Reflection after reading rough drafts

 

After reading rough drafts this week, I’ve been thinking about how I read and react to student writing. One thing I notice I do is to write extensive feedback on consideration of audience. I think it’s important that students consider to whom they are writing, but it seems artificial for me to suggest they make certain changes for audiences. It’s always possible that the student has a reason for not addressing a certain audience.

A change I’m considering making is to have students consider an assignment and write an audience and a purpose before they begin writing. I’d review these and respond before the actual writing began. This way everyone would know why the writing task was being done.

I also noticed this week that, as always, my students have a range of experiences with being outsiders/insiders and that they write about these experiences well and clearly. They seem to enjoy this writing because many of them write more than three pages clearly in pursuit of an idea they are interested in. The trick is carrying over this creative impetus into persuasive writing that is researched. I know it breaks the flow to stop and find support for one’s ideas, but there must be a way to bring this research into the process without interruption.