Then let them share this writing with one another and write a response. Assign a variety of writin g. Spend most of your energy commenting on drafts or essays that can be revised. If I get an essay rejected from a journal, I don't spend a lot of time reading the comments. I just send it out again.
Students are the same way.
If you front load the time you spend commenting on student writing, your energy will be more productively spent and student writing will improve. Commenting less in most situations is more effective than an overwhelming response. Perhaps the student can then articulate what he or she is trying to do. Perhaps the student can admit that he or she didn't spend enough time on the paper because of her other commitments. Maybe the assignment was unclear to this student.