In her article across the drafts, nancy sommers discusses her interest in the effects of teachers responses to student writing in the undergraduate program at harvard university. Across the drafts nancy sommers harvard university for the past thirty years, i have been a teacher of writingwork that i love, especially teaching firstyear students. While sommers has always been interested in the effect of teachers responses to. Braddock awardwinning nancy sommers has taught composition and run composition programs for more than three. They made a conducts research on teachers at new york university and the university of oklahoma, they found out that the teachers comments on students are indistinct the. Revision strategies of student writers and experienced adult writers nancy sommers although various aspects of the writing process have been studied exten sively of late, research on revision has been notably absent. The ways i think about responding to writing, the ways i interact with students, the ways i listen a lot of that has been shaped by nancy sommers. Responding to student writing evergreen state college. Nancy sommers, sosland director of expository writing, and a team of researchers are conducting the pioneering study. Among the results of the study are the fact that most teachers comments were not text specific. Braddock awardwinning nancy sommers has taught composition and run composition programs for more than. A brief instructor resource, nancy sommers responding to student writers offers a model for thinking about response as a dialogue between students and teachers and for thinking about the benefits of responding to writers as well as to their writing.
The reason for this, i suspect, is that current models of the writing process have directed attention away from revision. Written from one teacher to another, nancy sommers responding to student writers offers a model for thinking about response as a dialogue between students and teachers and for thinking about the benefits of responding to. The reason for this, i suspect, is that current models of the writing process have directed. Responding to student writers is a modest book, written from one fellow teacher to another, to remind us of the many ways in which respond ing extends the. Week 3 nancy sommers revision strategies english 12. She ends her essay with a call to encourage student writers to see writing as a discovery process, as a repeated process of seeing, and then seeing again. Although the article is more than a few years old now, it continues to offer a useful perspective on responding. The drafting stage of the writing process thoughtco. Responding to student writing college composition and communication, may 1982 in her first braddock awardwinning essay, sommers takes a look at the academic writing process from an unexpected angle as she unpacks the meaning and the motive behind teacher comments. Jan 21, 2020 nancy sommers 1982 from harvard university found that most instructors comments were not textspecific and could be interchanged certainly a result of time and space constraints, but also frustrating for students who are unable or insufficiently prepared to apply a generic comment to their own specific writing sample. Nancy sommers, responding to student writing sometimes, we inadvertently give students conflicting messages.
Sommers theories on teaching writing are compatible with constance weavers theories on teaching grammar an inch wide and a mile deepfocus on one or two selected skills within each assignment to build and develop each students proficiency rather than trying to address every error in the writing. They made a conducts research on teachers at new york university and the university of oklahoma, they found out that the teachers comments on students are indistinct. Copies of responding to student writers by nancy sommers are available for free in the center for writing upon request. I hear the voice of my father reading to me from struvelpater, the german childrens tale about a messy boy who refuses to. Nancy sommers has done a great deal of research on what constitutes effective responses to. That essay has helped many teachers think more intentionally and act more skillfully when they respond to what students write.
Summary in the article revision of student writers and experienced adult writers, nancy sommers uses a case study to show what student writers and experienced writers do when they write and then revise which lasted approximately 3 years. As writers we need and want thoughtful com mentary to. Responding to student writers, 1st edition macmillan. A writers reference with exercises with 2016 mla update. Nancy sommers asserts that writing teachers spend most of their time responding to and commenting on student writing. With linda simon, she has written the harpercollins guide to writing. Written comments may take the form of paragraphs at the end of a student draft, or notes on email or a. A brief instructor resource, nancy sommersresponding to student writers offers a model for thinking about response as a dialogue between students and teachers and for thinking about the benefits of responding to writers as well as to their writing. Pocket style manual 8th edition diana hacker macmillan. Responding to student writing nancy sommers more than any other enterprise in the teaching of writing, responding to and commenting on student writing consumes the largest proportion of our time. For many, nancy sommers wrote the book or at least the article on response.
Written from one teacher to another, nancy sommers responding to student writers offers a model for thinking about response as a dialogue between students and teachers and for thinking about the benefits of responding to writers as well as to their writing. Four stories of writing and personal development in college. Her articles revision strategies of student and experienced writers and responding to student writing are two of the most widely read and anthologized articles in the field of composition. College composition and communication, v33 n2 p14856 may 1982. Seeing beyond hearing is the point to make revision a lot easier and effective. Braddock awardwinning nancy sommers has taught composition and run composition. Responding to the student writing was written by nancy sommer. The problem nancy sommers was addressing in her article i stand here writing is how students are misinterpreting the use of sources. Nancy sommers transcript welcome to pedagogue, a podcast.
Just as it requires a great deal of effort for students to craft a successful essay, the author reminds us that teachers. What follows below is a summary of sommerss article. Previously she directed the composition program at the university of oklahoma and taught in the english department at rutgers university, where she was a henry rutgers research fellow. Discusses the findings of a study of teachers written comments and evaluations of student essays. It first begins saying that most teacher comment on their student papers although most students get confused with this. Although the article is more than a few years old now, it continues to offer a useful. Pocket style manual, 8th edition macmillan learning for. Responding to student writing efficiently hamilton college.
Responding to student writing compiled by phyllis frus, associate director this special issue of the sweetland newsletter brings together some of the best advice available about responding to student writingwhether you are teaching a writingintensive course at the introductory or advanced level, or simply assigning an essay or two over the. Responding to student writers by nancy sommers pages. Responding to student writing college of the holy cross. Nov 24, 2014 english 3100 20thcentury composition theory and practice. Nancy sommers is associate director of the expository writing program at harvard university. In 1982, nancy sommers published the landmark, awardwinning essay responding to student writing. Student frustrations before considering some approaches to evaluating and responding, it can be helpful to consider the student writer perspective. Responding to student writing nancy sommers college. To me the most helpful response to student writing is immediate verbal help on the first drafts, actually sitting with a student and helping him put the words on paper freedman 56. Responding to student writing the macmillan community. Terrence tivnan, lecturer on education, is performing the statistical analysis.
