Teaching Writing: Introduction

Dr. Rim Chakraoui

Fall 2023
 Introduction

• It is certainly true that to be deprived of the

opportunity to write is ‘to be excluded from a wide
range of social roles, which the majority of people
in industrialised societies associate with power
and prestige’ (Tribble 1996: 12), and so basic
writing ability is essential for language learners, as
for everyone else.
 Introduction Cont.

• Teaching writing in school is essential because clear and

effective writing is a key life skill in college, landing a job , the
workplace, and beyond. Writing is an integral part of the
school curriculum at all grade levels
• Of all the skills, writing is the one that teachers and learners
seem most reluctant to focus on because it requires them to
make special efforts. As a result, it sometimes tends to be
neglected. , is often not popular as a skill, perhaps because it
takes too much time
• What do learners need to be able to do to become effective
writers, and how can we best make sure that they are
‘volunteers, not conscripts’ (Mak and Mead 2011: 42)
 Writing vs Composition

Writing and composition are terms that are sometimes used

interchangeably; however, there are slight differences
• Writing can refer to any collection of letters or characters used to
represent meaning. In this sense, writing can refer to letters, words,
and sentences or even to hieroglyphics, emojis, and pictographs.
The term writing is also used in a broader sense to encompass the
use of words to create a unified body of information.
• Composition usually refers to specific pieces of writing to address a
specific purpose or prompt.
• Writing is the process of turning letters and words into a text that
conveys meaning, while composition is the process of creating
purposefully written works.
 What are Mechanics?
• Mechanics include skills such as spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
Proper use of mechanics transforms a jumble of words into a body of
information. Mechanics are necessary at all levels of writing and need to
be explicitly taught to students and reinforced in various contexts.

• Correct mechanics must be accompanied by proper language usage.

Usage covers grammatical considerations such as parts of speech,
agreement, sentence structure, and paragraph writing. Examples of usage
include consistent verb tenses, proper subject-verb agreement, and
avoiding sentence errors such as fragments, and run-ons= (two or more
independent clauses are connected improperly)
• Ex: He sings upbeat children's songs he is an excellent musician.
 What are Mechanics?

• Early elementary students combine the learning

of usage and mechanics, such as sentence
structure, and punctuation, with the
composition of meaningful material.
• Upper elementary, middle, and high school
students learn to create paragraphs and essays in
a variety of formats and purposes.
 Roles of the Teacher
• - Motivator: One of our principal roles in writing tasks will
be to motivate the students, creating the right conditions for
the generation of ideas, persuading them of the usefulness
of the activity, giving them prompts that engage their
interest , and encouraging them to make as much effort as
possible for maximum benefit.
• -Resource: Especially during more extended writing tasks
teachers need to tell the students that they are available to
assist them and should be prepared to look at their work as
it progresses, offering advice and suggestions in a
constructive and tactful way. Because writing takes longer
than conversation, for example, there is usually time for
discussion with individual students or students working on
writing tasks in pairs or groups.
 Roles of the Teacher cont.

- Feedback Provider: Giving feedback on writing tasks

demands special as teachers should respond positively and
encouragingly, especially to the content of what the students
have written. In process writing , the feedback given is
designed to help the students to improve on earlier drafts –
to refine what they want to say so that they can say it better.
When offering corrective feedback, teachers will choose what
and how much to focus on, based on what the students need
at this particular stage of their studies and on the tasks they
have undertaken. We may, of course, involve the students in
decisions about what we should give correction on .
 The Writing Process

• The writing process in EFL/ESL involves several

stages, including prewriting, drafting, revising,
editing & proofreading, and publishing. Each stage
is important for developing a well-written piece of
work.
 1-Prewriting

• This stage is important for helping students focus

their ideas and develop a clear direction for their
writing.
• During the prewriting stage, students brainstorm
ideas, organize their thoughts, and draft a primary
outline for their writing.
• Mind-mapping and clustering exercises can be used
to generate ideas at this stage.
 2-Planning & Outlining

• During this stage, students write their first draft,

focusing on getting their ideas down on paper. This
stage is important for encouraging students to write
freely and creatively without worrying too much
about grammar or structure.
 3-Writing a First Draft

• During this stage, students review and refine their

writing, focusing on improving the content,
organization, and style of their work.
• This stage is important for helping students
develop a stronger, more polished piece of writing.
 4-Redrafting & Revising

