Secrets of Teaching Writing Revealed

Mar 10, Language Learning Disorders in College-Bound Students

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:26:56 GMT

Livia McCoy, author of When Learning Is Painful, discusses practical teaching methods for bright students with language learning disorders including dyslexia, dysgraphia.

Mar 1, Thesis help needed with research report

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:38:34 GMT

I need essay help with discerning the difference between a 'research report' and an' informative research report.' I need to form a thesis statement for

Feb 22, Miss Hawk, a golf ball, and writing

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:13:04 GMT

In high school, my PE teacher told the class that golf was a very difficult game: nobody could hit the ball on the first try. To prove her point, Miss Hawk had the class try hitting a golf ball. She stood in front of us and laughed as, one after another, people missed the ball.

Miss Hawk could make me go through the exercise she set out, but she could not force me to make an effort to do it well. When my turn came, I picked up the club, closed my eyes, and swung.

When I opened my eyes, Miss Hawk was lying on the ground holding her head on which a red welt was already visible.

Miss Hawk never had us attempt golf again.

That experience with golf helped shape the way I teach writing.

First, it taught me that standing in front of students is dangerous for teachers: a moving target is harder to hit.

Second, it taught me it is stupid to set standards that you are sure most of your students cannot achieve.

Third, it convinced me that when the teacher sets the class objectives, then it is the teacher's responsibility to teach so every student meets those objectives.

It also produced a life-long resentment. Had it not been for Miss Hawk, I might have had a brilliant career on the PGA instead of spending my life writing about sewer systems and the pharmaceutical sales.

Feb 17, Give visible proof of writing progress

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:13:06 GMT

Students brought up on Sesame Street are not going to spend five weeks practicing writing thesis sentences. If youe cannot show them how to get results, they are going to tune you out.

Of course, you cannot produce competent writers in 28 days, any more than Tiger Woods became a professional golfer in 28 days.

Since you cannot expect quick writing competence, the best alternative is to make sure students can produce visible results quickly.

If you use my essay writing process, students will produce a visible product at each stage of their writing process. Having something to show for their effort will help to keep them going.

Your job will be to push students through the whole writing process enough times that its strategies become second nature. At that point, they will be able to focus all their attention on the content of what they are writing which is the whole point of teaching writing, isn't it?

Feb 15, Writing Points Ezine Archive Houses Back Issues

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:42:03 GMT

Writing Points delivers resources and tips for teaching writing, especially expository writing, in middle school and beyond to subscribers each month. This ezine archive contains back issues.

Feb 14, Essay Structure Is Easier than the Terminology Describing It

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:22:47 GMT

Essay structure, or essay format, is a series of generalizations supported by reasons. Best seen in the five paragraph essay, the organization follows the persuasive essay pattern.

Feb 13, Have you read any good writing course descriptions lately?

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:21:08 GMT

Depending on how you are feeling at the moment, you will be depressed or amused by reading some of the descriptions of writing courses high school students are being offered online. Here are three I pulled from websites of online schools whose writing programs I have seen parents recommend.

"In this course, students will study approximately 20 styles of composition."

Would you care to guess in how many of those 20 styles students will be able write competently?

"Students explore a wide variety of composition writing, including several essay styles, research, fiction, and poetry."

Having students explore composition writing is probably better than having them explore decomposition writing, but shouldn't students learn to write as well as explore?

"Our courses are designed for college-bound students with high academic standards."

Translated, that means if your kid is not smart enough to get along without a teacher, do not send him to us. We cannot be expected to teach students who have low academic standards.

It makes no difference what students do in these classes, the schools earn their fees: they never promised that students would learn anything, did they?

Feb 12, Be a better web writer

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:14:07 GMT

Do you blog? Use e-mail? Have a website? If you do any of those things, you need The Netwriting Master's Course: The Simple Art of e-Persuasion.

This 48-page PDF can be yours free. Its one of several items you can choose as a bonus when you sign up for a free subscription to Writing Points, the monthly ezine for busy writing teachers.

Sign-up is easy. All I need is your first name and e-mail address.

To make sure nobody uses your e-mail address without your consent, youll need to confirm your subscription. After you cfirm, youll be able to download your Netwriting Master's Course.

Feb 8, Expository Writing Is Required for Reading, Writing, Teaching

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:04:35 GMT

By definition, expository writing is the nonfiction informative writing that ordinary people must read and write. Learn what it is and what else you need to know to teach it so ordinary students can do it.

