ABSTRACT
This chapter explores an important component of English instruction: crafting written responses to student writing that are meaningful to students and facilitate their growth. It identifies three ways for teachers to do this: select one or two piece-specific areas of growth, be sure the areas of growth are within students' abilities, and use the responses to identify strengths in students' works. Responses to student writing that recognize what students have done well and make specific suggestions that are within students' reach can empower students. Meaningful and useful feedback that provides students with clear understandings of their strengths and accessible areas of improvement can help students feel empowered as writers and develop their metacognition of writing strategies. The chapter takes a look at this concept in action through a description of author's experience providing specific, strategy-focused feedback on ninth-grade student writing.
