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Peer Editing Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for editing a partner's draft, from the author's own pass to the discussion afterward.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
Tick the circles, tap any line to change it, drag the dots to reorder.
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Specific questions make peer editing work. Northwestern's writing program notes that very specific questions help editors give useful feedback, and the classroom guides add that the process should be modeled before students try it alone. Revising comes first: content changes should be finished before anyone edits. This list follows that order, from the author's own pass through the partner's review to the discussion afterward. It assumes a written draft and a partner or small group. It leaves out grading rubrics and teacher assessment.
Why these items are on the list
- Finish revising first. Revising comes before editing, so content changes should be done before the editing step.
- Model the checklist first. Walk through a sample piece with a volunteer, then discuss what went well.
- Self-edit before swapping. The author edits first, which keeps the pen in the writer's hand.
- Swap with a partner. Pairs or groups of two or three work well and make the process explicit.
- Use specific questions. Northwestern's NuWrite notes that very specific questions help editors give useful feedback and suggestions.
- Check key information. Comment on whether the key points are there and the organization is logical.
- Read the introduction closely. Comment on how the introduction sets up the paper. The author can respond.
- Test the claims. Judge how well the paper supports its claims and addresses counter-arguments.
- Review content, structure, grammar. Northwestern's peer editing sheet for science papers covers content, structure and grammar; adapt it to your assignment.
- Check spelling with a dictionary. One seasoned editor calls the dictionary among the most underrated, underused resources.
- Check punctuation and grammar. Grammar and punctuation are among the conventions the self-edit and peer-edit steps cover.
- Tick each completed step. Place a check after completing each step on the checklist.
- Explain every unchecked step. If you can't tick a step, write the reason in the comments column.
- Write fix-oriented comments. Ask what you could write that would help the writer fix the error.
- Discuss comments together. Students exchange drafts, complete the form, then talk through the written comments.
- Submit form with draft. The instructor can then read the peer comments when responding to the draft.
- Decide your own revisions. Writers listen to peers and the instructor, then make their own decisions.
- Keep the task realistic. Students feel overwhelmed if overloaded. Match the checklist to the time available.
Each step gets a tick, and any step you cannot tick gets a written reason in the comments, so the author sees what to fix.
When to use it
Use it once a draft has had its content revisions and is ready for a partner to read.