Author(s): Steve Graham and Dolores Perin

Author Institutional affiliation/agency/program: Alliance for Excellent Education/ The Carnegie Corp. of New York

Publication date or date of most recent update: 2007

Number of pages: 77

Website URL: http://www.all4ed.org/files/archive/publications/WritingNext/WritingNext.pdf

Type of product (lesson plans, curriculum, training product): Recommendations based on research

Key words: Educational methods and techniques, Writing (Composition), Instructional strategies, Writing research

Target population: Administrators, Instructors

Skill levels of instructional materials (lessons, curricula): ABE Beginning Literacy (NRS Educational Functioning Level 1), ABE Beginning Basic Education (NRS Educational Functioning Level 2), ABE Intermediate Low (NRS Educational Functioning Level 3), ABE Intermediate High (NRS Educational Functioning Level 4), ASE Low (NRS Educational Functioning Level 5), ASE High (NRS Educational Functioning Level 6), High Beginning ESL (NRS Educational Functioning Level 3), Low Intermediate ESL (NRS Educational Functioning Level 4), High Intermediate ESL (NRS Educational Functioning Level 5), Advanced ESL Literacy (NRS Educational Functioning Level 6)

Training required: None

Abstract: This report identifies 11 elements of current writing instruction found to be effective for helping adolescent students learn to write well and to use writing as a tool for learning. These 11 elements were identified through a meta-analysis of the research conducted on adolescent writers. By using a meta-analysis, the authors were able to determine the consistency and strength of the effects of instructional practices on student writing quality and to highlight those practices that hold the most promise. There is a description, effect size, and example for each of the elements. An appendix contains an annotated bibliography of the studies used in the meta-analysis. Although the research was conducted on adolescent writers, the information in the report could be used by adult literacy practitioners to help their students improve their writing..

What the experts say: I think that this is a resource that teachers should be aware of. It provides useful information about effective teaching practices and lists the sources for finding out more about the practices. While many of the studies are for elementary school, they could be quite useful with some adult populations.

Two recent reviews of research on writing development and instruction in adult education (one published by Gillespie and one unpublished technical report by MacArthur) found no experimental or quasi-experimental studies of writing instruction with adult education students. Thus, a review of research with adolescents is highly relevant for adult education.

The report is organized for a general audience of educators and interested lay persons. The findings are presented as a set of 11 instructional methods that are supported by research. Each method is described briefly with an example and the findings are summarized briefly. An annotated list of all the studies is included in an appendix to help interested educators find more information. General comments on effective writing instruction are also included. Details of the review methodology are in an appendix.