Montclair State University

Student Toolbox

The Writing Process
Conducting Research
Citing Sources
Technology & Writing
Specific Types of Writing
Writing in the Disciplines
Second Language Writing
Academic Integrity
Grammar & Style

Integrating Writing into
Your Course
Designing Assignments
Responding to Writing
Overview
General Resources
Conducting Peer Review
Evaluating Writing
Teaching Writing with
Technology
Writing in the Disciplines
Second Language Writing
Academic Integrity

The consultants at the CWE
have put together a variety of
helpful handouts for writers
and teachers.

These handouts are included
in the relevant sections of
the CWE Digital Dashboard.
You can also view a
complete list of all CWE
handouts here.

You will also find useful
tips and information in
our CWE newsletters.

Responding to Writing

OVERVIEW

How you respond to student writing plays a large role in the quality of the student's learning experience. This page provides resources to help you comment effectively and efficiently on student writing.

Also see: Evaluating Writing for resources focused specifically on grading criteria, methods, and process.

GENERAL RESOURCES

	Diagnosing and Responding to Student Writing Source: The Institute for Writing & Rhetoric, Darmouth College Description: This handout presents 1) ways to diagnose writing weaknesses and 2) ways to respond to writing to help the writer grow. The handout also discusses time management in the process.
	Teaching in the Margins: Commenting on Student Writing Teaching Guide from Writing@CSU Official Description: "One of the most common complaints from teachers across campus is that student writing is so weak that reading and responding to papers becomes an overwhelming task. This resource is designed to make responding to student writing more feasible. "
	HWP Brief Guide to Responding to Student Writing Source: Harvard College Writing CenterHarvard Writing Project Description: The Harvard Writing Project Brief Guide series provides concise introductions to writing instruction for faculty members and teaching fellows.
	Effective Feedback on Student Writing Part 1 Source: University of Hawai`i at Manoa Center for Teaching Excellence Posted on YouTube: April 3, 2009 \| (10:00) Description: Discusses assignment design and feedback.
	Writing Matters #2: Responding to Student Writing Univ. of Hawaii Manoa Writing Program This resource is also available as a PDF file.
	Writing Matters #4: Overcoming Writing Errors Univ. of Hawaii Manoa Writing Program This page provides guidance on helping students overcome writing errors, including tips on providing effective feedback, prescriptions, and advice. This resource is also available as a PDF file.
	Responding and Evaluating Univ. of Kansas Writing Center
	Haswell, Richard H. "Minimal Marking." College English, Vol. 45, No. 6 (Oct., 1983), pp. 600-604. Available on JSTOR with login (Montclair State Univ. faculty, staff, and students can access JSTOR through Sprague Library).
	Ten Tips for Evaluating Student Writing Writing across the Curriculum @ Manhattan College This site provides tips for providing effective and efficient feedback and commentary on student writing.
	Responding to Student Writing - Principles and Practices Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, Univ. of Michigan
	Responding to Student Papers Effectively and Efficiently Univ. of Toronto Writing
	Tips for Commenting on Student Writing Washington Univ. in St. Louis Teaching Center Provides tips in the following areas: Course Planning Writing Comments in the Margins Writing Final Comments What Else Can You Do?
	Responding & Grading Univ. of Minnesota Center for Writing Provides various resources on "Approaches to Response" and "Approaches to Grading," as well as samples of responding activities and handouts, and samples of grading activities and tools.
	Responding to Student Writing UCLA Office of Instructional Development, Teach 2 Write: A Guide for Teaching Writing
	Featured Resources on Responding to Writing National Writing Project (NWP) Links to a wide range or resources, including book reviews and full articles. Articles (available as PDFs) range from Nancy Sommer's "Responding to Student Writing" (1981) to recent publications on peer review, revision strategies, and more.