5 Ways to Make Feedback on Writing a Positive Experience

From https://englishwithjennifer.wordpress.com/2016/09/16/5-ways-to-make-feedback-on-writing-a-positive-experience/ (Posted by ENGLISHWITHJENNIFER on SEPTEMBER 16, 2016)

Online teaching is not always done in real time. Some of my private instruction is now given through written assignments. Students submit drafts and I provide feedback. We don’t schedule live lessons, so that mainly leaves us with written communication: email, comments, and track changes on documents. You may wonder how effective this instruction can be and if either the student or I feel restricted by the experience.

An academic session at TESOL 2015 got me thinking about recording oral feedback. (Click to read some of Nathan Hall’s suggestions.) Another presentation at TESOL 2016 reinforced my belief that such feedback has multiple benefits. (Click to read aboutEffectiveness of Audio Feedback for EFL Students in Online Courses.) I decided to make screencasts for my writing students as another way of giving corrections and modeling the writing process. I also realize I’m giving additional listening practice and strengthening the student-teacher connection.

Like so many other skills, from lesson planning to test design, the more you do it, the better you get. I’ve compiled a list of good practices when recording oral feedback, be it video or audio. It’s partly to keep myself in check because I need to use my recording time more effectively and deliver a set of comments that’s concise and well-balanced.

1. Guide the learner through multiple revisions. I know I shouldn’t give too much correction in a single draft. Doing so can overwhelm a student. I often have to remind myself to focus on different aspects in each revision. First, I address format and overall structure. Then I might call attention to use of transitions within a paragraph as well as vocabulary and grammar. A later revision can tackle wordiness and the need to reduce repetition.

2. Balance teacher correction and self-correction. Even after all these years, there’s a temptation to go about editing a text from beginning to end. But if there’s a mistake repeated multiple times, the student will likely retain the correction if he does it himself. Also, having too many corrections on a page doesn’t create a positive impression, so I sometimes I correct a type of grammar mistake, like articles in generic references, once or twice and then highlight other instances. Then it’s up to the student to fix the remaining mistakes.

3. Sprinkle in some praise at the right times. Too much cheering from the sidelines won’t seem genuine, but feedback can’t be all about fixing mistakes and addressing weaknesses. I love to see a student apply feedback from a previous assignment to the current one. That’s certainly worth complimenting.

4. Take advantage of teachable moments. The focus may be on writing skills, but there are times when pausing or digressing is worth it. Instead of suggesting a replacement for a poor word choice, I might list the original choice along with a new one, giving both definitions. Then the student must consider the difference and choose. I’ve also searched for online explanations and writing models to supplement my own. When I find a particularly good resource, I note the link for the student. I want students to be aware of resources they can use long after our lessons run their course.

5. Keep all forms of feedback at your disposal. Even in my screencasts I use track changes and insert text comments. I probably do this to a lesser degree when I’m giving oral feedback, but I like combining the two forms. For example, I may make a track change but talk aloud as I’m considering how best to structure a sentence. Then the student can see how I experiment and arrive at the newly worded idea. I also still provide only written feedback on some drafts.

It can be challenging to make an online learning experience meaningful. Based on my experience, video – live or recorded – can help.

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

Your feedback is welcome. Please direct comments and questions to me at bruno_coriolano@hotmail.com

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How to Write a Reaction Paper

My students will most certainly need to know how to read a paper. Moreover, they will need to know how to react to it. Therefore, I decided to copy and paste this article (How to Write a Reaction Paper) from wikihow.com (I do hope they don’t mind).

It is important to state that on my blog, I will only post a part of the whole article, so they will need to read the rest on their site mentioned above.

First, let us start with the questions – what is a reaction paper?

(From now on, every single word is from wikihow.com)

A reaction or response paper requires the writer to analyze a text, then develop commentary related to it. It is a popular academic assignment because it requires thoughtful reading, research, and writing. You can learn how to write a reaction paper by following these writing tips.

Prewriting and Actively Reading

Understand the purpose of a reaction paper. Reaction or response papers are assigned so that after reading a text, you will think carefully about what you feel or think about the text. When you write a response paper, you need to evaluate the text's strengths and weaknesses, along with if and how well the text accomplishes its objective. A reaction paper is not just a paper where you express your opinion. These papers require a close reading of the text that goes beyond the surface meaning. You must respond to implied ideas, and elaborate, evaluate, and analyze the author's purpose and main points. In many cases, you can use the first-person "I" while writing reaction papers.

When you respond to the text, back up your ideas with evidence from the text along with your own connection of ideas, texts, and overarching concepts. If you are asked to agree or disagree, you have to provide convincing evidence about why you feel this way.

