Chapter 10: Beyond Formulas: Closing the Gap Between Rigid Rules and Flexible Strategies for Student Writing

Too often, students learn static formulas for writing that do not readily transfer to the multiple, complex contexts and tasks they face as they cross the bridge to college and work. This chapter describes and theorizes a recursive process in which students collectively articulate criteria for writing assignments, internalize them, and then apply those to their own and others’ developing texts. As we consider such ways to involve students in formative assessment, we also gain new insights into the design and support of our own assignments and our response and evaluation practices.