Writing Teachers Gather Round

[lunabee34]

I know a lot of my flist is in academia, and zulu and I have been talking about teaching and teaching writing specifically, and I decided to host a post about teaching writing.

So, if you teach or have taught writing at any age level, what are some of the strategies you use? Specific assignments? General thoughts about writing instruction?

If you have ever been a student of writing, what are some things your teachers did that worked? Failed abysmally? General thoughts about learning/teaching writing?

Recs for books, essays, or websites also appreciated.

Please feel free to share this around.

I'll put my thoughts in comments rather than the top-level post.

Comments

Re: Rubrics

[the_rck]

I have a vague memory of high school teachers who gave each paper two or three different scores. So many points for grammar/spelling. So many points for logical structure/convincing arguments. So much for... I have no idea. Possibly research and citations? Possibly complexity of expression? Possibly both?

Re: Rubrics

[zulu]

Yes, that sort is what I have. I really don't like it but it seems to reassure some of my first-year students? I want to be able to clearly communicate what an assignment requires and what shows they've achieved that standard, but I don't think this is working as it stands.

Re: Rubrics

[lunabee34]

Check out lyr's rubric below.