ED380797 CS214682
Title: The Implementation of Writing Workshop: A Review of the Literature.
Author(s): Strech, Lorie L.
Pages: 27
Publication Date: October 20, 1994
Notes: For a related document, see CS 214 683.
Available from: EDRS Price MF01/PC02 Plus Postage.
Language: English
Document Type: Information Analysis (070); Opinion papers (120)
Geographic Source: U.S.; California
Journal Announcement: RIEAUG1995
Writing workshop
is an approach that encourages students to become involved in the
writing process by using their own topics and writing for their
own reasons. A history of writing pedagogy shows that educators
have recently moved from a skills based approach of teaching writing
to a process based approach: teachers are now interested in showing
how a piece of writing improves as the author consults with his
or her instructor and peers. A literature review of research on
writing workshops suggests several conclusions. First, there is
adequate evidence to support the assertion that the teaching of
writing process is a valuable practice. While the writing process
is the actual process or material to be taught, the writing workshop
can be viewed as a way of approaching the task of teaching writing
and organizing it. Second, the establishment of the writing workshop
can feel risky to teachers since there is no prescribed sequence
for teaching skills and strategies. D. Sudol and P. Sudol (1991)
raise significant questions regarding the tradeoffs among the level
of teacher control, student responsibility, and the outcome value
of the workshop. Third, the abundance of qualitative research (and
lack of quantitative research) is due to the nature of the topic
studied. The cyclical nature of the writing process and the writing
workshop approach parallels the dynamic characteristic of qualitative
research. Lastly, writing workshop, when implemented in its ideal
form, takes a large portion of the instructional day. As a result
of the literature review, recommendations are made for teachers,
administrators, parents, school districts, state educational agencies,
and future researchers. (Contains 42 references.) (TB)
Descriptors: Cooperation; Curriculum Evaluation; Elementary Education;
Tutoring; *Writing (Composition); Writing Improvement; *Writing
Instruction; *Writing Processes; *Writing Workshops
Identifiers: *Process Approach (Writing); Writing Development
