Helping Students Become Better Writers: Two Approaches (Feb. 19, 2009)

Giving students constructive feedback on their writing that will help them improve is an ongoing challenge! Philosophy Professor Patrick Derr focuses on teaching students "concision" in writing over the course of a semester, and he demonstrated (with samples) how he edits student writing and its results. Jennifer Plante, Interim Director of the Writing Center and Writing Program, is famous for her approaches that encourage students to revise. The two strategies provide an interesting complement to one another, and led to some interesting discussion.

Pat Derr's materials:

•  Powerpoint presentation
• Sample student essay for participants to practice revising
• Student handout on writing concisely

Jen Plante's materials:

• A useful essay on the "comment to comment" approach to writing feedback.
• Comment to comment assignment
• Clark writing placement rubric, an example of a rubric that can make writing feedback considerably faster. You can also create your own rubric, from a template, at http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php.