Respondingto Student Writing

Theory, Tips, and Best Practices

Using the Writing Process

Writing Process

• Pre-Writing• Drafting• Revising• Publishing

Freshman Writing Process

• Turn on iPod• Type document• Hit ‘Print’• Turn in• Cross fingers/pray

“Those who do not know history…”

• 1874: Harvard• 1900: Instantiation • 1937: ComS• 1966: Dartmouth• 1970+: growth of Rhet-Comp

The Message is in the Message

• Invention• Arrangemen

t• Style • Memory • Delivery

• Pre-Writing/Planning

• Drafting• Revising

• Publishing

What do Professors assign?

• Summary• Synthesis• Argument• Reflection

What do Professors want?

• Appropriate response to the prompt• Sophisticated writing• Good sentences—grammar and otherwise• Approximation of in-field writing• Proper citation• Complete assignments

• Investment

How can you get what you want?

• Take time to carefully articulate assignment (summary, synthesis, argument, reflection?)

• Support and allow for Writing Process• Suggest Writing Center for early work• Fail bad writing• Allow revision (once, twice, portfolio,

etc.) TMS

Commenting• Begin with general comments toward global

areas:• “This is an excellent/poor response to the assignment.”• “You make a great argument, though your support is weak in

spots—especially around p. 4.”• I cannot find the main argument in this paper.”

• DO NOT mark individual grammar errors; make one global editing comment instead:• “This paper needs editing badly.”• “If you need further explanation, come to office hours.”• “You are using run-on sentences frequently.”

Commenting, cont’d.

• Consider allowing at least one revision.• Requires moving due dates•Models professional writing process• Improves your commenting• Liberating• Saves time• Builds ethos as “teacher”

Summary

• Carefully craft writing assignments• Use language of writing process• Consider peer-review sessions and revision • Suggest Writing Center early and often• Make global comments• Don’t settle: demand college-level writing

The EndQuestions?