Feb 8, Learning about the introduction on an essay...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:53:06 GMT

I need essay help to visualize where the thesis comes, at the beginning or at the end of the introduction. I have a problem when reading about essays in

Feb 7, Online Advertising Opportunities at You-Can-Teach-Writing

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:43:44 GMT

Online advertising at this site can help you put your message before the segment of the education market interested in teaching writing: K-12 teachers, administrators, college faculty, homeschoolers.

Feb 5, Help with third grader's thesis statement

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:49:18 GMT

My third grader has to write a thesis statement and she needs to come up with a topic, three reasons or arguments, and two details for each. Once she gets

Feb 1, Free Writing Prompts for Five-Paragraph High School ELA Essays

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:47:17 GMT

The second of two free writing prompts for ELA essays built on the thesis-plus-support (persuasive essay) pattern has students write a how-to article. Download links to the high school prompts and to thesis statements for a five-paragraph essay on each prompt are given.

Jan 31, Search for Information on Teaching Writing and Related Topics

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:32:29 GMT

Finding reliable research-based information on teaching writing is difficult. Links to reputable databases and search engines are given here.

Jan 29, What Is Grammar Besides a Gigantic Bore?

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:03:55 GMT

Learn what it is that grammar has you can use to capture students' interest. If exercises and textbooks are not working, perhaps a linguistics approach might.

Jan 29, Favorite Writing and Grammar Resources for Electronic Access

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:03:54 GMT

When you can't reach for a book, you can access some of your favorite writing and grammar resources online. Bookmark websites that allow public access to electronic versions of books.

Jan 29, Expository Writing Process Goes Through 5 Stages

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:03:53 GMT

Students can learn to be efficient writers by using a writing process tailored to nonfiction instead of to imaginative writing. Learn about teaching this 5-stage process for expository essays built on a thesis and support pattern.

Jan 28, Essay Help for Student Writers in Moderated Forum

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:42:41 GMT

Need a little help getting started writing an essay or research paper? Get essay help in a forum moderated by an experienced college writing instructor.

Jan 28, Thesis Builder Crafts a Working Thesis Statement in a Twinkling

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:42:41 GMT

Having oodles of ideas is no help to a struggling writer. That writer needs one idea, known as a thesis statement. See a simple thesis builder turn a fragment into a working thesis sentence.

Jan 28, Free Writing Prompts for High School English 5 Paragraph Essays

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:29:57 GMT

Read about the first of 2 free writing prompts for expository essays for high school English language arts classes. This one deals with passive voice. Download prompts and thesis statements for a 5 paragraph essay responding to each prompt.

Jan 28, Authentic Argument Topics for English Language Arts Classes

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:02:42 GMT

For maximum learning and easy teaching, choose topics for an argument essay or research paper that draw on your class content. Four argument topics and seven writing prompts are given that allow debate without being argumentative.

Jan 27, noindex-nofollow

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:31:26 GMT

Jan 26, Authentic Analogy Practice Aids in Teaching Writing

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:52:19 GMT

Give students analogy practice in authentic ways by using analogies and requiring them in responses to writing prompts.

Jan 25, College Degree Requirements Include English Writing Skill

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:43:47 GMT

Many students who meet college entrance requirements for admission don't meet the college degree requirements for graduation. Do your teens have the English writing skill they will need to finish?

Jan 25, Writing Teachers' Thesis Statement Forum

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:43:45 GMT

Have your students learned to make and use thesis statement in their writing? Share your experience teaching the thesis sentence and learn from other writing teachers in this forum .

Jan 23, 5 Paragraph Essay Is a Critical Thinking Process

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:34:53 GMT

The 5 paragraph essay is the top tool for teaching expository writing to beginning writers because it is a process, a critial thinking strategy, not just a product.

Jan 23, Free Writing Prompts for Middle School English Language Arts

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:34:53 GMT

Get downloadable pdf with two free middle school writing prompts for essays built on the thesis-plus-support (or persuasive essay) pattern. Links to thesis statements for essays responding to the prompts.

Jan 23, Writing Objectives and Goal Statements Is First Task of Writing Teacher

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:34:50 GMT

Setting goals and objectives is important to all teachers, but setting clear goals and writing objectives that are unambiguous is vital in teaching writing.

Jan 18, How Do You Teach the Thesis Statement?

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:02:48 GMT

How do you teach the thesis statement? Do you have any lesson plans I could use? Will one day be enough or do I need to spend two? I've never done

Jan 18, Students Should Not Settle for Less Than Their Best

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:51:31 GMT

Of all the dumb ideas I've seen on writing assessment, your idea of teaching students to work for a C is the dumbest I've ever seen. I want my

Jan 16, About Linda Aragoni, a Woman With a Passion for Teaching Writing

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:11:23 GMT

The experience of Linda Aragoni is proof anybody who knows some basic principles can teach writing. Learn about Linda Aragoni, how she fell into teaching writing, and what else she does.

