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Yes! Yes! Yes! Simply adding the words "please add details" is useless. If the writer knew what to add, he/she would have already added the information. Go ahead and give them an idea of what type of information belongs in a particular spot. Just make sure that you have them insert the corrected information. If the writer actually has to revise their work with the new information, he/she is more likely to assimilate the new information into his/her 'useful information' section of their memory bank. If the writer simply inserts a couple words without revising the entire thought/sentence most writers will slide the information into the 'unimportant section' of their brains. By doing so, they most likely will not remember to include the additional information in their next writing project.
I add a daily positive comment about a specific aspect of each student's writing, as well as one area of need. I design their paper with space for “cutting and pasting”. Above the highlighter mark, I add a questions that I hope will elicit the correct information from the writer. I might write "Why?" "How?" "What do you mean?" or "Describe". Sometimes I even highlight a word or two to focus the writer's answer. Writers will then cut apart their paper, glue a new strip to the top section of their writing, and add the required information. When the writer feels he/she has added the appropriate details or information, he/she then glues the bottom portion of their original document back on to the paper. Hence, 'Cutting & Pasting".
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