Developing writing skills through students giving instructional explanations

Writing skills are considered to be critical for academic and professional success (National Commission on Writing, 2004, The neglected r the need for a writing revolution. The College Board). However, a large number of students are not writing well. According to National Assessment of Educational Progress (2002, Writing report card for the nation and the states: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education), 69% of 8th graders and 77% of 12th graders have only basic writing skills. Moreover, 50% of college students cannot produce texts that are relatively free of errors (ICAS, 2002). This unfortunate situation also permeates government and industry sectors. State government employees are found to have weak writing skills (NCW, 2004). Salaried employees in major US firms also lack writing skills (NCW, 2004).