Stages of writing

Writing work in the classroom falls on a continuum from copying to free writing

1 2 3 4
1 copying 2 doing exercises 3 guided writing 4 free writing

 

At one end the student is practising forming letter shapes in a handwriting book, noting down substitution tables from the board, copying examples from a textbook, etc. At the other end the student chooses both subject matter and form. Very close to this on the scale would be essay writing where the topic or title is given, but no further help. Accuracy is more of a concern towards the left of the scale; fluency increasingly important towards the right.

 
copying     doing exercises Guided writing free writing