Expression Writing

There are two levels in the Expression Writing program. The students learn fundamental rules about writing sentences and paragraphs that do not deviate from a topic in the first level. They also learn to edit in this level. The second level has sophisticated and conversational writing. A placement test is available to see where the student should enter the program. The program is appropriate for grades 4-12 and is considered remedial in nature (Adams & Engelman, 1996).

Basic Writing Skills

There are two parts to this program:

1. Capitalization and punctuation
2. Sentence development

In the first component, students learn 19 fundamental rules about punctuation. In the second component, students learn to write complete sentences. This program is geared toward grades 6-12 and is remedial in nature (Adams & Engelmann, 1996).

Other Writing Strategies

One writing strategy that shows promise is the Grid Model for teaching narrative writing skills (Crealock, 1993). In the Grid Model, the teacher develops a grid with important components of the story he or she wants (plot/action, hero, feeling, place/location, thing and time). Next, the teacher and students fill in examples of topics in the grid and give them corresponding numbers (e.g., feelings: 1= bored, 2 = sad, 3 = happy, etc.). Students complete a planning page (generate, for example, their phone number to put on the grid) and select topics to include in the paper. After this, students write their first draft, using separate strips of paper for each sentence. Next, students complete their first edit, reading the story to themselves. A second draft is completed, followed by a cognitive edit (discussed with the teacher), a technical edit (correct spelling, grammar and punctuation), and a final draft (student copies story by hand or types it on the computer).