10-second review: Boils down to this question—what are the writer’s and reader’s criteria for effective writing?
Title: “Feedback and Revision in Writing Across the Curriculum Classes.” Larry Beason. Research in the Teaching of English (December 1993), 395-422.
Summary: The author promoted four generic criteria that could be useful in English class and in other disciplines:
Focus: clear overall purpose
Development and Support: Sufficient explanation, depth and proof
Organization: Transitions
Mechanics: Conventions and grammar of formal writing
Comment: I always supplied my criteria for my writing students:
45 Points: Organization: introduction, thesis, topic sentences when needed, summarizing final paragraph. Unity: Thesis, topic sentences and final, summary paragraph express the central idea of the composition.
20 points: Development—sufficient supporting details and explanation.
20 Points: Clarity and Smoothness of expression. Question marks mean that I, as a reader, do not understand. Formal language, including eliminating wordiness, needless repetition, misplaced and dangling modifiers and faulty parallel structure.
15 Points: Mechanics.
All of that had been taught before it was expected. RayS.
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