• Redrafting means substantially adding or

removing content while revising involves making
changes to structure and reformulating
arguments
 5-Editing & Proofreading

• During the editing stage, students focus on

correcting errors in grammar, spelling, and
punctuation. Proofreading is important for helping
students develop their language skills and improve
the overall quality of their writing.
 5-Publishing

• During the publishing stage, students share

their writing with others, either in print or
online. This stage is important for helping
students develop their confidence as writers
and for sharing their work with a wider
audience.
 Tips for Teaching the Writing Process

• Provide clear instructions and expectations for each

stage of the writing process.
• Encourage brainstorming and prewriting activities to
help students organize their ideas.
• Provide feedback and support throughout the writing
process.
• Use technology tools to help students with the
writing process, such as online writing prompts or
grammar checkers.
Tips for Teaching the Writing Process cont.

• Modeling and imitation can be used for

analyzing and imitating examples of good writing in the target
language.

• Providing sentence and paragraph frames to guide students in

structuring their writing:
-Sentence frames are sentences that have fill-in-the-blank
sections where students can add in their own words. They are
scaffolds that help students formulate questions or answers to
questions. Think of them as “language templates.”
Example: I like _____________ because _______________ .
Modeling & Imitating
A Paragraph Frame
 What is Scaffolding in Teaching?

A scaffold/ pl. Scaffolds / (v) to scaffold

• Literal meaning : a temporary or movable platform
for workers to stand or sit on when working at a
height above the floor or ground
• In teaching : a supporting framework provided by
the teacher to help the students
 Assessing Student Writing

• Assessing student writing in EFL/ESL is a crucial part

of the writing process. It allows teachers to evaluate
student progress, identify areas for improvement,
and provide feedback that can help students
develop their writing skills.
 Types of Writing Assessments
There are several types of writing assessments that can
be used in EFL/ESL classrooms. These include:
1-Holistic Assessment: which evaluates the overall
quality of a student's writing.
2-Analytic Assessment, which breaks down a student's
writing into specific components, such as grammar,
vocabulary, and organization.
3-Formative Assessment, which provides ongoing
feedback to students throughout the writing process.
4-Summative Assessment, which evaluates a student's
writing at the end of a unit or course.
 Providing Feedback

• When providing feedback on student writing, it is

important to focus on both strengths and areas for
improvement. Feedback should be specific,
actionable, and focused on the criteria being
assessed. It is also helpful to provide examples and
models of strong/weak writing to help students
understand what is expected from them.
• Peer review: allows students to give feedback to
each other, student-to-student
 Rubrics

• Rubrics are a useful tool for assessing student

writing. They provide a clear set of criteria for
evaluation and can help ensure that assessments
are consistent and fair.
• Rubrics can be used for both formative and
summative assessments and can be adapted to
meet the specific needs of different writing tasks
and assignments.
 Common Writing Mistakes and How to
Correct Them
• When teaching writing in EFL/ESL, it is important to address common
mistakes that students may make. Here are some common writing mistakes
and how to correct them:
• Grammar and syntax errors: Encourage students to proofread their work
carefully and use grammar-checking tools. Provide examples of correct
grammar and syntax usage.
• Lack of coherence and organization: Teach students how to structure their
writing effectively, using outlines and topic sentences. Provide feedback on
the clarity and flow of their writing.
• Incorrect word usage: Provide a list of commonly confused words (e.g.
affect vs. effect) and explain the differences in meaning and usage.
Encourage students to use a dictionary or thesaurus to check their word
choices.
• Plagiarism: Teach students about the importance of academic integrity and
how to properly cite sources. Provide examples of correct citation formats
and explain the consequences of plagiarism.
 Using Technology to Teach Writing
• Technology has become an integral part of
education, and it can be an effective tool for
teaching writing in EFL/ESL classrooms. Here are
some ways technology can be used to enhance the
writing instruction:
• Online Writing Tools: There are a variety of online
writing tools that can help students with the writing
process, such as grammar checkers, spell checkers,
and thesauruses. These tools can help students
identify errors and improve their writing skills.
 Using Technology to Teach Writing cont.

• Collaborative Writing Platforms such as Google Docs

can be used to facilitate peer review and group writing
projects. These platforms allow students to work
together in real-time, providing feedback and
suggestions for improvement.
• Digital Storytelling: Digital storytelling tools can be used
to help students develop their writing skills by creating
multimedia stories. These tools allow students to
incorporate images, audio, and video into their writing,
making it more engaging and interactive.