Discusses five things which help the author (herself a reluctant writer) to push past her own doubts, and notes how they are helpful in working with students who are reluctant to write. (SR)

Presents a method of improving student term papers that employs an approach requiring students to co-author a paper with other students in a group. Describes the four key elements of successful cooperative learning. Provides details about how this approach can be carried out. (HB)

Describes how one English teacher celebrated the power of students' personal writing to clarify and validate their own personal life experiences. Argues for the use of personal narrative in teaching students to develop as writers and thinkers. (HB)

Notes research findings showing that student-selected topics do not result in better student writing. Discusses the importance of knowledge for writers, the three sources of knowledge, and avoiding unworkable topics. Argues that the teacher's active involvement in the process of topic selection and development ensures good research writing.…

Describes two research studies with high school teachers and students that examine various aspects of both students' and teachers' perspectives on teacher responses to student writing. Examines how well teachers put their own theory about writing instruction into practice with their response style; analyzes teacher comments and students'…

Discusses students' experiences with learning more about the "craft of writing." Considers ways to teach students to choose their own topics; to research; to organize for writing; to welcome imagination, metaphor, and memorable language; how to draft; how to give and get helpful responses; how to revise their writing to create strong…

Notes the relationship between thinking and playfulness. Demonstrates that playful language is a valuable way for adolescents from varied cultural backgrounds to express their thinking. Explores in depth four approaches to writing that encourage linguistic play: choosing playful topics; emphasizing characteristics of linguistic play; selecting…

There are several distinct reasons for writing as a participant-observer. In general, the choice lies among four broad kinds of writing that differ according to role, purpose, and audience. Diary writing can record and clarify for the student what went on, possibly with a privileged reader in mind who will have a sympathetic understanding. The log…

Teachers can create talented writers in their classrooms by designing a course in which students are given the tools and the techniques they need to develop their talents. Writers need (1) an overview of the writing processes, which includes choices about language purposes, register (such as formal, informal, or casual), patterns of organization,…

States that classroom debate can stimulate students to think critically about important issues and strengthen their abilities to express ideas logically. Outlines a teaching strategy that utilizes a debate format to improve students' verbal articulation as well as their writing skills. (Author/GEA)

Based on the idea that the best way to help students write better is to have them write more, this article describes an instructional process called journal freewriting. Shows how freewriting, or writing without planning and without stopping, may be used cooperatively by social studies and English departments to enhance efforts to improve…

Advocates demonstrating writing as a teaching method and compares it to teaching skiing and pottery. (EL)

Presents an example of student's bad poetry and suggests ways in which a teacher may encourage a student to develop his or her writing poetry skills. (DF)

Describes a busy executive's writing process when writing a report for a board and points out its similarities to writing demanded of students. (EL)

In this inquiry study, teachers will learn about the writing process and ways to improve virtually all facets of students' writing. Teachers will carefully examine their own beliefs about writing and the value of their own written literacy that can be modeled for students. Teachers will build professional communities in which they will interact…