How Do You Assign Effective Diagnostic Essays?
A diagnostic essay can be one of the most effective, efficient and useful assignments a teacher can give her students. If it is done incorrectly, however, a diagnostic can be an utter waste of time that alienates students and leaves the teacher with a burdensome amount of unnecessary work. By keeping in mind a few key points, you can assign essays that will not only make your job easier, but that of your students as well. Determine the number of points or the percentage of your students’ overall grade that the diagnostic essay will be worth. Be clear that the diagnostic can alter their grade, as students will often turn in lackluster work because they think a diagnostic isn’t a serious, important assignment. Decide what your course and essays will primarily focus on. For instance, decide if you want your students to master argumentative, informative, narrative, literary or compare-and contrast-essays, among other choices. Assign a diagnostic essay that closely approximates what you wil
