The words teachers write on student work have the power to help students think critically and to hone and project their voices with confidence. They also have the power to shut students down. These words may affect student identity, motivation, and improvement of writing skills. Research suggests that many of the types of comments teachers and other reviewers write on student papers are negative, nonsensical, unhelpful, and even potentially harmful, especially for first-generation, working-class, and otherwise disenfranchised students. This harm can be understood as a form of violence. Nonviolent Response, which is centered on tenets for nonviolent teaching practices, presents an approach to writing responses that helps eliminate harmful affect and integrates efficient, carefully crafted, and clear guidance to writers. Sheri Rysdam and JT Torres offer evidence-based methods for effective, timesaving, motivational responses useful to teachers of writing and other responders or reviewers in professional and public contexts.
| ISBN: | 9780822967897 |
| Publication date: | 19th May 2026 |
| Author: | Sheri Rysdam, JT Torres |
| Publisher: | University of Pittsburgh Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 240 pages |
| Series: | Composition, Literacy, and Culture |
| Genres: |
Writing and editing guides Higher education, tertiary education |
The words teachers write on student work have the power to help students think critically and to hone and project their voices with confidence. They also have the power to shut students down. These words may affect student identity, motivation, and improvement of writing skills. Research suggests that many of the types of comments teachers and other reviewers write on student papers are negative, nonsensical, unhelpful, and even potentially harmful, especially for first-generation, working-class, and otherwise disenfranchised students. This harm can be understood as a form of violence. Nonviolent Response, which is centered on tenets for nonviolent teaching practices, presents an approach to writing responses that helps eliminate harmful affect and integrates efficient, carefully crafted, and clear guidance to writers. Sheri Rysdam and JT Torres offer evidence-based methods for effective, timesaving, motivational responses useful to teachers of writing and other responders or reviewers in professional and public contexts.
Nonviolent Response features in the following genres: Writing and editing guides, Higher education, tertiary education
Nonviolent Response is available in Hardback, Paperback
Nonviolent Response was written by Sheri Rysdam, JT Torres and published by University of Pittsburgh Press
Nonviolent Response has 240 pages
Yes it is part of Composition, Literacy, and Culture series