Week 4: Writing, Discussion Question 2

[Vanessa]

What methods and strategies have you used to manage feedback on
student writing? Which ones work best for you? Which new one do you
think you will try and why?

Share your tips. What other tools or strategies would you recommend?

[dorissoares]

Hello everybody.
I´ve been away from the discussion due to personal problems and lack of free
time to attend EVO workshops decently!

However, I´d like to contribute with the link to a short article I have
written on this topic. The title is Using 'Checklists' to Train Students in
Peer Revision in the EFL Writing Classroom

http://www.hltmag.co.uk/may07/sart02.htm

I hope you find it useful.

Regards,
Doris Soares, Brazil

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De: tipstri...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tipstri...@googlegroups.com]
Em nome de Vanessa
Enviada em: sexta-feira, 6 de fevereiro de 2009 15:44
Para: TipsTricks2009
Assunto: Week 4: Writing, Discussion Question 2

[Vanessa]

Thanks Doris - great article. I'm particularly glad to see material
specifically directed at ESL/EFL learners. Everyone in this session
should read this article. Another tremendous benefit of peer revision:
it teaches students how to look at their own writing and puts them on
the path to becoming their own editors - the next logical step after
seeing what is needed in someone else's draft....

The University of Hawaii at Manoa writing resource site, Writing
Matter, also has good resources on peer revision -
http://www.mwp.hawaii.edu/resources/wm7.htm

Vanessa

[David Winet]

I agree that the personal touch cannot be beat. If the teacher's comments
are to the student rather than to the piece of writing the student has
handed in -- that is, if the student feels the teacher is really talking
to him/her and cares about him/her, well... you can't beat that with a
stick. Naturally that has to be done within the context of discussing
the paper, don't get me wrong.

I also believe in tough love where the student cannot get him/herself off
the dime. A little kick in the ass goes a long way and surprisingly
students are often grateful for it because it makes them do what they want
to do but just can't bring themselves TO do! Am I wrong? :)

David

[Vanessa]

David

I've had very good writers with strong track records tell me they
almost had heart failure when they got their 1st papers back ... but
the personal touch makes that work too. I often tell them too what a
tough trainer told me: I am hard on you because I care and want your
best work.

[dorissoares]

Hi, Vanessa!

I´m glad you liked the article :)

Although I am not contributing that much, I am trying to keep up with the
messages!
Like someone else said, sometimes we act just like sts!

Anyway, I am learning a lot from those of you who are regularly posting and
I must thank you all for that opportunity.

Vanessa, thanks for the link to Writing Matter. I really appreciate your
effort to keep the discussion alive.

Have a great Sunday!
Doris, from sunny Rio de Janeiro.

-----Mensagem original-----
De: tipstri...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tipstri...@googlegroups.com]
Em nome de Vanessa

Enviada em: sexta-feira, 6 de fevereiro de 2009 16:45
Para: TipsTricks2009
Assunto: Re: RES: Week 4: Writing, Discussion Question 2

[Naomi Krant]

Doris, 

I, too, want to thank you for the link to your paper.  I hadn't thought about using a checklist, but it sounds very productive.  I'm going to try this approach.  My students are like Vilvi's--nonscholastic immigrants with very varied educational backgrounds--and they are quite prone to the feeling that "Teacher knows everything and the other students are just as ignorant as I am." But those that work, often work alongside other immigrants.  I think I can use that, plus prepping them with the idea that they are really learning to apply the checklist items to their own writing but it is easier to start by applying it to someone else, to get them to work with each other.  Of course, those reasons are not ruses; they're true.  

Thanks again!  

Naomi

[dorissoares]

Hi, Naomi!

I´m glad my article sparked off your curiosity about using checklists.

I wish you good luck with your students!

 

Cheers,

Doris

 

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