Writing Frames

About the Learning Path

• Overview

  The purpose of a writing frame is to give structure to a student’s piece of work by breaking down the writing process into stages. Students see that there are separate small chunks to complete and this makes the task of writing more manageable.

  Writing frames help scaffold support to students who may find writing challenging. They aid writing while encouraging independent learning. A central question at the heart of the subject of writing frames remains: “How much do we structure students’ work and how much do we leave them to their own devices?” Typically as students become more adept at writing, the teacher will withdraw the support of the frame by progressively simplifying the structure.

  Once the concept of using the writing frames is recognised, there are a wide variety of options available in terms of the outputs that students can produce. Tables, form fill documents and outline view are all features of word processing that can be quickly and easily used to organise students’ writing. Multimedia presentations or pre-set publication templates can also be used in order to have students focus on the content of their writing.

  See the following sites for more information on writing frames

  • Newcastle University
  • Writing Frames
  • Writing Frames - Teaching Solutions
• Benefits to the Students

  Often when students are given a writing assignment, it is overwhelming for them. In addition, when students use ICT to produce this writing, they often spend more time on the presentation of the document than on the content. Using writing frames gives them guidance and structure and takes the responsibility for the general layout of the work away from them so that they can concentrate on content. After they are done with the content, they can spend time changing the presentation.

• Lesson Topics and Writing Frames

  Relevant lesson topics

  This methodology could be used in a wide range of subjects. Any of the topics below can have a scaffold for the students to help them make sure they get the information you, the teacher, wants them to focus on. It is also important for students to know that they can do "more" than what the scaffold, or writing frame indicates. These are suggestions for topics where you could incorporate writing frames.

  English

  • Write group folktales or fables.
  • Focus on imaginative or creative writing development.
  • Develop slogans.
  • Write commercials.
  • Produce a play script.
  • Write poems.
  • Develop books.
  • Rewrite a familiar story from another perspective.
  • Keep a journal.
  • Describe a process or skill.
  • Report on a visit.
  • Write different types of letters.
  • Produce a class newspaper·
  • Use graphic organizers to analyze stories.

  Social Studies, History, and Geography

  • Prepare reports on states or countries.
  • Create a Country Travel Guide.
  • Produce travel brochures; prepare an itinerary for a traveller, together with details as to the types of transportation to be used and the problems that might have to be overcome.
  • Select a historical period and write from the perspective of someone who lived in that era.
  • Produce mystery statements to help others guess their location.
  • Develop games for others to play.
  • Prepare a guidebook to your state/county/province.

  Science

  • Write lab reports.
  • Choose a scientific invention and write a report about it.
  • Write about the creative thinking you used to solve a problem.
  • Research and produce a book on the life cycle of a specific organism.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of scientific processes through creative written presentations.

  Mathematics

  • Write story problems for others to solve.
  • Write and conduct surveys.