Rainbow Review Evaluation Key
From time to time, your assignments will be returned to you with color coded highlighting as a way of commenting on your writing. Each highlighting color indicates a different area for your attention. Use the highlighting as a guide when you revise your papers.
Examples of excellence in your writing will be highlighted too! (In Aqua)
| Teal | Weak argument that needs support; Can you provide more proof? (examples, quotations, illustrations, facts, etc.) |
| Blue | Meaning seems unclear; Can you reword for clarity? |
| Purple | Inaccurate; Check your sources for facts |
| Dark Green | Organization is hard to detect; rethink presentation of information; be sure body corresponds to thesis or lead |
| Maroon | Problem with AP Stylesheet or MLA citation form; check and revise. |
| Pink | Phrasing is awkward; passage may sound ungraceful or unidiomatic--Can you revise your phrasing? |
| Yellow | Punctuation, grammar or spelling is unconventional--please revise with standard usage in mind |
| Light Green | Using the wrong word, a cliche, a lackluster word or unconsciously repeating the same words; search thesaurus for engaging substitutes |
| Light Gray | Passage is wordy or redundant--eliminate unnecessary words |
| Red | Eliminate forms of "to be" (is, are, am, was, were, be, being, been). Revise with active verb for energy & economy. |
| Olive | Use more specific word or give more specific details |
| Aqua | This is fabulous--great writing! Don't change a thing! |