Teaching In The Margins:
Commenting On Student Writing

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Bob Hoffert in Philosophy explains that he sets up his assignment so that students can easily follow through to meet his main criteria. He asks that students set up a thesis statement that does three things:

• Identifies a specific dimension of the subject of the paper
• Identifies the ethical theory the student will work with
• Identifies the point the student wants to make

When students follow the assignment closely, they are easily able to follow through with the analysis Bob is looking for in the papers and thus they fulfill his key criteria.

Bob goes on to note, though, that "students are unpracticed." They need to grow through repeated practice with the same kind of writing to be able to achieve the level of analysis he hopes to see in their writing.