Workbook Unit 1, Draft 1 – Feedback
Editor: Thanks for the great content. However, there is some undermatter in Unit 1. I know we said to have two grammar practice activities. Can you add one more in which the grammar appears in a new text. And maybe build a few reading activities around that? Two texts would be ideal. Also, can you add one more vocabulary practice task, and more items to the vocab practice in general. And another speaking task at the end of the unit? Cheers.
Pete: Alright.
Editor: Some more models for that writing task would be useful. Perhaps three model answers at different levels? How do you feel about that listening? Do you think we could add another?
Workbook Unit 2, Draft 1 – Feedback
Again, you’ve met the brief here. However, there is some undermatter in this unit. Could you add two more reading texts with three activities based around each. Can you add ten more items to the vocab practice. Can you add another model for that writing task so there’s a model for lower and higher levels. And maybe a model for mid-level too?
Pete: Okay.
Editor: It would be great to get another speaking task in there too. I think one might fit well at the end of the unit? I’m wondering if the grammar practice here is a bit light too… One other thing was about that listening. At 400 words it was quite short. Would you be able to write another listening text around this topic of roughly the same length?
Workbook Unit 3, Draft 1 – Feedback
Editor: This is so good! That said, we have quite a lot of undermatter in this section. Could you add 2 more reading texts, each including three activities. Can one of the texts have the target grammar in it, and there be a task like a forced choice thingy based on that. It would be good to have another grammar practice on top of that actually, because we are a bit under in that section. I love the speaking activity – lets have more of that type of thing at the end of the unit because it works so well. Anyhow keep up the good work.
Pete: Right…
Editor: Oh. I’ve just been giving the vocab practice some thought. I think we could add lots more items to the practice, I mean, I’m thinking maybe 10 or so. An extra practice might be useful actually. And I was thinking…
Pete: Can I just ask something?
Editor: No
Pete: No what?
Editor: Well this is written feedback so you can’t just interject like it’s a convo. I’m in mid-flow, and you know how I like my comments to take up at least half a page so it bumps all the other comments down the page and makes things confusing to navigate.
Pete: I had noticed.
Editor: So anyway, to address the issue of undermatter, I wondered if we could add another…
Pete: Right, I’ll stop you there. I think I know what’s going on here.
Editor: What?
Pete: Well, how come there is so much undermatter? I mean, I’ve written this to the brief. Three double page spreads per unit, right?
Editor: Right.
Pete: It definitely hasn’t changed?
Editor: No.
Pete: Wait a second, I just noticed we are actually having a conversation now. Anyway, if we’ve covered all the expected content that would fit across 3 spreads, then how can we fit two more reading texts in each unit? And another listening? And two more grammar practice tasks, and… Look. Just because you’re changing the order of feedback in the comments, I can tell that you’re pretty much asking for the same extra activities in each unit.
Editor: Am I? I hadn’t noticed…
Pete: Right. I’ve got to ask. Am I also writing the digital resources to accompany the workbook?
Editor: What?! No!
Pete: Are you telling me there’s undermatter, so I write more content which you will repurpose as digital activities?
Editor: No! Why would I do a thing like that…
Pete: Are you trying to cut costs?
Editor: …
Pete: Did you forget to mention that the project would include writing digital resources to accompany the workbook? Are you now trying to subtly but not so subtly get those from me anyway?
Editor: …
Pete: …
Editor: … Please help.
Categories: General, materials writing
ELT Planning 
Leave a comment