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Analyze the Video | Writing
Watch the video, "Writing," taking notes as you watch. After you watch, jot down your answers to the questions below. If you prefer to watch the video in segments, pause the video when you see the next chapter heading.
Video Summary
In this video, Professor Nadeen Ruiz discusses components of an effective writing program, strategies teachers can use to help students improve, and effective assessment practices. You will also see classroom examples that illustrate the strategies and research Professor Ruiz describes. As you watch the video, consider the following questions:
- What contributes to an effective writing program?
- How can teachers foster independent writing?
- How is writing effectively assessed?
What contributes to an effective writing program?
In the first video segment, Professor Ruiz focuses on three components of an effective writing program: personal connections, conventions, and inventions.
- Discuss the components of an effective writing program and why they are important.
- How might you rearrange your schedule to create more time for students to write in general and, in particular, for students to write about their personal experiences?
- How can you create ways for students to make personal connections in different subject areas through writing?
- How can student work help you decide which conventions to teach?
- When can you promote student inventions and experimentation with different formats in writing?
How can teachers foster independent writing?
In this segment, Professor Ruiz discusses the importance of personalized response to the content of student writing, the value of student discussion before writing, and the significance of using books as models of effective writing.
- What factors support student growth in writing?
- How does a personalized response encourage students in writing? What changes might you consider based on Professor Ruiz’s comments and the classroom examples?
- Consider the opportunities you provide for student discussion before writing. How could you increase those opportunities? What kinds of writing exercises lend themselves to discussion?
- How can you provide models of writing for your students?
- How can you enhance the use of oral language to promote students’ writing skills?
How is writing effectively assessed?
In the last video segment, Professor Ruiz suggests two different ways of assessing student writing: creating and maintaining an ongoing portfolio of student work, and monthly writing assessments.
- What are the benefits of the assessment strategies Professor Ruiz proposes?
- What benefits and challenges do portfolios present?
- Describe your experience with more formal assessments such as the monthly writing assessment Professor Ruiz describes. What are the challenges of incorporating formal assessments into your curriculum? How might you address them?