More than any other enterprise in the teaching of writing, responding to and commenting on. Copies are available for free in the center for writing upon request. Responding to student writing your comments on student writing should clearly reflect the hierarchy of your concerns about the paper. Student frustrations before considering some approaches to evaluating and responding, it can be helpful to consider the studentwriter perspective.
Sommers revision strategies of student writers and experienced adult writers summary sommers lecture called revision strategies of student writers and experienced adult writers starts with words of the author, the reason for this, i suspect, is that current models of writing process have directed attention away from revision 378. Sommers begins to quantify time spent commenting on student writing. Nancy sommers, responding to student writing, in concepts in composition, ed. Responding to student writing harvard writing project. As principal investigator of the harvard study of undergraduate writing, she tracked the college writing experiences of 400 students from the harvard class of 2001 to understand the complex role writing plays in undergraduate education. Most teachers estimate that it takes them at least 20 to 40 minutes to com. Most teachers estimate that it takes them at least 20 to 40 minutes to com ment on an individual student paper, and those 20 to 40 minutes times 20. Sommers shows how teachers too often write comments that come off as arbitrary, idiosyncratic, contradictory, and even mean, even. Responding to student writing comments and grades on student writing arguably constitute the most serious, sustained teaching intervention you can make in a students writing career. Between the drafts nancy sommers i cannot think of my childhood without hearing voices, deep, heavily accented, instructive german voices. A tas guide to teaching writing in all disciplines. Her articles revision strategies of student and experienced writers, responding to student writing, and between the drafts are three of the most widely read and anthologized articles in the field. Nancy sommers responding to student writers emily carr blogs. Low end 20 minutes per paper x 20 students x 8 papers per semester 53.
I hear the voice of my father reading to me from struvelpater, the german childrens tale about a messy boy who refuses to cut his hair or his fingernails. Responding to student writing study underscores importance of feedback. Being aware of how students perceive and react to our commentary as instructors can positively inform the way we respond to their writing. Sommers ends the article by stating that all writers should see their writing as with their own eyes. Nancy sommers 1982 from harvard university found that most instructors comments were not textspecific and could be interchanged certainly a result of time and space constraints, but also frustrating for students who are unable or insufficiently prepared to apply a generic comment to their own specific writing sample. English 3100 20thcentury composition theory and practice. Nancy sommers studies the writing development of college students. Responding to student writing the evergreen state college. Sommers shows how teachers too often write comments that come off as arbitrary, idiosyncratic, contradictory, and even mean, even though they. In the beginning of the article she talks about the difference between a fact and truth. For english 591 with carol nowotnyyoung, november 1, 2012. Read her 2003 essay across the drafts, based on the harvard study of undergraduate writing. Across the drafts by nancy sommers teacherly musings. Chapters 3 and 4 of the elements of teaching writing by katherine gottschalk and keith hjortshoj.
Responding to a students paper involves 1 reading it carefully while making marginal comments, 2 writing a final comment in which you sum. Journal of education for business, julyaugust, 325330. Sommers is an internationally recognized leader in the field of writing studies and a prizewinning writer. Revision strategies of student writers and experienced.
Writing across the curriculum responding to student writing. The text is about common mistakes the teachers make when commenting an essay of a student. There is no reason why you have to read all of your students. Jul 22, 2016 a twotime braddock award winner, sommers is well known for her research and publications on student writing. Nancy sommers harvard graduate school of education. Across the drafts nancy sommers harvard university for the past thirty years, i have been a teacher of writing work that i love, especially teaching firstyear students. Read her 1982 essay responding to student writing, based on her study of teachers comments at new york university and the university of oklahoma. Start with a positive comment that starts the conversation sommers or continues an existing conversation. While sommers has always been interested in the effect of teachers responses to students writing.
Responding to student writers edition 1 by nancy sommers. I have always been curious about the ways in which students read and interpret my commentswhy they find some. Conventions in teacher response to student writing. Nancy sommers reading response my senior exit portfolio. Review of responding to student writers by nancy sommers. The researchers are following about 25%, or over 400 members, of the harvard class of 2001 through their col. Erlbaum, 2003 erlbaum, 2003 how to write the perfect essay introduction. In her research she examined the revision process of student writers and experienced adult writers to see what effect revision. Writers reference 9th edition diana hacker macmillan. The professors guide to integrating writing, critical thinking, and active learning in the classroom. Braddock awardwinning nancy sommers has taught composition and run composition programs for more than three decades. Major issues should be treated more prominently and at greater length.
Student attitudes and preferences for video commentary or microsoft word comments during the revision process. How do i evaluate student writing texas tech university. What follows below is a summary of sommers s article. Rethinking nancy sommerss responding to student writing, from 2006, which includes a reflection from sommers and short essays from several other scholars. A twotime braddock award winner, sommers is well known for her research and publications on student writing. When students were asked each year to describe their best writing experiences, two overriding characteristics emerged. Read responding to student writers, sommerss 20 book, for more expansive advice. In responding to student writing, nancy sommers with lil brannon and cyril knoblach test the widely used and the least understood method for student responding in writing. In a short reflective essay, i address the content of theory and practice in nancy sommers revision strategies of student writers and experienced adult writers, in which i read and articulated the article in connection to the course text and class discussions.
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