Richard
Straub wrote an amazing article entitled "The
Concept of Control in Teacher Response: Defining the Varieties of `Directive'
and `Facilitative' Commentary" that explains these two types of
commentary very well with examples. Below are reflections of both types
of commentary that we as Writing Fellows-in-training have written.
Christine:
"I instructed the writer of the LeMoult paper way to often. My style
was too directive. I wrote a lot of `Don't do this' or `Don't use this word..'
or `This isn't a good way to start your paper..' which is so dangerous.
Even though the writer needs tons of help I should pick and choose my battles.
I realize [that I] did use some shorthand that could be very mysterious,
such as `awk'" (Newsgroup 9/22/97)
Stacey: "I am not so happy about how some of my comments resembled
Peterson's reactions. For example, I wrote `Citation?'. Looking back, I
think that kind of commentary, in large quantities, demonstrates too much
attitude." (Newsgroup 9/21/97)
Myself: (about my first commentary) "In
many ways I am controlling. I have a personality that is very type A and
I saw in my need to help (and my belief that I 'knew best') my commenting
style fell between White's and Peterson's. Many of my comment were inflexible
statements, e.g. `This is summary, respond to the ideas, do not just restate
them'." (Newsgroup 9/21/97)
Nancy: "My suggestions seem directive, not so much in a harsh,
`do-it-my-way-or-else' manner, but I think I attempted to assert my authority
over the student by creating many of my comments as corrections." (Newsgroup
9/19/97)
Nancy:
"I would try to make my comments more facilitative. I would not correct
every grammar mistake, and I would try to act more like a friend who is
merely reading the essay and providing feedback and reaction" (Newsgroup
9/19/97)
Christine: "I suppose the best way to handle commentary is well-worded,
not terse questions, lik[e] Gene used in her commentary." (Newsgroup
9/22/97)
Laurie: "When I wrote the LeMoult commentary, I did include
a lot of questions for the writer to consider." (Newsgroup 9/21/97)