These are some of the aspects I need to
think about whenever I learn anything, and which I try to be clear
about when helping other learners:
I'm looking at a result, of course:
but just as much at a process - a development
is the writer's goal clear?
or is the value of this piece its ambiguity?
if there was a goal, how effective was the writer at
reaching it?
if there was a question, has the question been answered?!
is there a practical application value?
was the goal was to communicate?
or just to get something out?
if the goal was to communicate, then is it clear
what they are communicating ?
facts?
feelings?
instructions?
a point of view?
to whom they are communicating ?
a known reading audience?
an anonymous one?
what about readability?
is it interesting?
easily accessible?
with meaningful, appropriate examples?
does the writer make assumptions about their
readers?
Do they know what assumptions they're making?
(technical, cultural, general knowledge; intelligence,
ability to pick up information from written words, learning
(etc.) styles, visual/verbal/kinesthetic dominance; mother
tongue, i.e. writing for native speakers or an international
readership...)
do they make those clear to the reader?
do they have the words they need?
adequate basic vocabulary?
command of figurative language (appropriate to level and
subject, audience etc) ?
elegances of style (appropriate to level and subject,
audience etc)?
command of different registers (formal/informal,
friendly/unfriendly, written/spoken etc.) - "finding words
which touch something in us", "language which can be
internalised and personalised by the reader"?
does the piece have an appropriate structure, form? -
is there a logic in the way the ideas are developed?
is the accuracy, the grammar and syntax
appropriate for the level in question?
