Philosophy
Students do not read or write in a vacuum. The more they read, the more they become aware of the craft in the writing of others. Sentence structures and prose forms become more familiar, and eventually they influence students' own writing, either consciously or subconsciously. It works the other way, as well. As they become purposeful writers, they appreciate and understand the intentions of other writers. This improves comprehension and appreciation as they read. This unit capitalizes on those connections by encouraging students to see those relationships in their reading and writing activities.
The vicarious experience of reading also gives students insight and wisdom that adds a layer of dimension and reflection to their writing.
Objective feedback in the form of rubrics and peer review are essential to this philosophy. Good rubrics help writers focus their attention on specific objectives and may prevent them from being overwhelmed by the process. Young writers learn not just from accomplished, published writers, but also from the strengths and weaknesses of those who write like more like themselves.
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