Responding to Student Writing

Principles for Responding to Student Writing

A suggested pattern for response:

• respond to or acknowledge the content of the piece
• Point to what you can affirm in the writing.  What is effective—be as specific as you can, cite particular lines or sections… Why is it effective?  Name the principle for the student. 
• Name the growing edge in the writing.  What do you see the student struggling to accomplish, but not quite reaching the goal.
• Pose questions for the student to think about as they revise. Sometimes these can come from things you notice in the writing. 
• Suggest a strategy for revision.  It is important to offer a strategy instead of a solution to the problem.  

Beginning ----------------------à                   Final 

Creator                                           Editor

HOCs and LOCs

High Order Concerns

1. IDEAS
2. focus/thesis
3. appropriate tone
4. organization
5. development
6. language

Low Order Concerns

1. sentence structure
2. sentence variety
3. punctuation
4. spelling
5. usage