Half a century ago, a revolution took place in the teaching of writing. Educators asked, “What if we were to study how professional writers wrote, as a way to learn how we might teach writing more effectively?” The result was the writing process movement, with its emphasis on not just writing as product but as process. Good writing doesn’t magically appear, nor does it spring from the brain fully formed and perfect the first time. Instead, all writers engage in a process, and while that process can vary writer to writer, some stages do seem to apply, in some way, to almost every writing situation. This course demonstrates how teaching writing as process can lead to a significant increase in students’ comfort level and confidence as writers. Learners will examine methods for teaching writing as discovery, and for using low-stakes writing and reflection in their classes. They’ll fill their toolbox with practical strategies and techniques for teaching writing to students of any age, in any situation.
Teaching Writing Process
This course is part of Teaching Writing Specialization
Instructor: Mark Farrington
3,435 already enrolled
Included with
(33 reviews)
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
What the writing process is and how it can help improve student writing.
How writing as discovery, low-stakes writing and reflection can help students grow more comfortable and confident as writers.
Details to know
Add to your LinkedIn profile
5 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
There are 4 modules in this course
Do you find yourself having to “make” your students write? Do you use writing mainly as a way to test students? What if you could find ways to “invite” your students to write, making the experience meaningful and even enjoyable for your students and yourself? In this module, after being introduced to the Teaching Writing specialization and considering the importance of good writing skills in virtually any career endeavor, learners will examine ways to “invite writing” from their students, identifying the characteristics and benefits of adding low-stakes writing to the more common approach of using writing as testing. They will practice low-stakes writing to experience firsthand the challenges and successes their students experience when writing.
What's included
10 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review4 discussion prompts
When you were a student, how were you taught writing? When a former student comes back to visit you after ten years have passed, what would you like that former student to say about you as a teacher? In this module, learners will identify and reflect on how they were taught writing as students, and consider how the teaching of writing has changed over the last half century. Learners will also reflect on their own goals and values that will determine what kind of teacher they want to be.
What's included
5 videos1 assignment1 peer review3 discussion prompts
We’ve already used the term “writing process” a number of times. You’d probably encountered “the writing process” well before you started this course. You may even teach it to your students. But what is “the writing process,” exactly? How does it work, and how and why can it help your students improve as writers? In this module, learners will be introduced to writing as not just a product but a process. You’ll identify “the writing process,” its components and its many variations. You’ll examine how and why the process works as an effective approach to teaching writing. You’ll identify how the writing process movement led to not only a new approach to teaching writing, but to a new definition of what makes writing good. You’ll adapt your learning by creating an action plan for incorporating writing as process into your teaching.
What's included
4 videos2 readings2 assignments1 peer review3 discussion prompts
Why do we look in mirrors? Even though we know what we look like, a mirror can give us a new or different, or just a more immediate and detailed view of how we perceive ourselves at that moment. Reflective writing is a way of providing that more immediate and detailed perspective on our learning. In this module, learners will identify the characteristics and value of using reflection as a tool for teaching writing. They’ll practice reflective writing by examining what they have learned in this course and how they might incorporate that learning into their teaching practice.
What's included
6 videos6 readings1 assignment1 peer review2 discussion prompts
Instructor
Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Education
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Coursera Project Network
University of California, Irvine
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Learner reviews
Showing 3 of 33
33 reviews
- 5 stars
78.78%
- 4 stars
9.09%
- 3 stars
6.06%
- 2 stars
0%
- 1 star
6.06%
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
We have designed the Teaching Writing Process course to provide a foundation for all the other courses, so we recommend taking that course first, although it is not required that you do so, and you may take these courses in any order you wish. You must complete all four courses before taking the Final Project.
Being familiar with the writing process is a great first step, and you may already be doing some of the practices we’re suggesting. We’re confident you’ll still gain some additional tools for your toolbox, and perhaps a new perspective. Sometimes, just seeing how what you’re already doing is grounded in pedagogical theory and best practices can increase your confidence. And engaging with a community of enthusiastic learners can be invigorating.
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.