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The Redo: How does it work?

Submitted by Ljones on February 5, 2008 - 1:24pm. |

My students this semester have so far seemed bright and engaged--quite easy to teach and get along with. And, after my agonizing first assignment last semester, I deliberately kept my instructions short and simple, not even giving length or format requirements. Still, the average student has failed to follow the paper assignment directions on 3 separate counts.

Right now, I am giving each student one comment on their paper, which lists the ways they failed to follow instructions. I'm planning on handing these papers back tomorrow. Instead of giving them a D or F grade, I'm simply telling them all to redo the assignment.

I'm curious about whether other teachers do this. If so, do you give them any grade penalty on the re-done assignment?

Also, they were originally going to be given the opportunity for an optional revision, but should the forced redo take its place? (In that case, am I obligated to comment on all the other aspects of the paper--content, clarity, organization--before handing them back?)

Maybe having to write the redo is punishment enough?

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I assume that if they didn't

Submitted by Charles on February 6, 2008 - 5:50am.

I assume that if they didn't follow instructions the students either didn't understand them or weren't accustomed to following instructions. As I always allow my students to redo their work, I simply grade it accordingly, giving a few comments on what they should do, and if they want to conference on it, to give them more comments in person. Although grades aren't my focus, they are the students', and so the grade tends to focus their attention more on what needs to be done and what the goals of the assignment are than comments alone.

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"punishment"?! Is the

Submitted by Daren Young on February 6, 2008 - 2:05pm.

"punishment"?! Is the pedagogical focus on the task content/process, or on learning to follow orders? Can't this be a teaching moment?

It's doubtful the whole class decided to write a ****-you essay at the same time, in order to obstructively resist your instruction.

Whether you write a grade on the paper or not, I'd suggest telling them that, without revision, a D or F is all their efforts would earn. Then have them get out the assignment sheet, and turn the floor over to them to discuss/ask questions about what's missing. Many, many times, when I think a student has left out some crucial part of the paper, it's not so much missing as unidentifiable. They thought they'd hit all their marks, but hadn't understood the criteria in the first place.

And no, I don't think this should use up their revision freebie.

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