Writing Points presents: teaching
tip
Timed writing top indicator of writing skill
A 1996 study found those
personal statements colleges require as part of the application
process make students' writing skills look worse than they really
are. The study's authors found that a traditional timed expository
essay test is significantly better as an indicator of writing skill
than those personal statements.
Use this research to guide your own writing
assessment efforts. When you are teaching writing, teach students
to write in timed situations and assess student skills based
on timed writing.
Get real. The kinds of writing students will do in college and
on the job are not narrative essays (that's the literary classication
of the typical admissions essay), but persuasive-pattern writing.
And in real world situations, almost all writing is done as a deadline
looms.
Writing Points presents: teaching
tip
More free literature teaching aids
PBS's Masterpiece has help with
Dickens and much more
Did you know Masterpiece
has lesson plans for teachers to accompany the adaptations
of Dickens' classics running this spring?
You'll find lots of other resources for other literary works as
well, including.
-
A bibliography of links to literary resouces.
-
Literary and author timelines.
-
Special features such as author biographies, essays,
image galleries.
-
Russell Bakers' introductions to Masterpiece
productions.
These are good resources for your students to use in their literary
study. You'll find them useful in preparing writing prompts
that require higher level thinking from students (and their teacher!).
Writing Points presents: teaching
tip
Buddy, could you spare a poem?
What's in your pocket?
April 30 is the second annual Poem
in your Pocket Day, sponsored by the Academy of American Poets.
Participants select a poem they love, and carry a copy with them
to share with others during the day. Arts organizations around
the country will sponsor events at which people can share their
favorites (Do poets say favs?). Your students may see reports
of the events on the news.
Just because you are teaching expository writing, doesn't mean
you can't hitch a ride on the poetry wagon.
Try some expository writing prompts like these:
-
Interview 3-5 people about why they chose the poem in their
pockets. Write a paragraph/essay about why poetry matters to
ordinary people.
-
Pick a poem to carry in your pocket. Write a Twitter® post
summarizing the poem. In a paragraph, explain what makes the
poem superior to its summary.
Just because you are teaching "uncreative" nonfiction writing
does not mean you have to ignore creative writing. You simply have
to find creative ways to incorporate creative writing into
your expository writing curriculum.
Writing Points presents: teaching
tip
New pages take writing from planning to
paragraph development
The new pages are on diverse subjects, but each one lead me naturally
to the next.
Critical
Thinking Strategies Are Needed for Expository Writing defines
critical thinking and explains what teachers must do to teach
students to think. It includes a few links to sites where you
can get more information.
That page led me to write one titled 5
Paragraph Essay Is a Critical Thinking Process. In it I explain
why teachers should treat the 5-paragraph essay as a process for
planning an essay. The alternative, viewing the 5-paragraph essay
as a product, numbs the mind.
The page Outline
Template Is Expository Essay Graphic Organizer shows visual
tools I use to guide students through strategies for planning
their body paragraphs. I explain how you can make your own teaching
visuals for fill-in-the-blanks use by students.
Expository paragraphs need topic
sentences. A new page defines the term, tells how writers
plan them and best ways to teach them.
Good planning is essential, but planning alone doesn't produce
fully developed writing. Developing
Expository Paragraphs in 1, 2, 3 Time explains the "evidence
waltz" by which writers can learn to develop their ideas
more fully. Another page explains how transition
sentences build bridges between ideas.
Finally, there's a new page on how
to write a conclusion that a site visitor requested.
Writing Points presents: A note from Linda:
Free offer for Writing Points subscribers
Later this month, ads will begin appearing for Talk It Out,
my peer learning activity designed to
-
Develop critical thinking,
-
Encourage good planning, and
-
Promote adequate essay development.
As a Writing Points subscriber, you
can get a copy free.
This offer is valid only through April 21, 2009. Don't delay.
Right click in the box below and choose copy or
select all, depending on your browser. Then click the
orange button to visit a page where you will paste the code
to get access to the materials.
The next issue of Writing Points will be published
on May 15, 2009, no providence preventing.
Until then, keep your pencil sharp.
Linda
