How do we define Writing Ability Implications for

How do we define Writing Ability? Implications for teaching and assessment

“To write to your best abilities, it behooves you to construct your own toolbox and then build up enough muscle so you can carry it with you. ” Stephen King

Beaufort’s Transfer-Oriented Construct Model Writing Process Knowledge Rhetorical Knowledge Subject Matter Knowledge Genre Knowledge Discourse Community Knowledge Metacognitive Knowledge

Facets of Expertise in Writing Discourse Community’s Discourse Community Knowledge are defined as a group of individuals that share a common set of values about: Information Knowledge Topics Conventions of communication

Facets of Expertise in Writing Subject Matter Knowledge Subject matter knowledge refers to an understanding both of the topic and of the discourse community’s point of view on the topic.

Facets of Expertise in Writing Genre Knowledge A genre is any form of written text that can appear in different social situations. Genre is defined primarily by the purpose of a text, with features of the text following from its purpose (Shedd, 2008).

Facets of Expertise in Writing Rhetorical Knowledge When writers draw on rhetorical knowledge, they are able identify purpose for their texts and are able to craft their texts to achieve those purposes.

Facets of Expertise in Writing Process Knowledge Writing process knowledge refers to the range of strategies and processes available to writers as they work from nascent ideas to polished texts.

Facets of Expertise in Writing Metacognitive Knowledge Metacognitive knowledge refers to a writer’s ability to reflect on his or her thinking, to make thoughtful choices about how he or she acts on the knowledge in each of the other domains described.

Drawing on these Facets: Students’ Playground Proposal Discourse Community knowledge: Town council, backgrounds, interests, voting patterns Genre Knowledge: Formal letter, oral and multimedia presentations Rhetorical Knowledge: Statistical versus narrative data Subject Matter Knowledge: Health and wellness literature, funding sources, town demographics Writing Process knowledge: Strategies for collaboration and project management.