Published: March 1, 1995

Lacking the Write Stuff

The students were asked to give preference to pieces developed using process-writing strategies, such as consulting with classmates and revising successive drafts. They also were asked to select work that represented different kinds of writing--narrative, informative, and persuasive.

The samples were scored on a scale of 1 through 6, with scores of 1-2 representing undeveloped writing and 5-6 the most developed prose. Few examples of persuasive writing were submitted, so that category was...