Teaching Writing to 21st Century Students

When I first began teaching, I approached writing pedagogy how I was taught. I assigned five-paragraph essays to dried-up prompts, and I taught students how to write a distinguished extended response and On-Demand piece for state testing. I got students to that distinguished level, and I thought I was doing a great job, but I wasn't. Writing for a state test is nothing like writing in the real world, so this past summer, I finally decided to do something about it.

I developed what my students now know as the bi-weekly paper, but it is so much more beneficial than it sounds. I spent several hours developing 28 different prompts that relate to all aspects of life. The prompts range from creative writing to business writing, and now I feel as though I am finally doing it right.

The prompts I developed are designed to prepare students for life after high school. I asked my Facebook friends what types of writing they did in their jobs, and I used those responses to help me. I split the prompts into two categories: orange and blue. The orange topics are fun pieces that are meant to show students that writing does not have to be a chore. They are meant to get students to think creatively and let their personalities shine through. I also wanted them to explore different text structures because teachers like the younger me had failed to teach them that writing is not a five-paragraph essay. The orange topics are:

• Plans after high school
• Movie review
• Newspaper article summary
• Analysis of a weakness
• Short-term goals
• Documentary review
• Journal entry
• Eulogy
• Why the military? 
• What is beautiful?
• The phone rings, you answer it...
• How has it changed you?
• Letter to my future self

The blue topics are designed to prepare students for college and career writing. I wanted to give students an opportunity to explore types of writing for a career they are interested in as well as give them real-life experience. Many of these prompts have allowed students to actually use what they wrote outside of school, and that's the goal, after all. The blue topics include:

• How-to guide
• Letter of recommendation
• College entrance essay
• E-mail to boss
• Company memo
• Resume
• Cover letter
• Accident report
• Business plan
• Bio for an online store
• Sell it
• Fundraising request
• Evaluation
• Job application
• Scholarship application

Every other week, students turn in their papers. We do six throughout the semester, and students are required to write three orange papers and three blue papers. I give meaningful feedback on all of them, and I choose three model texts to display for the next two weeks until another batch of papers come in. I have seen a big change in my students' approach to writing, and I feel like I am actually helping them prepare for life after high school.

To get all the prompts, follow the link to my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Real-World-Writing-Writing-Regularly-with-Purpose-4144774