Topic: Writing to Learn

10-Second Review: Empirical studies have shown what students learn from writing in social studies classes.

Title: “Writing About and Learning from History Texts: The Effects of Task and Academic Ability.” George E. Newell and Peter Winograd. Research in the Teaching of English (May 1995), 133-163. A publication of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

Quote: “In recent years a series of empirical studies…suggest that writing can become a powerful means of rethinking, revising and reformulating what one knows.” p. 134.

Quote: “Writing in content areas (i.e., subjects other than English) must be perceived as a means for thinking, reasoning and arguing.” p. 161.

Comment: EM Forster: “How do I know what I think until I see what I say?” One answer to the question, “What does writing do for us?” RayS.