Responding to Student Papers
The WAC program recommends the following guidelines for responding to student writing. These practices can assist you in providing feedback that will help students improve their papers and engage with writing as a process. In addition, they are meant to streamline the grading process so that you do not feel you must spend time correcting every small error a student makes. When possible, we also recommend allowing students the opportunity for revisions.
- All pens down! Read text without making any marks or comments.
- Read piece aloud.
- Describe text: Make one non-judgmental, descriptive observation. It should be something we would all agree on (e.g., he or she has written four paragraphs; he or she makes references to other texts).
- Note one thing the writer does well.
- Identify an idea you found provocative or interesting that you would like the writer to think about further.
- Identify one or two patterns of error.
- Compose a comment for the student that will promote revision and move the paper forward. Write the comment in the form of a letter to the student, addressing him or her by name.
Rubrics
Using a grading rubric can help you hone in on the learning outcomes you hope to see as the result of a particular assignment as well as better articulate those expectations to students. In addition, rubrics can help clarify the grading process. Below are some sample rubrics faculty members use; you may adapt them for your own course.
