The first draft of your critical analysis (and your first writer’s letter) will be due in class on Friday, 9/15. Plan on bringing 4 copies of your draft and letter to class. For more information on the word count of the draft and guidelines for the writer’s letter, please refer to the assignment sheet I passed out in class, available here.
This draft should be double-spaced and include appropriate citations. For specific guidelines, please refer to the formatting section of the syllabus.
As a reminder, please submit the copy of the discovery draft with my notes along with your draft. Please also include a note if you would like comments emailed to you before the 27th.
For class on Friday, you should read “Responding–Really Responding–to other Students’ Writing” and come to class prepared to discuss his strategies for revision.
Finally, if you are willing to have your essay workshopped with the class, send me an email. If I choose to use your essay, it will count as extra credit toward your participation grade.
In the article “Responding- Really Responding- to Other Students’ Writing” by Richard Straub, he focuses on the steps that one should take when viewing another piece of writing and how the feedback that the writer receives can affect later drafts of their writing. For example, Straub states that one must provide constructive criticism on someone’s writing and not look for any grammatical errors or reword the person’s thoughts: “You’re not an editor. You’re not a teacher. You’re not a cruise missile. And don’t rewrite any parts of the paper.” Straub is showing us that as readers, we are not the ultimate authority when it comes to writing and should not tell someone that their words or thoughts are wrong, but rather give them suggestions or ideas on how to enhance their writing. Also, Straub mentions that when we give advice on someone’s writing, we should be very specific: “Don’t rely on general statements alone. How much have generic comments helped you as a writer?” He is emphasizing that when one is specific, a writer will understand what the issue is with their writing and how it can be made better without questioning themselves or doubting their writing skills.
Straub’s article has helped me understand that my feedback is important to someone’s work. For one, my feedback can help a writer better develop their ideas, like making their ideas more organized or smoother. Also, I realized that writing is a process. One has to write multiple drafts in order to make their writing sound solid or reputable. On the other hand, if a person was to write only one draft and is reluctant to receive criticism, then the writing will not be satisfactory. Lastly, when I critique someone’s work in the future, I will write a mix of good and fair comments because it is essential to be truthful when it comes to one’s writing and be supportive simultaneously.