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
