wwc_secwrit_summary_053117

Introduction

• Improving students’ writing skills is essential for success academically and beyond.

• Effective writing involves achieving goals, targeting the audience and context, clearly presenting ideas, and evoking responses.

• This guide offers evidence-based recommendations for improving writing in grades 6-12.

Recommendations Overview

1. Explicitly teach appropriate writing strategies using a Model-Practice-Reflect instructional cycle.

2. Integrate writing and reading to emphasize key writing features.

3. Use assessments of student writing to inform instruction and feedback.

Recommendation 1: Explicitly Teach Writing Strategies

Model-Practice-Reflect Instructional Cycle

• Direct Instruction: Explicitly teach various writing strategies for different stages: planning, drafting, evaluating, revising, and editing.

• Model-Practice-Reflect Approach: 1) Observe writing example, 2) Practice independently, 3) Reflect on performance.

Key Components of Writing Process

• Goal Setting: Identify objectives linked to writing plans.

• Content Generation: Gather information from reading and discussions.

• Drafting: Create strong sentences and paragraphs.

• Evaluating: Self-review and feedback to match goals.

• Revising and Editing: Improve adherence to writing conventions.

Cognitive Strategies

• Teach cognitive strategies to enhance strategic thinking.

• Aim for students to internalize these strategies to write effectively over time.

Recommendation 2: Integrate Writing and Reading

• Connection between Reading and Writing: Both require similar strategies; understanding aids the transference of skills.

• Use of Exemplar Texts: Analyze well-written texts to identify effective features and emulate them in writing.

• Activities that engage both reading and writing enhance skills across disciplines.

Recommendation 3: Use Assessments to Inform Instruction

• Formative Assessment Cycle: Use assessments for ongoing monitoring of student progress to adapt instruction.

• Regular assessments aid in identifying strengths and areas for improvement, allowing tailored feedback.

• Engage students in self-evaluation and peer reviews to enhance understanding and ownership of their learning.

Summary of Evidence Levels

1. Recommendation 1: Strong evidence indicates positive impacts on writing outcomes.

2. Recommendation 2: Moderate evidence with several studies showing positive effects, though lacking direct tests.

3. Recommendation 3: Minimal evidence, positive effects in studies but no direct test on recommended practices.

Conclusion

• Implementing these recommendations, supported by evidence, can significantly improve students' writing skills, ensuring they are prepared for various contexts and audiences.