Terry Dolson's "Comments on Comments" Assignment Topic: You have read the comments on your draft. What’s next? How do you use those comments to revise your article? This exercise will help you to do that by helping you talk back to the comments, creating a dialogue, and dramatizing your thought process as you think about revision. Instructions: Type out each comment, then, below it, type a response. It should look something like a script. Pretend we are talking together about your article. What should your response be like? If the comment is a question, answer it as fully as you can. Show how you will change your words in response to the comment. If the comment refers to a specific mechanical issue, define the issue and your understanding of it. Look up advice where necessary. Fix your sentence. If the comment is a statement, give your honest response. How does it affect what you plan to change or not change in your next draft? For the long comment at the end, break it into several pieces. End comments usually deal with “big picture” issues. Write out your response and strategize about how you will apply these ideas. For example, if part of the end comment says: “consider your audience,” then write a response that tells the specifics about your audience, and how you will change your article to speak more directly to them (what kinds of word choice? What background information to include, etc.) You may find it useful to do a draft of your comments on comments before you revise your article, and then revise your comments as you work through the actual revisions of the article! I will evaluate this assignment on thoroughness and degree of engagement in the dialogue! In other words: read and consider my comments carefully, respond fully, and revise A LOT! Further Reading: Berzsenyi, Christine A. "Comments to Comments: Teachers and Students in Written Dialogue about Critical Revision." Composition Studies 29.2 (2001): 71-92. 103 home | course goals | faculty policies | sample assignments | texts & reviews | teacher's quick links