Peer Editing Checklist for Hard News Stories
Editor’s Name: __________________________
Please read through your partner’s
news story with an eagle eye. Here, circle “YES” or “NO.” Make comments where needed to help the
writer revise. You should also write on the draft.
YES NO Does
the headline contain a verb and subject and tell us what the story is about? WHAT IS THE ACTION AND SUBJECT? ___________________________________________
YES NO Does
the story begin with the news story lead that introduces the 5 Ws and 1 H?
YES NO Is
the news lead organized from
most important to least important?
YES NO Does
the lead follow what the headline promised?
COMMENTS:
___________________________________________________________________
YES NO Does
the story go from most important to the least important? (Inverted Pyramid Format)
YES NO Does
each paragraph develop a SPECIFIC detail?
YES NO Has
the story maintained the focus promised in the headline/lead?
COMMENTS:
____________________________________________________________
YES NO Have direct
quotes been used?
YES NO Have
primary sources been quoted or paraphrased?
NAME THEM: ___________________________________________________
YES NO Have
secondary sources been quoted or paraphrased?
NAME
THEM: ______________________________________________________
YES NO Are
there authority sources in the story?
NAME THEM:
_______________________________________________________
YES NO Have
people been named using their full names the first time mentioned, and then
referred to only by last name in all the following references?
YES NO Has
each quote been crafted
correctly? Note the format:
Gokturk said, “I
certainly hope so.” Or, “I certainly hope so,” Gokturk said.
NOTE COMMON ERRORS: ______________________________________________________
YES NO Are
the paragraphs no longer than 60 words? (1-3 sentences)
YES NO Is
the whole story roughly 300-600 words?
YES NO Is
the writing concise, omitting all padding (extra words)?
COMMENTS:
___________________________________________________________________
YES NO Is
the story written objectively
(no bias)?
YES NO
Is the use of the personal pronoun eliminated? (No "I" or
"we")
COMMENTS:
___________________________________________________________________
YES NO Is
the spelling and punctuation correct?
YES NO Is
the story written in the past tense (if it already happened)?
NOTE COMMON ERRORS:
_______________________________________________________
To the Editor: Please
return this sheet to the writer so that s/he may make revisions.
To the Writer: Please
turn in this peer editor sheet after you have made your revisions so your peer
gets credit!