Making Writing Happen—A Writing Across the Curriculum Workshop

Workshop Description
Students will write when (1) they have something to say, (2) they have an audience, and (3) they know they will receive feedback.  In this workshop, designed for teachers in all disciplines, Jeffrey N. Golub describes and demonstrates several writing activities and instructional approaches to writing, all of which incorporate and utilize these three conditions.  Participants in this workshop will learn how to structure their writing activities so that writing happens fluently, thoughtfully, enthusiastically.

Topics and Goals

• Developing students' fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration skills
• Improving students' ability to keep their audience in mind as they write
• Improving students' ability to give directions clearly
• Showing, not telling
• Writing concisely
• Writing detailed, accurate, vivid descriptions
• Using Writing-to-Learn activities
• Construction and negotiating meanings through writing
• Writing in response to literature and other texts
• Incorporating grammar instruction into the writing activities
• Working productively in small groups on peer-editing tasks
• Authentic assessment of writing
• Authentic assessment through writing

This is a practical, engaging, insightful workshop that will enhance the participants' range of innovative and worthwhile strategies to make writing happen in their classroom.