Written Feedback
Logistics
Our Services
The entire staff will be trained in Written Feedback services offered by the UW-Madison Writing Center. However, we will have one core Written Feedback team comprised of five staff members (previously known as our email team). Questions for the Writing Consultant are less prevalent and will be distributed as seen fit by the Online Writing Center Coordinator.
Questions for the Writing Consultant
The goal of this service is to offer speedy, accurate, and authoritative answers to reasonable writing questions from anyone with Web access. We hope our responses will create goodwill among our users and provide a favorable online impression of the Writing Center.
Limit how much instruction you provide so that your answer is friendly and reasonably thorough but takes no more than 15 minutes. We do not want us to offer ourselves as indisputable experts.
In every Writing Consultant response, quote, cite, or point to a credible source:
Limit how much instruction you provide so that your answer is friendly and reasonably thorough but takes no more than 15 minutes. We do not want us to offer ourselves as indisputable experts.
In every Writing Consultant response, quote, cite, or point to a credible source:
- Link to pages in our Writer’s Handbook
- Link to pages from the Purdue OWL and other trustworthy, up-to-date sources
- Explain what page of the APA or MLA manual you found an answer on
- Explain what dictionary or guidebook you use to get an answer
- Copy and paste (naming your source) from the Chicago Manual of Style—a source that we value highly for Writing Consultant questions
Written Feedback
Written Feedback is an emailed reply to a student draft (or other writing project) in which you
This service is available to enrolled UW–Madison students.
- Identify the writer’s highest-priority revision concern(s)
- Explain specific steps the writer can take to address those concerns
- Embed comments in the draft to further your instruction about those concerns
This service is available to enrolled UW–Madison students.
Scheduling
1-5 page Written Feedback drafts equals one 30-minute WCOnline appointment.
6-10 page Written Feedback drafts equals one 45-minute WCOnline appointment.
In a given 90-minute shift you may respond to three 30-minute drafts or two 45-minute drafts.
Click on the relevant reserved appointment block on WCOnline to download the student's draft and read extra info about said draft.
Reply by 5 PM on the day you’re scheduled to work.
If you know you will need more than 24 hours, contact me right away.
Reply by 5 PM on the day you’re scheduled to work.
If you know you will need more than 24 hours, contact me right away.
Day of Shift |
Reserved on WCOnline no later than |
You send to student no later than |
Monday |
Friday at 5:00 PM |
Monday at 5:00 PM |
Tuesday |
Monday at 5:00 PM |
Tuesday at 5:00 PM |
Wednesday |
Tuesday at 5:00 PM |
Wednesday at 5:00 PM |
Thursday |
Wednesday at 5:00 PM |
Thursday at 5:00 PM |
Friday |
Thursday at 5:00 PM |
Friday at 5:00 PM |
Your schedule
Your schedule (Fall 2020) can be found here. The day by which you need to respond to your writers is marked with an “x.” So, if you have an “x” for a Monday, I will be sending you papers by the end of the day on that previous Friday and you will need to respond to the writers by the end of that Monday.
Please also note that this schedule is reflected on WCOnline as well. I am simply making a Written-Feedback-team specific schedule to make it a bit easier for you to envision your timeline and due dates.
Please also note that this schedule is reflected on WCOnline as well. I am simply making a Written-Feedback-team specific schedule to make it a bit easier for you to envision your timeline and due dates.
Hours of Instruction
The hours for which you're compensated on the Written Feedback staff includes time for record keeping, staff meetings, and instruction. Hours allotted for instruction are explained below:
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TA Workload
ten percent appointment for the Online Writing Center = 72 hours/semester
Responding to email questions and drafts via email |
48 hours |
Record-keeping |
4 hours |
Meetings with Online Writing Center staff |
8 hours |
Writing Center staff meetings, other professional responsibilities (advanced TA training, paired observations) |
12 hours |
Scheduling FAQ
If I have a Tuesday shift, when will I receive student essays by? When are they due?
