure either, don’t be afraid to tell the writer to talk with his or her teacher.

  • Don't take forever commenting on a draft. Remember that the writer needs ample time to revise.






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