Feedback on Writing 2 - James Henry & Ross Graham

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james henry

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Dec 9, 2011, 10:08:17 AM12/9/11

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Hi all,

I just wanted to update you on my initial investigations. I think I
will be looking at 4 broad areas of giving feedback in the writing
class.

1) Using correction codes in the class (gr/sp/wo/ww etc.)
2) Using models (students can compare their answers against a
'correct' version)
3) Focusing on individual errors as a whole class (sample sentences
from a piece of work with problems in them)
4) Using peer feedback (based on IELTS or assessment criteria)

I would appreciate your thoughts on any of these 4 areas. Have you
tried any of these techniques in your classes? Do you have any
thoughts about them?

Speak soon,

James

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Ross Graham View profile
More options Nov 17, 4:48 pm

Here is a link to a review of a book by what seems to be a leading
husband
and wife team, contenders for EAP's 'first family'?

Ken and Fiona Hyland (2006) 'Feedback in Second Language Writing:
Contexts
and Issues' 978-0-521-67258-9 (paper). Canbridge University Press
http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume11/ej42/ej42r7/?wscr

I'm sure you would find something interesting in this.

Ciao

Ross

On 17 November 2011 15:59, james henry <jimbobio...@googlemail.com>
wrote:

- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

> Hi all,

> I just wanted to update you on my initial investigations. I think I
> will be looking at 4 broad areas of giving feedback in the writing
> class.

> 1) Using correction codes in the class (gr/sp/wo/ww etc.)
> 2) Using models (students can compare their answers against a
> 'correct' version)
> 3) Focusing on individual errors as a whole class (sample sentences
> from a piece of work with problems in them)
> 4) Using peer feedback (based on IELTS or assessment criteria)

> I would appreciate your thoughts on any of these 4 areas. Have you
> tried any of these techniques in your classes? Do you have any
> thoughts about them?

> Speak soon,

> James

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james henry View profile
More options Nov 18, 3:25 pm

From: james henry <jimbobio...@googlemail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:25:36 -0800 (PST)
Local: Fri, Nov 18 2011 3:25 pm
Subject: Re: Feedback on writing 2
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Hi all,

Just to keep you posted on the classes that I am looking at with this
research. Basically, they are IELTS writing classes taking place at
Foundation Campus which is a pre-university centre based in Coventry.
I am
looking at two separate classes up to Christmas. There are 10
students in
one class, and 14 in another.

The students themselves are a bit of a mix in terms of ability (from
around
4.5-5 in IELTS all the way up to 7 or 8) and the majority of them are
from
China, although the stronger students are from Angola and one is from
Cuba.

Hopefully this will help you have some idea about my teaching
situation.
If you need any further information then please ask me.

Speak soon,

James

Ross Graham View profile
More options Nov 20, 8:20 am

The range of proficiencies certainly seems very wide! Those at the
higher
end would seem to be equivalent to ENL users (English as a native
language), and in terms of writing and general academic proficiency
they're
probably better than many of our undergraduate 'native-speakers' of
English. If they are so proficient in English, what are they doing on
a
writing course?

On the other hand, you point out that the majority are from China, and
are
not nearly as proficient as the best ones. This raises the question of
how
to provide for the needs of this majority - who may also be quite
similar
in terms of their preferred learning style - and the high level
students.
As you are interested in your research in ways of giving feedback,
the
thought occurs that the higher level students could be actively
involved in
providing feedback to the weaker students. Or they could share their
work
with the weaker students and encourage dialogue about this. What do
you
think?