The Practice of Response: Strategies for Commenting on Student Writing

by Richard Straub

Book by Straub, Richard

335 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Lisajean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought-provoking book! Straub is not overly prescriptive; instead, he provides detailed examples of different approaches to writing feedback and guides the reader through reflecting on their own practice. There are some general good practices that emerge and helpful suggestions, but the main impact of The Practice of Response was to push me to think deeply about how students receive my feedback and what changes I can make to get the best results. Those looking for a quick fix or a list of strategies to implement might not be satisfied by this book; I would recommend it to English teachers and professors who worry that students aren't taking their feedback to heart and want to rethink their approach.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This deep dive into teacher commentary was so illuminating. I will be thinking back to Straub's recommendations and observations any time I respond to student work from now on. I'd recommend this book to both new writing teachers and teachers who have been at this a while.