Each time students complete a draft or revision of a major assignment, they’re provided instructions for crafting a brief cover letter (i.e., one page or less). The purpose of these cover letters is twofold: they offer students the opportunity to reflect on what they’ve accomplished, and they provide their readers (including their instructor) with a snapshot of their argument and writing process.

This sets this stage for feedback that is constructive and conversational, using the Writing Lexicon as a touchstone–a tool both for writers to share specific concerns and for readers to ask clarifying questions without slipping into line-editing. 

Writing faculty provide marginal comments and an overall response letter for each draft and revision, in addition to facilitating a draft conference. Students workshop each other’s drafts in class and typically provide written feedback in the form of a peer response letter.

In the Spotlight: Sample Student Draft Cover Letter (w/prompt), Sample Feedback - Faculty to Student, Sample Feedback - Student to Student