A Guide To Constructive, Honest CritiquesWhen critiquing the work of others, critics should provide insightful commentary and mantain a polite demeanor. All critics have their own style, and it's alright to maintain that style, we just want to cover the most important aspects of critiquing.
Honesty
Honesty is a necessary part of good critiques. Although it may be hard to tell someone what is wrong with thier work, constructive criticism will help an artist improve and learn from his/her mistakes. Make sure not to be too harsh to the author; very abrasive comments will hinder the artist's self-esteem and might cause him/her to give up.
Here is an example of a constructive critique:
-Every day it is a pane to get out of bed, knowing That you my love is away.
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You've really put together a good sentence; however, there are some errors that need to be corrected.
1.) Everyday is one word.
2.) Pane is spelled pain.
3.) The comma between the words bed and knowing is a comma splice.
4.) The T in that should not be capitalized.
5.) You should consider adding a comma in between the words you and my. It makes the sentence easier to read.
Overall, your sentence shows potential. With some minor modifications, your work will shine!
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-Notice that I began by talking about George. That lets the person know that for just one brief moment, you are committed to them and their work only.
-Notice that I started off on a positive note. I said "You've put together a good sentence...." This George know from the beginning that I don't think his sentence is horrible. It also lays the foundation for him to accept my criticism and know that I mean well.
-You may have noticed that I numbered the suggestions. This make it easier to understand. Sometimes, people see a long paragraph and don't want to read it (especially if it's criticism of their work). Numbering or bulleting your points make the comment easier to follow.
-Another method of creating easy to read critiques is spacing. Instead of numbering, you can use line breaks to seperate the main points of your critiques.
-Feel free to put in something more personal.
-Try to end your comment on a positive note.
Positive Things
Be sure to point out the positives as well as the negative. Some people can't cope with overly negative comments about their work without positive accents.
Help The Writer
Help the writer, by giving him/her tips to improve his/her work. If you don't offer solutions to problems you noticed in the author's work, the writer might not be able to improve the piece.
Suggested areas to cover when critiquing
Mechanics:Does the writer need to work on grammar or spelling? Is the piece unnecessarily awkward or complicated to read?
Artistic quality:Is the piece unique or generic? Does the piece evoke strong emotions or is it devoid of feeling? Are well implemented literary devices used in the piece? Does the piece feel like a work of art?
Content:Does the piece accomplish its desired goal? Is the plot consistant?
Was the piece interesting?
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