Huh. I'd like to read that essay, actually. Do you happen to remember the title or author?

I must admit that I find myself resenting the notion that students-as-readers = illiterates-as-readers. Yes, I'm guilty of generalizing about undergrads, especially first-years, but on the whole I would imagine that most students who would be willing to read mss. would have, at the very least, a strong grasp of what appeals to them as readers, if not as writers.

But I'm making a random assumption based on your summary of a text I've never seen, so feel free to totally ignore me.