Student Engagement with Written Feedback: Critical Issues and Way Forward

Abstract

Although a surfeit of research has investigated the technicality and efficacy of feedback, much less attention has been directed towards student engagement with written feedback. In second-language writing scholarship, student engagement is considered the linchpin that connects feedback provision with learning outcomes and is crucial for feedback to be effective. This article aims to provide a critical review of empirical research on student engagement with written feedback on second-language writing, as well as suggestions for future studies and classroom practice. Utilizing systematic and explicit methods to identify, select and critically appraise relevant research, the article provides a synthesis of research findings concerning: (a) the ways second-language students engage with written feedback; (b) factors that influence student engagement with written feedback; and (c) impact of pedagogical activities on student engagement with written feedback. Based on the reviewed evidence, this study also outlines several areas for future research and provides pedagogical recommendations for second-language teachers. By synthesizing empirical findings on student engagement with written feedback and distilling their implications, the article advances existing knowledge on this under-researched yet important topic and suggests implications that could inform new avenues of research and pedagogical practice.