Jan 16, Learning About SBI, One Writer Builds a Business As Well As a Platform

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:41:48 GMT

When I learned about SBI, starting a business made more sense than just writing books or teaching writing. You can start an Internet business, too.

Jan 12, Teaching Kids to Write Is Not Going Well in High Schools

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:40:27 GMT

Their teacher preparation in teaching kids to write is inadequate, high school teachers report. The quality of teaching of writing is suspect. Video: Steven Graham discusses research findings.

Jan 12, Help with Writing College Level Papers

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:54:31 GMT

I stumbled upon this great website when researching HOW to write an academic paper for a long-distance education courses. I enrolled in the Fall 2003

Jan 8, Essay Structure Given: What Do I Do about a Thesis?

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:01:31 GMT

I need essay help with an essay on the purpose and value of labour support. Here is what it must contain: -The benefits of labour support to the

Jan 7, Teaching for competence is tough work.

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:06:50 GMT

Teaching so all students achieve competence is much tougher than teaching for artistic excellence.

If you teach for artistic excellence and students do not achieve even competence as writers, you can blame their lack of talent or lack of effort.

If you teach for competence and students do not achieve it, you have no one to blame but yourself.

If all students in your class are competent writers, that is due to their teacher.

The world will heap praise and glory on the teacher who has one student become a noted writer, while ignoring the teacher who turns out class after class in which every student writes competently.

Go figure.

Jan 4, Grading Upper Elementary Writing!

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:35:42 GMT

For me, writing assessment is very challenging especially if you've no idea how to do it! I am not too experienced by any means but am FASCINATED

Jan 1, Verbal Learning and the Struggling Writer

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:22:26 GMT

An aptitude for verbal learning is no guarantee a student will write well. Learn why and get tips for teaching students of all learning preferences.

Jan 1, Student Self Assessment of Writing Is Comparatively Easy

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:18:18 GMT

Struggling writers need to master and use techniques for ongoing student self assessment. Self monitoring of their writing is a simple process of comparison.

Jan 1, Student Self Assessment of Writing Process Use Needs Teacher Help

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:54:50 GMT

Before student self assessment is possible, many struggling students need a teacher to help them discover crucial problem areas in their application of writing strategies.

Jan 1, Becoming a Writer Is Essential Even for Students with Learning Disabilities

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:51:03 GMT

Writing teachers must aid every student in becoming a writer regardless of their problems. However, not everyone who is a reluctant writer or struggling writer also has learning disabilities.

Jan 1, Online Free Dictionary Websites for Writers, Writing Teachers

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:06:33 GMT

So many different dictionaries are on line that finding just one online free dictionary can be daunting. Learn some good dictionary websites for English and writing teachers.

Dec 31, Essay Format: A Primer for Teachers of Essay Writing

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:37:01 GMT

When teaching students how to write an essay, pick one essay format of all the types of essays to teach. The five-paragraph essay following the persuasive essay pattern is the most teachable choice.

Dec 30, Teaching Expository Writing Takes Longer than Losing 20 Pounds

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:24:39 GMT

Best teaching practices for teaching expository writing don't try to cram writing instruction into a lesson or unit. Allow all students time to learn to write expository prose.

Dec 30, Academic Writing Skills Are Basic Literacy Skills at College

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:16:32 GMT

Using best teaching practices lets you equip students with academic writing skills good enough to meet college requirements, which are basic literacy skills.

Dec 30, Teaching Grammar Must Be Done in Context of Teaching Composition

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:05:45 GMT

Teaching grammar and teaching composition must be joined if teachers want beginning writers to use correct grammar in writing. Learn which grammar topics are essential for writers.

Dec 29, Writing Assessment Forum for Writing Teachers

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:15:14 GMT

The whole process of writing evaluaton and grading is unpleasant for the English language arts evaluator and those evaluated. Share writing assessment tips, questions, and concerns in this forum.

Dec 29, Summative Writing Assessment Strategies for Writing Teachers

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:13:40 GMT

Summative writing assessment is the last step in teaching writing. One teacher makes final evaluation and grading easier by increased use of formative assessments.

Dec 29, Giving Feedback Appropriately to Student Writers Promotes Learning

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:48:01 GMT

Giving feedback that enables students to improve their writing should be the cornerstone of your grading pracices. Feedback is at the heart of grading writing.

Dec 29, Giving Feedback on Writing Mechanics Errors without Alienating Students

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:45:17 GMT

You don't have to spend your life correcting grammar and punctuation. Learn better grading practices for giving feedback on writing mechanics and get a life.