Take 20 "Reading"

Question #16 of Take 20, "How do you Respond to Student Writing?" was a short video response comprised of four teachers and their different methods and opinions on the process of revision.

Sommers believes that responding to student writing is the hardest thing teachers have to do, and that they are looking at the consequences of their own pedagogy. She thinks that students are overwhelmed by too many comments. She believes in making a purpose for her response and asks for feedback on her own comments.

Tinberg believes that just as students have to focus on audience and purpose, so does he while making comments to the student. He believes every paper is equally important and deserves the same kind of feedback. Tinberg believes in a distinction between summative and formative comments. Summative is for the grade and formative is for revision and improvement. He believes his comments to be 'instrumental' not a mere justification of his grade.

Sanchez doesn't want students to write with the sole purpose of pleasing the professor which is why he makes general feedback instead of labeling either "A work" or "B work". He tries to close the gap between what students want to do and what they are actually doing. Sanchez tries not to dilute the student teacher relationship by over exerting himself through comments or by being unclear whether he is evaluating or responding.

Rose likes to give personal individual feedback that occurs as you pat a student on the back walking through the halls or by verbalizing praise. He also believes in making personal phone calls to the student to ask them what happened with their paper if it wasn't up to the student normal standards.

Questions:

1. How are the students supposed to revise the paper to receive the best grade if the teacher is commenting generally or vaguely?

2. Why do almost all teachers see the student teacher relationship as convoluted because the teacher is institutionalized?