Developing Correctness in Student Writing: Alternatives to the Error-Hunt

Abstract

These comments by high school English teachers discussing the process of marking student papers reflect the dissatisfaction and frustration of many teachers over the problem of dealing with errors in student writing-the obvious mistakes in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and usage that often pepper student papers and refuse to disappear despite the teacher's most diligent attention. Traditionally, teachers have worked to eradicate error in two ways: (1) by teaching mechanical and gramrhatical correctness through drill exercises in grammar/usage texts, and (2) by pointing out all errors when marking student papers, perhaps also expecting students to make corrections when papers are returned. Although numerous research studies show that there is little or no