You'll receive your 3 essays to review via WCOnline on Monday and you'll need to email the students with your comments by end of day (5pm) on Tuesday.
Am i PAID for ATTENDING staff meetings and keeping RECORDS? WHAT ABOUT "HOMEWORK" FOR STAFF MEETINGS?
Yep! We have set aside hours in your appointment for these activities.
WHERE can I find my schedule?
You can access your schedule here. The day by which you need to respond to your writers is marked with an “x.” So, if you have an “x” for a Monday, I will be sending you papers by the end of the day on that previous Friday and you will need to respond to the writers by the end of that Monday.
Accessing Your Email
You have a @writing.wisc.edu address for use in your email interactions.
Logging into your @writing.wisc account
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Email Address FAQ
How do I set this up with my email client?
For more information about downloading and configuring your email client to work with Wiscmail Plus, go here: https://kb.wisc.edu/wiscmail/page.php?id=5320
Can I automate bcc-ing [email protected]?
Crucially important is that you BCC [email protected] every time you write to a student, including your response to their initial draft.
Some email clients can be automated so that every time you send an email from your @writing.wisc.edu account a copy is sent to wcenter.
For example, in WiscMail Plus you can set up this BCC by following these steps:
Some email clients can be automated so that every time you send an email from your @writing.wisc.edu account a copy is sent to wcenter.
For example, in WiscMail Plus you can set up this BCC by following these steps:
- In Options → Mail→ General, check the box to bcc these addresses
- Enter [email protected]
What about the instructor account?
The account [email protected] was set up so that all instructors in the Writing Center could access the live queue (to pick up emails when they have open space in their shifts). You can access the instructor account with the credentials given here: http://goo.gl/ghdkx.
Step by Step: Responding to a Student Draft
Here's how it all works.
Step Three: Review the Response Summary
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[Sample] Response Summary:
Email address: [Redacted] About You First and Last Name: [Redacted] Preferred name: [Redacted] Pronouns: she/her/hers Wiscmail address: [Redacted] Department or major: Nursing Status: Undergraduate student Do you have a Writing Center account? I'm not sure Create a Writing Center account: I have created a Writing Center account. About Your Draft Why did you choose online instruction for this draft? I have a psychiatric or learning disability that makes online instruction a good option for me. When is your draft due? May 03, 2019 When do you need our instructors to return your draft to you? May 03, 2019 How long is your draft? 1-5 pages (under 1,800 words) What is the source of this draft? Course More about Your Course Paper What course is this paper for? Community and Environmental Sociology What would like feedback about?
Is there anything else we should know about the kind of feedback you're seeking? My essay is slightly over the word limit (400 word max) and I am unsure of how to shorten it while still meeting the requirements. I also feel as if it is not as concise as I would like, but I do not know where I am making errors. Final Questions What are the best parts of this draft? Meeting class criteria Has anyone already given you feedback about this draft? If so, what did they say? No, not yet. If you've previously received email feedback, you may have a preference about which instructor you'd like to work with on this draft. If this is the case, please select the instructor(s) below. No preference/this is my first time receiving email feedback Describe the requirements for this draft in as much detail as possible or copy-and-paste them from an assignment sheet or prompt.
Upload your draft here. File 1 Would you like to be notified in the future when there are periods of low demand for email instruction? Yes |
Step Four: Open the File(s) and download themOnce you have clicked on the links to the student's draft and/or assignment, you'll be taken to a page hosted in Google Drive that displays these files. They have already been shared with all instructors on staff. Please make sure to sign into your WiscMail account in order to access them (you should type in your wisc.edu email address into Google). If you're having any difficulty, please read through this document from DoIT.
Once you've accessed these files, please download them by clicking on the "download" button circled in red in the picture to the right. |
Step Five: Save the draftI've lost more than one finished set of comments for a student essay after Word crashes and I forgot to save. Starting over sucks. It also helps to keep drafts organized when you're sending them back to students or referring to an earlier draft from the same student. The image to the right is how I save and organize my email drafts (the date I responded along with the student's name).
