Teaching Writing in the Content Areas

Most educators intuitively understand the critical relationship between thinking and writing: writing allows us to express what we think, but the very act of writing spurs a process of exploration that changes our thinking and helps us learn.

Teaching Writing in the Content Areas examines nearly 30 years of research to identify how teachers can incorporate writing instruction that helps students master the course content and improve their overall achievement. Building on the recommendations of the National Commission on Writing, authors Vicki Urquhart and Monette McIver introduce four critical issues teachers should address when they include writing in their content courses:

* Creating a positive environment for the feedback and guidance students need at various stages, including prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing

* Monitoring and assessing how much students are learning through their writing

* Choosing computer programs that best enhance the writing process

* Strengthening their knowledge of course content and their own writing skills

The authors also provide 35 classroom strategies, practices, and handouts that teachers can easily implement in most subject areas or grade levels. From prewriting guides and work sheets to instructional guidance and analysis, the strategies offer realistic options to help teachers tailor writing assignments and instruction to the needs of each class.

Teaching Writing in the Content Areas is more than a primer for teaching the mechanics of writing; it is a research-based guide to regularly engaging students in writing that pushes them to express themselves clearly, to explore new ideas, and to become critical thinkers.