Writing Instruction That Works: Proven Methods for Middle and High School Classrooms

Language and Literacy

by Arthur N. Applebee, Judith A. Langer

Backed by solid research, Writing Instruction That Works answers the following question: What is writing instruction today and what can it be tomorrow? This up-to-date, comprehensive book identifies areas of concern for the ways that writing is being taught in today’s secondary schools. The authors offer far-reaching direction for improving writing instruction that assist both student literacy and subject learning. They provide many examples of successful writing practices in each of the four core academic subjects (English, mathematics, science, and social studies/history), along with guidance for meeting the Common Core standards. The text also includes sections on “Technology and the Teaching of Writing” and “English Language Learners.”

Book Features:

A detailed presentation of successful writing instruction in all four core subject areas. Examples of writing activities that comply with the Common Core Standards. A checklist and discussion questions for the classroom and professional development.

Arthur N. Applebee is a Distinguished Professor in the School of Education, University at Albany, State University of New York and Director of the Center on English Learning and Achievement. Judith A. Langer is the Vincent O’Leary Distinguished Professor at the University at Albany and the author of Envisioning Literature, now in its Second Edition, and Envisioning Knowledge.

“Concerned about your students' writing skills? Worried about how to prepare them for new performance assessments? In search of ideas for re-conceiving the teaching of writing on your campus? You have come to the right place. Writing Instruction that Works details and analyzes the state of writing in America's schools and offers a vision for how writing could and should be taught. For me, ArthurApplebeeand Judith Langer's book is a call to action. Read it today. Buy a copy for every educator you know.”
—Carol Jago, past president, National Council of Teachers of English, associate director, California Reading and Literature Project, UCLA

“In Writing Instruction that Works, Arthur Applebee and Judith Langer do as they have always done: offer us a compelling, coherent, and much-needed vision of what effective middle and high school writing instruction looks like in all content areas, anchoring their insights, recommendations, and claims in their extensive research in the classrooms of real teachers throughout the country. This book serves as a guide for what we must do to teach writing well and how we can do that in our schools, departments, and individual classrooms despite the many challenges we face. It is a book that traces our progress, identifies our problems, reminds us what is possible while revealing the ways we might achieve these ambitious and very important goals. If I had to recommend one book to a teacher, administrator, or professor to read about improving the teaching of writing in all content areas, this would be that book.”
—Jim Burke, bestselling author of The English Teacher’s Companion and What’s the Big Idea?

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2013

Reviews

[Mia McIsaac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good examples for specific content area teachers. At times too wordy.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the chapters devoted to the other disciplines. As a literacy coach, I am always looking for more ways to incorporate authentic writing into all disciplines and help kids to see the transference. At times, I felt parts of the book were too wordy and I just wanted to move on to the next chapter. All in all it is a good resource to have on my shelf.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked what they had to say. The examples of effective writing instruction were inspiring and easy to implement.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some chapters on writing in various disciplines, but making some good points about why some things work and others don't.