The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) explicitly call for a wide variety of writing assignments in all subjects, with special emphasis on informational writing and argumentation (National Governors Association). In a footnote to the 6-12 writing standards, the CCSS point out that "these broad types of writing include many subgenres"…

This piece describes how Pittsburgh Public Schools, an urban school district, strategically redesigned its AP English program and diversified student enrollment in AP English classes as part of its equity plan. The authors describe how one teacher expanded his instructional strategies to meet the needs of more linguistically, culturally, and…

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) urge English language arts teachers to assume responsibility for teaching technical reading, along with literature, poetry, and composition. Ideally, each teacher assumes a share in developing reading proficiency within his or her content area, but state assessments may implicitly compel school districts to…

For the past few years the author has been studying the writing lives of teachers, first analyzing the contributions of teachers to National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) journals for the ten-year period between 1998 and 2008 and then surveying and interviewing teacher-authors whose works appeared during that period to learn more about…

In the authors' January 2010 "English Journal" article, "Helping Students Cross the Threshold: Implications from a University Writing Assessment," they showcase results of a large-scale writing assessment conducted at Central Michigan University, arguing that some of these results are especially relevant to English teachers…

This article presents the first installment of "Professional Writing in the English Classroom." The authors begin by answering the obvious question: What is professional writing? It isn't remedial writing, and it involves much more than writing memos, business letters, and resumes (although it certainly includes those genres). Professional writing…

In the May 2009 issue of "English Journal", we reported on our analysis of data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress to provide a first look at changes in the teaching of writing over the past 30 years. In this article, we provide a more detailed look, drawing on data collected from visits to 260 English, math, social…

Presents ideas on writing instruction for teachers of mathematics, physics, accounting, biology, and social studies. Contains guidelines for designing writing assignments in various content areas. (EL)

Reviews how a sophomore class of gifted students selected a subject for their learning logs; tells how to write a learning log; offers ideas on evaluating learning logs; presents student reflections on the use of learning logs. (JK)

Lists writing exercises based on observations students can make in a shopping mall. Notes that the exercises are intended to become a springboard for study, description, conjecture, evidence, example, and innovation, and can be combined, expanded, or shortened. (EL)

Presents the early history of writing across the curriculum (WAC) or "co-operation", as J. Hosic called it in 1913, concluding with a comparison of today's WAC programs with those of earlier decades. (SRT)

Describes writing assignments that other teachers may wish to present in their classes on women's issues. (CRH)

Describes how students are able to empathize with women writers and each other by reading and writing autobiography. (CRH)

Disputes the claim that narrative writing is of lesser value than expository forms, and argues that narrative holds great potential for use in writing curricula. Describes a summer science institute for minority students in which narrative was utilized. (HB)

Advocates creating a content centered writing course with research assignments that demand critical interpretation as well as appreciation of the processes writers undergo to create clear, informed, and developed prose. (CRH)