Writing Successfully

Writing Successfully

Writing, especially writing well, takes time. Time is required for instructors to:

• Create successful writing assignments using clear, detailed prompts;
• Integrate writing into instructional goals;
• Respond thoughtfully to student writing;
• Assess writing fairly.

Time is required for students to:

• Generate ideas;
• Determine purposes;
• Develop an argument;
• Organize;
• Arrange text effectively;
• Revise;
• Edit.

Many students experience difficulties with writing that are not caused by a lack of understanding or critical ability. Writing is a complex activity that involves:

• Reading;
• Comprehending;
• Interpreting;
• Processing difficult text;
• Recursive thinking / reflecting.

In order to succeed at writing, students must:

• Read and understand the instructor's prompt;
• Integrate their reading, comprehending, interpreting, and processing into the written texts they are producing;
• Take time to develop their ideas, organize them well, express them adequately, and, if needed, reflect upon and revise them.

These tasks can be difficult for all students.

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