Written Corrective Feedback:

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Written Corrective Feedback

• How Should We Respond to Student Writing?

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First Things FirstGood Writing is Always a
Process

• Gathering ideas
• Planning/Outlining
• Drafting
• Seeking advice from others
• Revising for content
• Revising for language

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Written Corrective Feedback What Is It?

• Includes written teacher comments on the
  following
• Format
• Organization/structure of writing
• Content
• Advice/encouragement for future
  drafts/assignments
• Language (grammar, word choice, spelling,
  punctuation)
• But also includes written student comments!
• Peer review worksheets

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Sample Correction Symbols

• wf word form
• wc word choice
• vt verb tense
• p punctuation/capitalization
• wo word order
• sp - spelling

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Problems with Error Correction

• Research tends to show that it does not work
  (possibly because it is hard to measure).
• Some have suggested that it is harmful.
• Corrected students tend to avoid rather than
  address.
• Students can rely too much on their professor for
  correction.
• Long-term benefits are not always visible in the
  classroom setting.
• Still, students expect it.

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When Not to Use Error Correction

• Student journals
• Freewriting activities
• Any single-draft assignment
• Any assignment designed to develop fluency over
  accuracy

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Problems with Comments on Content and Organization

• If it is vague, it can be confusing to students.
• There is no guarantee that students will read it.
• It is counterproductive if comments are mostly
  negative.
• It is less effective when used without one-on-one
  conferences.
• Despite this, such comments have proven more
  effective than error correction.

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A Proposed Approach

• Based on a three-draft written assignment

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Before the First Draft

• Students read authentic texts related to their
  topic.
• Students engage in group work, pair work and
  classroom discussion to explore their topic.
• Students choose their own topic (possibly from a
  limited set provided by teacher).
• Students plan the various sections of their
  assignment and compare with classmates.

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First Draft

• Students divide into pairs and read each others
  essays.
• Students fill out a teacher-prepared worksheet
  designed to help them give constructive advice to
  their peers.
• The teacher collects all essays and provides
  written feedback on content/organization only.

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Sample Peer Review Questions

1. Write one thing you liked about your partners
   essay. What is especially good about it?
2. What is your opinion of your partners arguments?
   Are they generally good? Did your partner use
   examples from our readings? Explain.
3. Write two or three things your partner can do to
   improve her essay. Be specific.

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Second Draft

• Students conference with teacher to discuss
  comments (no more than 3-5 minutes each).
• Students use the comments from their peers and
  their teacher to make improvements to their
  essay.
• Students submit all drafts together.
• The teacher provides written feedback on language
  errors only (assuming content and organization
  have been addressed).

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Third Draft

• Students use teacher comments to make
  improvements to their essay.
• Students submit all drafts together.
• Teacher writes minimal comments, often little
  more than a grade.
• Students rarely read comments when they feel
  their work is done.

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Thank You!
www.jorabek.com
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References

• Badger, R., and G. White. 2000. A process genre
  approach to teaching writing. ELT Journal 54 (2)
  15360.
• Bartels, N. 2003. Written peer response in L2
  writing. English Teaching Forum 41 (1) 3437
• Mendonça, C. O., and K. E. Johnson. 1994. Peer
  review negotiations Revision activities in ESL
  writing instruction. TESOL Quarterly 28 (4)
  74569.
• Truscott, J. 2007. The effect of error correction
  on learners ability to write accurately. Journal
  of Second Language Writing 16 (4) 25572.
• Williams, Jason Gordon. 2003 .Providing feedback
  on ESL students written assignments. The
  Internet TESL Journal Vol. IX, No. 10.,
  http//www.itesl.org/Techniques/Williams-Feedback.
  html.