The TA may continue to receive essays that have serious problems of structure or syntax, and the student may conclude that writing is a mysterious gift which he or she does not, and cannot, possess. The same may be said for less experienced faculty members. Organization of the Workshops Each three-hour Workshop shows instructors how to comment on student papers, how to motivate students to improve their writing, and how to grade student writing. Workshops are generally organized for instructors in individual departments and are scheduled at the instructors' convenience. Refreshments are usually provided.
Participants are instructors who respond to student writing in the courses they teach.
In a typical Workshop, the English Department TA presents information about commenting on and grading papers and leads a discussion about the comments and grades participants have already suggested for anonymous student papers actually submitted for course credit in the past. Workshops can be easily tailored to specific needs such as making assignments, working with students' drafts, and grading essay exams. Faculty members involved with multisection courses can offer valuable advice at these Workshops, and we encourage them to attend. Part of each Workshop is usually well spent in discussing departmental policies with respect to student writing, course requirements, teaching, and grading. The English TAs and the liaison TAs receive an honorarium for their work.