Clean Up and Evaluate – Part 2

You’ve written a book review and evaluated it using the rubric. What now? Was it all top marks? Do you still need some improvement?

Here are some suggestions:

The Trusted Friend
Give your review and a clean copy of the rubric to a friend or teacher whom you trust to be honest but fair. Preferably, someone who enjoys books. Allow them to read the review and complete the rubric. Discuss the outcomes together and take his/her suggestions back to your writing and revise.

Put It Away
I often buy a new item of clothing, put it in the closet, only to get it out a week later, try it on, and say to myself in the mirror, “what were you thinking?” Put your review (and the associated book) away for at least a week. Don’t look at it. Don’t touch it. Don’t think about it. Get it out after a week and re-read it with fresh eyes. Mistakes, flaws, inconsistencies, and the like will jump off the page. Fixes for these problems may not become immediately clear, but you’ll have some great insights into things you just didn’t see before.

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Created by N. Mellendorf, Maine South High School, Library Resource Center, 2005. Last update: 2/4/08