If responding to multiple texts, you must analyze how the texts relate. If responding to one text, you probably should connect the text to overarching concepts and themes you have discussed in the class.

The same assignment may also be given to films, lectures, field trips, labs, or even class discussions.

A reaction paper is not a summary of the text. It also does not state, "I liked this book because it was interesting" or "I hated this because it was boring."

Figure out what the assignment is asking. Before beginning your paper, you must figure out exactly what your teacher or professor is looking for. Some teachers want you to react by analyzing or evaluating the reading. Other teachers want a personal response. Make sure you understand which kind of reaction the assignment calls for.

If you are unsure, ask the teacher to clarify what they expect from the assignment.

You may be asked to react to the text in light of another text. If this is the case, you will want to use quotations from both texts in your writing.

You may be asked to react to the text in the light of the class themes. For example, if you read a book in a Sociology of Gender Roles class, you will want to read, annotate, and react based on how gender roles are described in the book.

You may be asked to react personally to the text. This is less common, but occasionally the teacher simply wants to know if you have read the text and thought about it. In this case, you should focus on your opinions of the book.

Read the text you are assigned right after it is assigned. To complete a reaction paper, you don't just read, give your opinion, and turn in the paper. A reaction paper synthesizes the texts, which means you take the information you read and bring it together so you can analyze and evaluate. You have to give yourself time to do the readings, but more importantly, to digest what you've read so you can put the ideas together.

One of the biggest mistakes that students make is waiting until the last minute to read and react. A reaction is a thoughtful consideration after reading and rereading several times.

You may need to reread the text multiple times. First, to read and familiarize yourself with the text, then again to start thinking about the assignment and your reactions.

Write down your initial reactions. After you read through the first time, jot down your initial reactions to the text. Do the same thing on any subsequent readings.

Try completing some of the following sentences after you read: I think that..., I see that..., I feel that..., It seems that..., or In my opinion...

Annotate the text as you read. As you read through the text again, annotate it. Annotating in the margins of the text allows you to easily locate quotations, plot lines, character development, or reactions to the text. If you fail to annotate thoroughly, it will be more difficult to create a cohesive reaction paper.

Question as you read. As you read the text, you have to start questioning the text. This is where your evaluation of the material and your reaction begins. Some questions to consider include:

What issues or problems does the author address?

What is the author's main point?

What points or assumptions does the author make, and how does she back that up?

What are strengths and weaknesses? Where are problems with the argument?

How do the texts relate? (if multiple texts)

How do these ideas connect to the overall ideas of the class/unit/etc?

The original source: http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Reaction-Paper

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

Your feedback is welcome. Please direct comments and questions to me at bruno_coriolano@hotmail.com

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Start writing fiction Start writing fiction

Introduction

This free course looks at how characters might be drawn and how setting is established. It works on the different levels of characterization, from flat to round, and how character and place interact. It also works on the effect of genre and how genre can be used.

The main teaching material in this course is taken from an existing publication, The Fiction Writer's Workshop by Josip Novakovich (1995).

Novakovich is an award-winning writer (of short stories mainly), who teaches fiction writing at the University of Cincinnati. His chapters on ‘Character’ and ‘Setting’ are included within this course. I'll indicate when you should read these extracts and I'll also outline the listening and writing activities that accompany them.

This course is split into the following sections:

•      Character

•      Setting

·         Genre

From http://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/culture/literature-and-creative-writing/creative-writing/start-writing-fiction/content-section-0

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

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Tell Your Readers What You See, Feel, Hear and So On.

Two things: (1) I have been too busy recently. I have too many things to do, deadlines to meet and so on and so forth, and (2) I have had this inspirational workshop two weeks ago and I loved it. It made me reflect upon my creative writing. Some of the ideas I will use here will be stolen from my notes on my notebook – the notebook I used during the workshop.  

Let’s make it quickly, shall we?

Think about a place – maybe a local coffee shop you like – and try to describe it with as much detail as you can. Do not worry about the final result. You will have to edit it anyway.

[Use the pictures in order to help you]

Now, try to make your reader feel the place as much as he can. Let your reader imagine the atmosphere of the place. Let them “smell the place”.

Before describing your place, you should close your eyes and think about it trying to use all your senses.

What is it like? Does it smell good?

Instead of telling people about the place, let the place talk for itself. Use a lot of onomatopoeias – as much as possible – in order to help you.

Instead of saying he opened the door, use “Knock, knock”. And “make noise”. Let your reader touch the door as well.

From now on, we are going to use this site here (click here) so that we will be able to manage our time. 15 minutes are going to be all the time we need to practice.

Let’s see what you’ve got. Write your ideas on the comments here (below).  

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I hope you have enjoyed this post. I don’t know when I will be writing again, but I will try to make it as soon as possible.

