Question, Research, Experiment, and Write

I realize most everyone knows that writing across the curriculum enhances a student’s knowledge of that subject.  However, Steve Peha explores some overlooked benefits of utilizing this program within a school system.  He begins by stating five reasons:  written output is a great way to assess student knowledge, writing is the essential skill students need as they enter adult life, helping students learn to express themselves with confidence in all subject areas can contribute to improvements in behavior and self-esteem, students who write clearly, think clearly. And students who think clearly have a better chance of navigating their way through the obstacles of adolescence, and finally Writing is power.

Peha explains that as our culture focuses on getting more and more information packed into our heads, we need a way of organizing that information and getting out, and writing does exactly that.

Ultimately, writing is power. It is the power students need to understand and control their
lives, to shape their future and define their dreams. Students who do not learn to wield this
power will find themselves severely handicapped as they move on from the relative ease of
adolescence—and the cozy confines of our protective custody—to confront the immense
challenges of adult life. It’s up to us as their teachers, to show students what writing can do for
them when it is done well. (Peha, Steve.  Writing Across the Curriculum.  1995-2008)

Steve goes on to explain different approaches to writing a teacher can take in their subject area.  For instance if you are teaching science you can have students write lab reports, journals, research grant proposals, and business presentations.  So we now have the necessary real world writing but how do we make students interested?  We need to make the topics relate able to students.  If music is what they are interested in then have a student write a paper relating the music during World War II to the events that happened during the war.  Remind students to employ the essential components of writing:  role, format, audience, purpose and approach.  After and only after a student can master these basic skills for writing in any subject they will be on their way to a liberal education.

This was probably one of the most interesting pieces I have read about WAC.  This teacher explores not only the obvious but the much overlooked benefits of writing.  In fact he goes along with what I had written in my first edublog:

Yes I poemize my feelings, how I feel and why
I believe that writing gives me a way out of my mind for some time,
that to prevent from going insane I let what is festering inside,
out
because after all, talking to myself within my room would just look crazy
However, I have to admit that I do tend to do it sometimes

Elizabeth Carr

Writing is a powerful and necessary art to master for everyone and the better one knows how to utilize it then the better off they will be.  If you are interested in a sheet that lays everything out in chart form click on the link to the article because Steve has a wonderful tool for any future teacher.  It is an easy step by step guide for incorporating writing into your subject area.  In fact seeing as how I am an Earth Science Major, I myself have learned some unique and interesting ways I can use writing as a way to engage students further in the subject and experiments they are conducting.  Writing doesn’t have to be something students dread, writing can be fun and the more practice a student has, the better they become and the more power they will have.

Full Text Article:  Peha, Steve. Writing Across the Curriculum. 1995-2008