The Writing Process

I read the first chapter of this book, Strategic Writing: The Writing Process and Beyond in the Secondary English Classroom, after I read the recommendations on the National Council of Teachers of English website.  As indicated by the title, the focus of this book was about encouraging the writing process inside the classroom-specifically- rather than assigning a writing piece without regularly checking on the progress and editing process.  The book stressed the importance of developing strategies.  Teachers should bring strategies into the classroom, and should encourage students to bring strategies into the writing process, as well- strategies that are tailored to their needs.

Students should "stop thinking of prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing as products the teachers requires."  Rather, they should see the entire process as a strategy to successful thinking.  This shift in perspective makes the process more meaningful and the students are more likely to use the process outside of the requirements.

We cannot simply begin with, "This is what a thesis statement is.  This is where it goes..." and expect students to fully implement.  We should be putting more emphasis on the strategy of implementation and conditioning the writing.

One way to do this is to include peer editing.  I've seen this process firsthand in Ms. Baldwin's room, and I love it.  Students read each other's work, highlighting components that are strong- thesis statements, supporting evidence, etc- and comment on things that might be in need of revision.  This is such a valuable piece.  Not only do writers receive quality, guided feedback, but they learn how to be critical readers and provide effective feedback.

This book also stressed the need for inquiry based writing.  Inquiry strategies help students to focus and develop ideas.  As one individual wrote, students "cannot be writers unless they are first thinkers."  We need to present subjects where students can explore and test the boundaries while uncovering new details.

Another important component that is included with the writing process is the reflection piece. Undoubtedly, this is often left out.  Students should reflect on the changes made to their pieces, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the writing.  This is a transferrable skill where they, once again, have to be critical thinkers and readers.