Why Workshop Drafts?

1) Workshops reinforces key concepts of academic writing:

• drafts are a work in process
• writing must make sense for an audience beyond the professor
• revision is not “fixing” but seeing afresh and rethinking from that perspective

2)  Workshopping helps students see each other as resources

• writers gain valuable feedback
• giving feedback helps them learn how to talk about papers
• reading other papers helps them see their own writing in a new way

3) Workshops make professors more effective writing teachers

• reduces the amount of time that needs to be spent commenting on each draft
• allows professors to focus on specific issues and problem areas (such as introductions)
• provides extra feedback and generally produces stronger paper

Best Practices for Success

• Provide structure: Tell the class what you are going to do, then do it, then comment on it
• Teach first: begin by introducing the topic for review, reference TS/IS or the Owl if relevant
• Model the process: review a few examples together and talk through what to look for
• Direct the feedback: provide a feedback sheet or set of very focused questions
• Step out of the way: the workshops need to be a space for student voices, resist the urge to join each group and take over