Peer Edit—Personal Narrative
Dialogue Dude or Dudette : ___________________________________________
Dialogue Component
USE A BLUE PEN WHEN MARKING ON THIS CHART OR ON YOUR
PARTNER’S ESSAY
Yes
Does your partner’s essay include EITHER dialogue OR his/her
thoughts?
Does the dialogue add to the overall message or effect of the story?
Is the dialogue formatted correctly?
 Commas and periods always INSIDE the quotation marks?
 Quotation marks facing the correct direction?
 New paragraph for each time a different speaker talks?
 Commas and periods used correctly to set off the quotation
from the tag/reference to the speaker depending on what is
before the tag? See example:
“French toast is my favorite breakfast food,” said
Betty. “I could eat it every day.”
“Well, I love pancakes,” said Shirley, “especially with
blueberries.”
Does the dialogue sound realistic? (using slang and “writing” with
an accent/dialect is effective when writing dialogue because it
makes the speaker seem more realistic and natural)
Are the author’s thoughts italicized?
When including his/her thoughts, does the author include the
phrase “I thought” or at least hint at the fact that he/she is thinking
(like, “breaking my train of thought”)?
Are the thoughts themselves written in present tense?
I am so hungry right now, I thought to myself.
Mark a BLUE star where he/she may need to add dialogue or thoughts.
No
Needs Improvement –
Explain what needs to
be done
Descriptive Diva or Don : _____________________________________
Descriptive Writing Component
USE A RED PEN WHEN MARKING ON THIS CHART OR ON YOUR
PARTNER’S ESSAY
Yes No Needs Improvement-
Explain what needs to be
done
Does the hook grab your attention?
Does your partner use specific action verbs where appropriate?
(such as shuffled, stomped, or swaggered instead of walked)
Does your partner appeal to the five senses (if/when appropriate)?
Do you as the reader feel as if you are experiencing this event as
you read about it?
Are there any sentences or sections that you feel are TOO
descriptive? (Mark a RED X next to these sentences or sections)
Does the author focus on describing the most important parts of
his/her story (the parts leading to the message or lesson)?
Draw a RED squiggly line under your favorite descriptive words/phrases/sections on your partner’s
essay. Write a brief note explaining why you like it! Try to mark at least THREE.
Place a RED heart next to any words/phrases/sections that could be more descriptive. Write a brief note
explaining why you think it needs more description. Try to mark at least TWO.
Descriptive Diva or Don : _____________________________________
Descriptive Writing Component
USE A RED PEN WHEN MARKING ON THIS CHART OR ON YOUR
PARTNER’S ESSAY
Yes No Needs Improvement-
Explain what needs to be
done
Does the hook grab your attention?
Does your partner use specific action verbs where appropriate?
(such as shuffled, stomped, or swaggered instead of walked)
Does your partner appeal to the five senses (if/when appropriate)?
Do you as the reader feel as if you are experiencing this event as
you read about it?
Are there any sentences or sections that you feel are TOO
descriptive? (Mark a RED X next to these sentences or sections)
Does the author focus on describing the most important parts of
his/her story (the parts leading to the message or lesson)?
Draw a RED squiggly line under your favorite descriptive words/phrases/sections on your partner’s
essay. Write a brief note explaining why you like it! Try to mark at least THREE.
Place a RED heart next to any words/phrases/sections that could be more descriptive. Write a brief note
explaining why you think it needs more description. Try to mark at least TWO.
Message Miss or Mister : _____________________________
Message Component
USE A GREEN PEN WHEN WRITING ON THIS CHART OR ON YOUR
PARTNER’S ESSAY
Yes No Needs Improvement—
explain what needs to be
done
Does your partner’s essay include a message or a life lesson
(whether stated directly or implied)?
Do the events of the story point to the overall message (like road
signs point you to your destination)?
Is the message clear?
Is the overall message bigger and broader than just the event
described in the narrative? (For example, “Work really hard at
baseball” is a message, but it is too narrow and focused on the
event. “Hard work pays off” is broader than a single event, but still
applies to a single event).
Draw a GREEN arrow next to sections of the story that could include a clear hint at the overall message.
Message Miss or Mister : _____________________________
Message Component
USE A GREEN PEN WHEN WRITING ON THIS CHART OR ON YOUR
PARTNER’S ESSAY
Yes No Needs Improvement—
explain what needs to be
done
Does your partner’s essay include a message or a life lesson
(whether stated directly or implied)?
Do the events of the story point to the overall message (like road
signs point you to your destination)?
Is the message clear?
Is the overall message bigger and broader than just the event
described in the narrative? (For example, “Work really hard at
baseball” is a message, but it is too narrow and focused on the
event. “Hard work pays off” is broader than a single event, but still
applies to a single event).
Draw a GREEN arrow next to sections of the story that could include a clearer hint at the overall
message.
Grammar Guy or Girl : _____________________________________
Grammar Component
USE A PURPLE PEN WHEN MARKING ON THIS CHART OR ON YOUR
PARTNER’S ESSAY
YES NO
NEEDS IMPROVEMENTExplain what needs to be
done
Does your partner have a header (last name & page #) in the top
right corner?
 Is it the same font and size as the rest of the essay?
Does the essay include a heading (Student’s name, Teacher’s
name, class, due date)? The due date is 17 September 2012.
Is the essay double-spaced with the same amount of spacing
between paragraphs and between lines?
Does the essay have an interesting and appropriate title?
 Is it centered?
 Is it the same font and size as the rest of the essay?
Are there any typos? (Mark them in PURPLE on the essay)
Are there any glaring grammatical issues (misspelled/misused
words, apostrophe issues, run-on sentences, obvious comma
issues, etc.)? (Mark them in PURPLE on the essay)
Is the essay told from the 1st person point of view (the author uses
I, we, me, mine, my)?
Does the story flow from idea to idea, event to event? Write the
word FLOW in PURPLE next to sections that do not read smoothly.
Place a sticker next to your favorite section of the narrative. Give your peep props! Explain why 
Grammar Guy or Girl : _____________________________________
Grammar Component
USE A PURPLE PEN WHEN MARKING ON THIS CHART OR ON YOUR
PARTNER’S ESSAY
YES NO
NEEDS IMPROVEMENTExplain what needs to be
done
Does your partner have a header (last name & page #) in the top
right corner?
 Is it the same font and size as the rest of the essay?
Does the essay include a heading (Student’s name, Teacher’s
name, class, due date)? The due date is 17 September 2012.
Is the essay double-spaced with the same amount of spacing
between paragraphs and between lines?
Does the essay have an interesting and appropriate title?
 Is it centered?
 Is it the same font and size as the rest of the essay?
Are there any typos? (Mark them in PURPLE on the essay)
Are there any glaring grammatical issues (misspelled/misused
words, apostrophe issues, run-on sentences, obvious comma
issues, etc.)? (Mark them in PURPLE on the essay)
Is the essay told from the 1st person point of view (the author uses
I, we, me, mine, my)?
Does the story flow from idea to idea, event to event? Write the
word FLOW in PURPLE next to sections that do not read smoothly.
Place a sticker next to your favorite section of the narrative. Give your peep props! Explain why 