Unit 1 - Lesson 2: Critiquing Others' Work
An Introduction
Craft:
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For this first part of the lesson, we'll be learning about critiquing others' work in a respectful and helpful way. The video we'll be watching has been put out by the channel Reedsy. Some vocab in the video centers around publishing and the novel editing process, so there's no need to worry about phrases like "developmental edits" unless you're curious!
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The video is linked to the right of this text!
Connect:
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Now we'll be talking about what you just watched and adding on some new knowledge!
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We understand how to critique someone's work, but what about reading it? Well, this is what we'll be talking about!
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When it comes to reading work, it's best to first ask what the writer wants from you. Do they want critiques on a certain thing? What about a specific character or situation? For poets, it could a single line, or for novel writers, it could be a whole chapter! Clarifying with your partner will make sure things will go smoothly!
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Once you clarify, read the entire piece. Then read it again! The first time you read a piece, critiques should be at the back of your mind. Read it as a reader first, understand the content, and understand the emotion you're left with at the end. The second time you read, leave your comments and critiques! Due to multiple readings, you'll have more context and expertise when it comes to talking about that specific piece! Make sure to always balance out between good and bad as well.
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Once you're finished, it's good to leave a final note. This could within the document, written onto he paper if you've printed it out, or it could even be a final chat with the writer. It's always good to point out both what you enjoyed and what you think could be improved. Always end on a positive note!
Create:
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This is the final step in this lesson. Now you get to put what you learned into practice!
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Find your writing buddy, first. This is the person who you'll be working with. Next, share a piece with each other and ask one another to review specific things. This could be characters, voice, emotion, or even more specific. Say whatever you think will help you improve the most!
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After that, read each other's work and leave a quick critique as discussed in the video and also in the explanation.
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If you have extra time, try to incorporate what your partner suggested into your piece. You'll be surprised at just how much advice you'll end up taking!
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