All the Feedback in the World
If you’re like most writing teachers, you give your students a lot of feedback. This helps them edit their initial drafts better. It does not, however, help them to become better self-editors, which can be a recipe for disaster in mainstream courses. The solution is easier than you think.
Add An Extra Step
(Please don’t stop reading; this won’t add to your workload)
Before students turn in their first draft, require them to do a formal self-editing exercise. …
The best technique involves focusing their attention on specific mistakes in their writing
but without correcting the mistakes. This extra step of enforced, focused self-editing encourages the kind of reflection that research shows leads to better internalization of grammatical rules.
Let Computers Do What Computers Are Good At
Marking up this type of essay can be time-consuming, but it makes a significant difference in student writing. This is why Pearson teamed up with Educational Testing Service (ETS) to offer online software that does it for you.
Criterion Publishers Version
gives students personalized feedback on their writing without
correcting their mistakes. It encourages reflection and helps students
become better self-editors. Students then turn in cleaner first drafts.
Better First Drafts Mean Better Teacher Feedback
When students turn in first drafts with fewer usage mistakes, you can
focus your energies on the kind of feedback that only a teacher can
give. Your comments on the development of an argument or the effective
use of different essay types will be far more salient to your students
and more beneficial.
Criterion is currently available with the top two levels of the Longman Academic Writing Series, and you can find out more by contacting your Pearson ELL Specialist today.
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