What if I could teach writing this way:
In class, we go over all the things we do now, from the development of a solid research question to fine editing.
But I don’t grade a student’s paper until it’s good.
If the student turns in something with a terrible title (“Essay 2”) or even a meh one (“Antibiotic Resistance”), I get to hand it back. “In the real world, I wouldn’t read this.”
If the introduction is boring, I get to hand it back.
If there’s no sense of audience, I get to hand it back.
If the organization makes no sense, I get to hand it back.
If the counter-argument is a straw man, I get to hand it back.
If there are a bunch of grammar errors, I get to hand it back.
If the conclusion is just a summary, I get to hand it back.
Etc.
The class would be pass/fail. To pass, the student would have to hand me a paper I was okay with (if not thrilled by) the whole way through.
