Requiring a draft and a revision is one of the best ways to improve student writing, and an essay on Lenz is a good candidate because the novella is short and rewards rereading. The practical problem is workload, since each paper must be read at least twice. Without a plan, instructors either skip the draft stage or burn out. A structured approach keeps the benefits and controls the cost.

Treat the draft as a formative assessment with limited feedback. Instead of marking everything, identify the two or three most important issues, such as a vague thesis, quotations without explanation, or weak organization. A focused set of comments is easier for students to act on and takes far less time to write than a full line-by-line response.

Require a short revision memo with the final submission. In a paragraph, the student explains which comments they addressed, what they changed, and what they chose not to change and why. This memo gives you a quick way to assess the revision and encourages writers to reflect on the process rather than making superficial edits.

Grading the Revision Fairly

Decide in advance how the final grade will weigh the draft and the revision. Some instructors grade only the final version, while others award a modest portion for the draft and a larger portion for evidence of improvement. Whichever approach you choose, state it clearly in the syllabus so students understand what is rewarded.

• Draft receives targeted comments on two or three priority issues
• Revision memo explains what changed and why
• Final grade reflects the quality of the finished argument
• Improvement on specific feedback is recognized in the score
• Late or skipped drafts have clear and consistent consequences

Common Revision Problems

Some students make cosmetic changes, such as fixing typos and swapping a few words, without addressing the substance of the feedback. The revision memo helps expose this, and a comment pointing out the unaddressed issue can redirect effort. Emphasizing that revision means rethinking, not just editing, sets the right expectation.

Others over-revise by rewriting entire sections that were already strong. Remind students to keep what works and concentrate on the weakest parts. Clear feedback on strengths helps them avoid discarding good material.

Reducing the Workload

To save time on the second read, compare the revision directly against your earlier comments rather than rereading the entire paper from scratch. Look first for changes to the thesis and to the areas you flagged. This targeted approach can cut revision grading time substantially.

AI grading tools can generate the first round of draft feedback and then compare the revision against the earlier comments, summarizing what has changed. You can verify the summary and make final decisions. This makes a multi-draft workflow realistic even for instructors with large classes.