When in the writing process do writers figure out a focus and decide on the point they want their writing to make? Interview a room of writers and you'll likely get a range of responses. Some writers can develop a focus before writing but that doesn't mean it'll always go as planned. For some, reading over what they've written, reflecting on what it is they truly want to say, and revising with that in mind will make more sense. It is often helpful to teach student writers that it's important to have a focal point in mind when they begin to write −wandering aimlessly on the page is not too helpful, except occasionally during the phases when writers generate or develop ideas− but they should also be open to discovering new possibilities as they write.
When in the writing process do writers figure out a focus and decide on the point they want their writing to make? Interview a room of writers and you'll likely get a range of responses. Some writers can develop a focus before writing but that doesn't mean it'll always go as planned. For some, reading over what they've written, reflecting on what it is they truly want to say, and revising with that in mind will make more sense. It is often helpful to teach student writers that it's important to have a focal point in mind when they begin to write −wandering aimlessly on the page is not too helpful, except occasionally during the phases when writers generate or develop ideas− but they should also be open to discovering new possibilities as they write.
Below, Jennifer Serravallo works alongside two students learning to write persuasively, helping them each identify focus and meaning for their writing:
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Learn more about The Writing Strategies Book on Heinemann.com
Jennifer Serravallo is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Reading Strategies Book and The Writing Strategies Book, which have been translated into Spanish, French, and Chinese. These and her other popular books and resources help teachers make goal-directed responsive strategy instruction, conferring, and small group work doable in every classroom. Her newest titles are Teaching Writing in Small Groups, A Teacher’s Guide to Reading Conferences, Understanding Texts and Readers, and the assessment and teaching resource Complete Comprehension for Fiction and Nonfiction.
Jen is a frequently invited speaker at national and regional conferences and travels throughout the US and Canada to provide full-day workshops and to work with teachers and students in classrooms. She is also an experienced online educator who regularly offers live webinar series and full-day online workshops, and is the creator of two self-paced asynchronous online courses, most recently Strategies in Action: Reading and Writing Methods and Content.
Jen began her career in education as an NYC public school teacher. Now as a consultant, she has spent the last fifteen+ years helping teachers across the country create literacy classrooms where students are joyfully engaged, and the instruction is meaningfully individualized to students' goals. Jen is also a member of Parents Magazine Board of Advisors for education and literacy.
Jen holds a BA from Vassar College and an MA from Teachers College, where she has also taught graduate and undergraduate classes.
Learn more about Jen and her work at Hein.pub/serravallo, on Twitter @jserravallo, on Instagram @jenniferserravallo, or by joining The Reading and Writing Strategies Facebook Community.