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Step Six: Read & Comment on DraftEveryone is different. I like to comment the first time I read and then go back and make more strategic comments once I've decided on an agenda. Other people prefer to read, decide on an agenda, and then go back and make in-text comments. Go with whatever strategy works best for you!
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Step Seven: Compose Your Feedback
I name the issue and identify it in the student text (I usually copy in the students' words and use them to make my point--see example below). Next, I offer some options for how they might revise, along with some examples. Sometimes I write my own examples, other times--like above--I use the students' writing as an example of how to revise.
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My Template
Hi _______! My name is Maggie and I’ll be working with you on this draft. Here at the top of your draft I offer some general feedback on an important revision issue. Below, in the actual text of your draft, I’ve included comments that point to specific opportunities for revision. I suggest that you read the overall comments first as they help contextualize the inserted comments. Just as in our face-to-face meetings in the Writing Center, the time we have is finite, and there are always many different levels of feedback that could be offered. The comments I’m sending you represent my best effort, given the time constraints of Online Writing Center work, to show you what your next steps might be. I hope they are useful! Overall, I really enjoyed reading this [essay/statement/etc]. [Give a strength, explain why it worked and why it's awesome]. In the submission form, you mentioned that you were concerned about [summarize student concerns; explain how they will/wont be addressed]. [Overview of 2-3 issues I plan discuss] [Issue #1
Repeat for rest of issues] With such a great draft to work from, [name], I know this piece will only get stronger as you revise. If you want to talk in person about this draft or any other work you are doing, you’re welcome to set up an appointment to meet with me! I work at the main Writing Center on Thursday evenings (starting Feb 11). You can schedule an appointment by calling our receptionists at 608-263-1992. Ask to work with Maggie H! Or if you want to work live with an instructor online as you revise your draft, consider signing up for a Skype session! We work live from 7–10 PM on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Learn more here! Good luck with your revisions! -Maggie |
Step Eight: Send Your Feedback
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Bcc is located at the top right-hand corner
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Step Nine: Record at WC Online
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See the step-by-step guide below on how to enter your records at WC Online
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Step Ten: Repeat for remaining student drafts |
A normal shift will include 30 minutes spent on each of three student drafts.
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Record Keeping
After sending out an email draft, head over to WCOnline and paste in the opening note from your lesson.
Entering Your Records
Step One
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Adding a Student to the Client List
If a writer is not registered as a user of WCOnline, you can email the receptionists at [email protected] with the writer’s first name, last name, and Wisc email address. When a receptionist has added the student(s), go on back to WCOnline and finish your records.
If you don't want to wait, you're also welcome to add a student to the client list yourself!
If you don't want to wait, you're also welcome to add a student to the client list yourself!
As for the more macro-scale records, using the same Google spreadsheet where your schedule is located, I track when requests arrive, who the students are, what classes they work in, which instructor receives the request, and when the reply goes out. I’ll keep the official Writing Center database up to date with this information. If you’re ever curious about how many drafts you’ve answered or about whether or not you’ve worked with a writer before, you can check the sheet labeled “Email Drafts,” which I plan to update every Friday.
Records FAQ
What if I can't find a student's name in the client drop-down menu?
If a writer is not registered as a user of WCOnline, email the receptionists at [email protected] with the writer’s first name, last name, and Wisc email address. When a receptionist has added the student(s), go on back to WCOnline and finish your records.
Don't want to wait? You can also select "Add a new client to the system" (see above for instructions).
Don't want to wait? You can also select "Add a new client to the system" (see above for instructions).
Do I have to keep records for "questions for the writing consultant" that I answer?
Nope! No need to make a record. Just email the student and BCC [email protected].
Do I have to write a summary of the email for my records?
Nope! Just copy the opening/summary paragraph into the comments section of the session record.
Where can i find a record of the students i've worked with this semester?
I'm here for you. Anytime. Seriously. |