posted
I am wondering if there is some kind of standard way to give comments back to people when they send files. I don't mean the content of the feedback, I mean the format of the feedback. At first I was using the reviewing tools in MSWord, because that is what I am accustomed to, but then I realized if people don't use MSWord, they wouldn't be able to see them easily. So I began imbeding comments in [ ] as blue text, making it searchable and clear. Is it better to do this or to make a separate file and copy quotes from the manuscript over and comment after them?
Is the format just a personal preference thing or is there a standard agreed to be used here at Hatrack?
I'm just confused and want to do what is best for people. Thanks.
posted
I think both are acceptable, but the former requires you to ask the writer if they have have MS Word, and the latter doesn't require anything but an explanation beforehand.
My preference would be the latter. It's easier on the eyes, and you can still pull out quotes... highlight phrases with the highlighter (again if they use MS Word).
On a related note, I would like to add that typing responses in ALL CAPS IS INCREDIBLY HARD ON THE EYES, SO PLEASE DON'T DO IT HERE ON THE BOARDS OR IN YOUR CRITIQUES, thank you.
But, if there is an agreed standardized format here on hatrack (and I'm sorry that I don't know if there is), I'd sure love to know about it as well.
posted
I've just been doing mine on a separate sheet. More or less like a letter, with quotes pulled from the original story. My response, then can be returned in a number of different formats.
Posts: 497 | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
My personal format (if it's my own favorite format, why don't I use it??) is to, in addition to the text examination, also include a list of strong points and weak points.
The strong points so the writer knows what s/he is doing right, and the weak...
posted
I don't mind the "ALL CAPS" response. I got no problem with it. And it works for any format. But, HSO, I will try to keep that in mind if I ever crit something for you.
The CAPS thing just seems to be the easiest and quickest way to do it.
posted
...much appreciated, Tru. And I know it's easier to do it that way; I've seen it done enough elsewhere. But, it's a proven fact that all caps are a $!$%$ to read. With the information age (internet, etc.), all caps is now taken to denote SHOUTING!
At nearly 33, my "old" eyes aren't what they used to be. I've gone from 20/15 to 20/17 in the past 10 years... *shudders*. Thusly, I blame it on people who write in all caps.
posted
20/17? Poor baby. My eyesight isn't even that good WITH glasses. Somewhere in the nieghborhood of 20/25. It's all those darned floaters that make the P look like an F maybe.
I've sent out lots of critiques, experimenting with many different formats. I haven't had any troubles except the one time I was so excited about discovering the 'comments' feature in MSWord. I thought it was so cool. But the critique was for Christine who is (and I didn't know this at the time ) visually impaired. Since there is no way, as yet discovered, to resize the font in the comments box, she has to go through a tedious process of cutting and pasting to even be able to see them.
It might be helpful if, when people send out their pieces, they indicate any preferences or limitations they have as far as software etc. Christine has been around long enough that she shouldn't have to anymore. But when you get newbies like me who haven't read enough old threads to figure that out--well, a thousand additional apologies, Christine.
It might also be helpful if, when people ask for readers, they indicate the format of the text--MSWord, WordPerfect, PDF, etc--as well as any preferences for comments. I'm not all that computer proficient and I've received files at times that came up as gobbldeygook on my word processor--and I had no idea what to do with them or how, if possible, to correct the problem on my own. Which meant having to email the person to ask for another format.
I prefer the comments to be within the text. True, it's time consuming for the reviewer, but it saves time for the reviewee to not have to search through the text to find the referred-to passage. Since I am offering my services as a reviewer, I think of it as 'service' and I try to make it as easy as possible for the reveiwee--even at the expense of my own valuable time.
posted
I would like to amend my statement to the following (in consideration of those who may or may not be visually impaired -- and I'm embarassed I didn't consider it in the first place.)
If you would like me to write in all caps because it easier for you to read, the by all means say so. If you are critiquing my work and ALL CAPS is the easiest way for you to read what you've written while doing so, then by all means do what you must. I 'll manage through it somehow *sniffle - sniffle*
Now, if it's all right, I'll just go back to my corner and sulk for a bit.
posted
LOL djvdakota, it's ok, it's not like you could see me over the internet.
ALL CAPS LOOKS LIKE SHOUTING AND REALLY HURTS WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE SUGGESTIONS IN A SUPPORTIVE, HELPFUL MANNER BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY GOT ONE STRIK AGAINST YOU. That si to say, you're shouting. How rude! Plus, it's hard on the eyes. Whew, I'm glad I'm done with all that.
Brackets [] do not tend to stand out very well. They aren't easy to pick up by just skimming through a piece.
For those who don't have annoying eye problems, the comment cards in MS Word are very nice because you can make comments in the text where it is relevant without interfering with the text itself.
My personal favorite is in-line, using the track changes feature of MS Word. This makes the comments appear in either blue or red (depending upon yours settings), makes simple grammar or spelling corrections easy to mark with little time, effort, or explanation. (Though if I notice someone misusing a grammar rule often enough I will stop to explain exactly what they have missed, otherwise I assume it was an oversight.) Also, it makes it easy to insert thoughts as you're reading. I love it when people reflect back to me their emotions as they finished reading a paragraph.
The letter appraoch is one I use sometimes as well. I use the letter approach in 3 situation: 1. When there are so few suggestions or comments that it seems silly to resend their entire manuscript with the handful of them. 2. When there are so many suggestions or comments (so many bad ones, that is, so many things wrong) that the poor author will undoubtedly be overwhelmed and besides they mostly made the same errors again and again and again...then I summarize the worst bits in a letter format with suggestions for how they might fix the overall piece. 3. When dealing with people who have, in the past, seemed to have been unhappy with my realtime comments. (Recently I started on a trend where a number of people had not liked this approach and so I started to do letters for everyone, but I think I was wrong to do that, because most people seem to find in-line more helpful.)
[This message has been edited by Christine (edited July 12, 2004).]
posted
Geez. I'd better get more organized if I'm going to be so polite as to keep track of everyone's preferences. My computer will be COVERED with baby post-it notes!
posted
I think inline comments probably help the most and MS Word's tracking feature is a great way to go if you know how to use Word and to use tracking. (I have a nice little word document that explains how to use Word's features--written by someone who used to be in a Hatrack group--if anyone is interested. Send me an email at Dalton-Woodbury@sff.net if you are.)
quote:Brackets [] do not tend to stand out very well. They aren't easy to pick up by just skimming through a piece.
What I would recommend to help with this is to double space between the text you are commenting on and your bracketed comments (or asterisked comments or whatever you use to set them apart) and then another double space between your bracketed comments and the continuation of the text. Extra white space in the middle of the text should help the reviewee find the comments more easily.
posted
I just use [] with a different color (almost always red).
The thing about that is that you can do it in an RTF document, using wordpad (or basically anything else). I suppose that track changes is fine as long as you can save it in the same format as the original file.
posted
I tend to use track changes here, but the other groups I've started testing the waters with all pull things out in a letter format. I find that I get much more indepth critiques at Hatrack, which might be because the track changes format, or the format Survivor suggests, is so easy.
Posts: 2022 | Registered: Jul 2003
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) visually impaired. Since there is no way, as yet discovered, to resize the font in the comments box, she has to go through a tedious process of cutting and pasting to even be able to see them.
