In-class Writing

In-class Writing:

In-class writing may be formal or informal. Students may:

• Take class notes for later reference and exam review;
• Jot down thoughts and questions during a discussion to be addressed later;
• Participate in web-based discussions or chat;
• Complete short answer essays or quizzes.

Similarly, instructors may prompt student writing at various times during class to summarize and/or reflect upon a discussion, ask questions, or demonstrate the comprehension of assigned reading.
Students benefit from in-class writing because they can generate ideas without worrying about paper and grammar requirements. In-class writing also teaches students to "think on their feet" and demonstrate their knowledge in various ways.
There are also challenges presented by in-class writing. Many students, including those with disabilities, may be uncomfortable completing in-class assignments for any or all of the following reasons:

• Lack of assistive technologies (AT): some students may rely on certain software programs to write as they speak, or to check their spelling and grammar.
• Lack of time: students may need extra time to accommodate cognitive capabilities, physical limitations, or just to analyze and pre-write the assignment.
• Distractions: some students are affected by movement and noises, and even poor lighting conditions.
• Lack of Opportunity for Revision: many students often need to create multiple drafts before they are comfortable sharing their work.
• Disclosure: some students fear sharing work that would disclose an invisible disability.

Instructors can effectively use in-class writing activities if their students have been taught how to work with specific forms of in-class writing and are given the opportunity to practice with those forms. Students will also perform well when an in-class assignment does not require preparation and is designed to tap into student knowledge rather than serve as an evaluation tool. In-class writing may be more effective for students with disabilities (and indeed, for all students) if alternatives to completing the same assignment are offered.