See you guys around! 


If you haven’t read all the other post about creative writing, click here 

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

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Create your own world (Part 1 of 3)

Hi there!

How are you guys doing?

I’m absolutely certain that you have been pretty busy recently, am I right? Well, everybody is!

If you are still reading my post here on Portal da Língua Inglesa, you may have noticed the series of post about writing I have been writing.

You can read them all here:

WRITING IS CRYING OUT TO BE SHAPED, OR CREATED.

THE PROBLEM WITH REALITY IS IT’S SO EASY TO SEE.

CREATING THE CHARACTERS OF YOUR BOOK (OR STORY).

CREATING YOUR OWN UNIVERSE: THE WEATHER.

The next thing I would love to write about is:

How to create your own world.

Do you already have any idea about how your world would look like?

Start with the idea of “WHAT KIND OF WORLD WOULD YOU LIKE TO INHABIT?”

Answer these questions:

Who lives on those mountains, caves, tiny houses, tree house, monastery, etc? Imagine that you have already thought about those places before. Next, describe the streets, buildings and other things.

Do not forget to create a place you would like to go when you’d like to be alone.

Is this place a dark one or a bright one?

When do you go there?

Name your world.

What kind of space do you envision for it?

I have selected some picture to help you create your world.

Write some lines about the pictures. Try to use your ideas in your writing.

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What’s the joke here?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do people live upside down?

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Are there any monsters or strange creators? Are people fighting against each other or living peacefully?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

One last thing: you can borrow or steal from a movie you have watched, a book you have read or a story someone has told. Just write the maximum of lines you as you can. I’m sure you will create beautiful things!

>>>> REALLY IMPORTANT THING <<<<

Reserve some time to take long walks on a regular basis. That’s the thing I’m going to do right now?

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

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CREATING YOUR OWN UNIVERSE: THE WEATHER.

Having created your character, you may want to talk about the places where he (or she) lives, right?

Is it a pretty safe bet to say that the place where the story happens is as important as the story itself. Therefore, I suppose you will do your best to make your reader familiar with the atmosphere, environment, etc. of your narrative.

However, how can you create the place where your characters will live their adventures?

Start with:

The weather!

Is it a cold place? Is it a hot place? Describe how the climate is in your imaginary world. Let people feel the place. Tell them things like the smell. Go closer. Tell us what you can hear there. Is it a nice place? Is it spooky?

Here we go again: BORROW or STEAL from another idea. There’s nothing wrong with it! As you keep writing your story, you will realize that you will occasionally need to add it or change it. This is part of the process!

Let me know what you have written, okay?

See you next time!

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

Did you spot a typo?

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CREATING THE CHARACTERS OF YOUR BOOK (OR STORY)

That’s undoubtedly one of the most important things in your book. You must create some characters (or at least one).

Let’s see what we can do. Once again, don’t feel afraid of stealing or borrowing from your favorite writer’s characters or some favorite actor’s traits.

First things first: Is your character an animal, human or something else? You don’t have to make sense in a literal way, remember?

Is your character a woman? 

How does she look like? 

LET ME ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS:

Is she blonde or brunette?

Does she have short hair?

What does she do? Is she a cop?

Does she have superpowers?

Where does she live? Does she live under the water; in an alternative world?

Or does she live in a normal neighborhood? 

Does she run like a crazy woman? 

Okay, maybe she runs with a white dog in her arms? 

Does the dog have superpowers? Lol

No, wait. Does she live in outer space? Is she connected to someone? (maybe George Clooney?) Lol

Oh, no. she is a gorgeous woman! She dresses like a modern lady:

… but maybe she puts her makeup and scares people in the evening. Maybe just for fun… lol or maybe she fights crime. Yes, she wants to save the whole world. 

No. wait. I know it. She is a very traditional woman. she's an ordinary girl. She wears long dresses...  

…or she walks completely naked around the city.

Or maybe, she’s just a cowgirl.

Or Batman’s mother.        

Or she’s just like Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, who starts as a man and finishes as a woman.

 Let’s forget about the jokes (at least for a while), but once you have decided who your main character is, you will have to give them (or her) life.

Next thing is: what places does she visit? Where does she live? What kind of dreams does she have? What tools does she use?

Use your imagination: Include everything you would like her to do as if it has already happened (in real life, for instance). Take the qualities of your favorite people, friends, relatives, or even your enemies. Yes, enemies! Why not?

Most important things: when you are writing a story, you should actually try to let your readers know who your main character is in his world.

List things they do: hobbies, qualities, obsessions, etc.

I hope you liked it. See you next time! 

“You should never hesitate to trade your cow for a handful of magic beans.” ― Tom Robbins

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

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