Ready to Write
© 2007 Resources for Educators
by Rod Wittmer
March 04, 2008
Describing, comparing, and explaining — writing in high school can take many forms. But no matter what shape a paper takes, writing well starts with questions like these.
What do I already know?
Encourage your teen to write down everything she knows about
the topic (World War II, for example). She could write who, what,
when, where, why, and how on a piece of paper and jot down facts
about each one. Then, she can figure out what she still needs to
learn.
What approach should I use?
Does the assignment call for personal opinion, facts, or
evidence? Suggest that your child consider different angles. For
example, she might explore why the war broke out or look at how the
war affected society.
How can I learn more?
The resources your teenager uses depend on what she needs to find
out. Newspapers and magazines offer current information. Journals
explain research results. Reference books provide background and
statistics. Interviews and personal letters give first-hand
accounts. The Web contains many different kinds of sources.
