I recently wrote a blog entry titled “Ten Things Good Writers Do” for a group of Chicago high school students, at their request. As such, this essay provides subjective advice from an experienced writer, reviewer, editor, and reader, but does not offer research or resources on how to teach someone to write more effectively. 

The following list provides teachers with some research-based resources on teaching writing:

• Graham, S., Bollinger, A., Olson, C. B., D’Aoust, C., MacArthur, C., McCutchen, D., & Olinghouse, N. (2012). Teaching elementary students to be effective writers: A practice guide (NCEE 2012-4058). Washington, DC: National Center for Educational Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute for Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.
  http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/pdf/practice_guides/writing_pg_062612.pdf

• Graham, S., & Perrin, D. (2008). Writing next: Effective strategies to improve writing of adolescents in middle and high schools. New York: Carnegie Corporation.
  http://carnegie.org/fileadmin/Media/Publications/PDF/writingnext.pdf

• Graham, S., & Hebert, M. (2010). Writing to read: Evidence for how writing can improve. New York:  Washington, DC: Alliance for Excellent Education, 2010.
  http://carnegie.org/fileadmin/Media/Publications/WritingToRead_01.pdf

 

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Timothy Shanahan is a member of the International Reading Association’s Literacy Research Panel. Reader response is welcomed. E-mail your comments to LRP@/.