Cary Moskovitz, Thompson Writing Program

The Duke Writing in the Disciplines program and Office of Alumni Affairs are collaborating in this unique educational initiative. Students in participating classes get feedback on drafts of a class writing assignment from a Duke alum or employee who has professional experience relevant to their assignment. Through this project, members of the broader Duke community help our students learn to anticipate the needs and expectations of readers and to revise their writing to make it more effective for the intended audience - key communication skills for both professional and civic life. Participants have three main interactions: First, student and reader get together - in person or by web conference - to meet and to discuss the aim and scope of the student project. Second, the student e-mails a draft to the reader, who uses a Wimba voice tool to record a “think-aloud response”, reading the student paper (or parts of the paper) aloud, pausing frequently to describe their reaction to what they are reading. Third, the student revises the paper with the reader’s comments in mind, followed by a second meeting to discuss the revised draft.