The Teaching of Writing: Feedback and Revisions
- Teacher's Workshop
- Dec 10, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 5, 2024
Tomorrow I’ll give virtual feedback on an essay my students wrote on a poem. I usually provide feedback right before I assign the next essay, so the goals they establish are fresh in their mind. By feedback, I mean a variety of things:
verbal feedback I give to the entire class on various issues I noticed in their writing (I take notes while I grade)
feedback on revisions that students post online and a review of model work
individual feedback in the form of conferences (while the rest of the class revises a part of their essay)
written feedback (including feedback from a comment bank or uploaded audio commentary)
feedback on a checklist or rubric that contains expectations for writing the essay
feedback from their peers (a feature in Canvas)
All of these ways of giving feedback allow me to spend less time on the dreaded #4, written feedback. We all know that verbal feedback and a good conversation can help just as much or more than written feedback.
Every time I hand back an essay, I give my students the opportunity to revise one part of their essay (not the whole thing), and I eventually allow them to pick what part they will revise. The goal (especially since I teach seniors) is to have students know what part of their essay needs revision without teacher feedback. We don’t want them to rely on us too much. We want them to think for themselves. I usually go in this order and then allow them the option to pick the section of their essay they want to revise:
first essay: revise the thesis statement
second essay: revise the thesis statement and supporting sentences
third essay: revise one interpretation of evidence or a quote
forth essay: revise the introduction
fifth essay: revise the conclusion
sixth essay: revise a body paragraph and its logic (line of reasoning)
After they revise and post their revision, we quickly go over some models and they set a few goals for their next essay. Those goals can relate to their writing, or the writing process (reading, taking notes, participating in conversations, brainstorming, prewriting, etc.). I also like to keep my writing checklist the same for all essays so that students can easily keep track of their progress throughout the year. I created a module (unit) in Canvas that will contain all of their essay revisions, an assignment where they can submit a Google document with their writing goals, and their quarterly reflections.
By essay, I do not mean just the interpretation of literature; it is a response to any question. This whole process might seem academic and boring, but when we explore ways to best answer a question with our students, we’re with them in the ongoing journey of education: the journey to find the best and clearest answers to life’s questions. That journey should be a risky and exciting adventure, with unexpected and surprising discoveries.
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Mình có lần lướt đọc mấy trao đổi trên mạng شيخ روحاني thì thấy nhắc nên cũng tò mò mở ra xem thử cho biết. Mình không tìm hiểu sâu جلب الحبيب chỉ xem qua trong thời gian ngắn để quan sát bố cục جلب الحبيب cách sắp xếp شيخ روحاني các mục và trình bày nội شيخ روحاني dung tổng thể. Cảm giác là các phần được trình bày khá gọn, các Berlinintim mục rõ ràng nên đọc lướt cũng không bị rối Berlinintim với mình như شيخ روحاني vậy là đủ để nắm tin cơ bản rồi. جلب الحبيب
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Feedback without clear direction is just criticism wearing a helpful mask and most writing instruction fails at exactly this point because telling someone their work needs improvement without showing them how is not teaching it is gatekeeping. The revision process is where real growth happens but only when the feedback guiding it is specific enough to act on immediately. Discussed this with the best ghostwriter in usa we collaborate with and she said the editors who changed her career were never the ones who praised her work but the ones who tore it apart with enough precision that she could rebuild it stronger. Good feedback hurts in the moment but its absence hurts for an entire career.
I've been looking into various supplements for school literacy lately, as classroom instruction doesn't always cover everything. One option that seems technically sound is Brighterly. Their curriculum for grades K–9 is aligned with US state standards, focusing on phonemic awareness and fluency.
From what I’ve gathered, the lessons are 1:1 with certified tutors, which is generally more effective than automated apps. They use a structured approach to transition from basic phonics to more complex reading comprehension and analytical writing. You can look at the specifics of their curriculum here: https://brighterly.com/reading-program/.
The pricing starts at around $17.7 per lesson, which is relatively standard for private tutoring. It’s a rational choice if you need a flexible schedule for a homeschool setup or…
This was a really useful read. I liked how the ideas were simple but still effective, especially the part about mixing different types of feedback instead of sticking to just one way. It makes the whole process feel more natural for students. Honestly, it also made me think about clarity in general, like how best author website design works when everything is easy to follow and not confusing at all.
thoughtful guidance like this can truly elevate student writing and engagement. For teachers who are also navigating career documents, pairing strategies like these with a Professional writing service for Teachers in Pakistan can make a big difference when applying for new roles or advancing their careers. Thanks for sharing such practical tips