ICT and Writing Skills Lynn W Zimmerman, PhD

What is Writing? A process of communication that assumes that the reader can interpret the symbols (letters and punctuation) that the writer has used May be done using a variety of tools Involves grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, spelling, formatting and other writing conventions.

Writing as a Process The writer communicating effectively with the reader on different levels to inform to persuade to express feelings May be formal, such as an essay informal, an email to a friend.

Writing Difficulties Spelling – letter/word recognition (sound-spelling correspondences) Capitalization and punctuation conventions Writing conventions Constructing a sentence Word order Paragraph construction Do you stick to the point or do you go off on tangents? In English - a linear, chronological pattern

Teaching Writing Lower proficiency learners enhancing letter recognition practicing sound-spelling correspondences moving from letters and words to meaningful sentences and larger units such as paragraphs and essays Higher proficiency learners working on different types of writing such as argumentative or comparative essay structure still need guidance on sentence formation, organization, and general mechanics

Paragraph Format Topic Sentence Supporting Sentences Concluding Sentence

What is a paragraph? a collection of sentences that work together to develop and support a central idea typically contains one main idea and is organized with a beginning, middle and end. made up of strong topic sentences supported by facts, statistics and logical reasoning contains transitional words uniting supporting sentences and a concluding sentence that rephrases the main idea starts on a new line and usually is indented

Writing Longer Texts Steps to produce a good piece of writing pre-writing drafting editing publishing Writing is a process that results in a product.

Writing and Your Students Not just teaching the writing process Also involves teaching the vocabulary and structures they need in order to do it After they have written something, they should also check what they wrote, proofread it Is the text organized well? Check spelling, grammar, word choice

Proofreading Strategies Use a checklist Correct verb tenses? Facts supported? Good word choice? Visual strategies Cut the work apart and physically rearrange it Use colored markers to hi-lite items Ask a friend to read it Read it aloud

Publishing A hand-written paragraph A dialog A typed 5-paragraph essay Read aloud to the class

Assessment Informal practice writing exercise check but not grade Culmination of a writing unit receive a major grade for it Before they start students should know whether the piece is going to be graded and how it will be graded