Written Communication Toolkit

How to develop students' writing skills

Make writing enjoyable:

• involve students in small group writing tasks in which everyone 'has a voice,' and ask them to analyse the differences in writing styles;
• ask students to write for different audiences presenting similar material on the same topic, and ask them to analyse the differences;
• invite guest lecturers to talk about writing in their fields or professions; and
• use peer editing processes for formative assessment practice.

Do lots of writing:

• introduce short writing tasks into lectures and tutorials and ask students to exchange work to check for clarity and understanding;
• check students' lecture notes from time to time to see whether they are getting the point;
• ask students to write down their questions at the end of every lecture and collect - then answer the questions at the next lecture;
• encourage students to write for 'the hostile reader'-an imaginary person who will contest everything they say in their writing-this will help them consider and counter ideas from different perspectives; and
• set writing assignments for the 'real' world and involve 'real' professionals in giving feedback on some sample assignments.

Vary the writing tasks:

• introduce assignments that require students to write up interviews with practising professionals, or document field trips;
• use reflective journals or diaries - ask students to use them as thinking aids (even if you don't assess them, students learn how to analyse their own thoughts and experiences);
• instead of formal essays, ask students to prepare an article for a disciplinary journal, using the journal's formatting and referencing requirements; and
• ask students to prepare written agendas and notes of meetings in teamwork projects.

Share examples of good student writing:

• with students' permission, circulate blind copies of good student writing and use peer review to analyse why it is good; and
• involve students in setting criteria for written assignments.

Some relevant material is available at:

Fastfacts: Writing University Essays.

Retrieved from the World Wide Web on 23 October, 2006:
http://www.learningcommons.uoguelph.ca/ByTopic/Writing/WritingMechanics/Fastfacts-WritingUniversityEssays.html

Guide to Writing Essays.

Retrieved from the World Wide Web on 23 October, 2006:
http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/essaywriting/

[ top ]