Teaching writing: definition, principles and techniques

WRITING

DEFINITION

PRINCIPLES FOR TEACHING

CLASSROOM TECHNIQUES AND TASKS

Writing can be defined by a series of contrasts:

• It is both a physical and a mental act.

• Its purpose is both to express and impress.

• It is both a process and a product.

1. Understand your students’ reasons for writing.

2. Provide many opportunities for students to write.

3. Make feedback helpful and meaningful.

4. Clarify for yourself, and for your students, how their writing will be evaluated.

INVENTION TECHNIQUES

• Brainstorming: Students list all the ideas they can think of related to a topic.

• Wordmapping: a more visual form of brainstorming. Students begin with an idea at the top or center of a blank piece of paper.

• Quickwriting is where students begin with a topic, but then write rapidly about it.