Teaching the Writing Process

 It’s a good time of year to reflect on the methods we use to teach students how to write.  Particularly, providing them strategies for getting their thoughts eloquently onto paper.  Explaining how to choose and order words effectively is challenging, since such skills come naturally to many of us as life-long writers.    

Thankfully, I stumbled across a wonderful piece by Verlyn Klinkenborg in the New York Times’ “Draft” series addressing just this issue.  He implores young writers to “learn to play with every sentence you make in your head, shuffling words, searching for accuracy, listening for rhythm.” This piece makes a great read as we begin the semester.

(ldj)