Best writing results means focused essays with relevant evidence expertly woven into a paragraph (not just a random quote from the text plopped in between some sentences with no explanation). The best writing results mean confident writers who know exactly how to start an essay and end one with impact…no more “thank you for reading my paper” as a concluding sentence! It means engaged students who don’t dread writing assignments any more because they actually know what to do. And yes, it may even mean an increase in test scores, like we’ve seen with so many of our EB teachers! When you consistently use a proven writing framework like the EBW Approach, in the classroom, you’re also going to see the best writing results from your students!
Learn How to Achieve These Results in Your Classroom
But, how do these amazing writing results happen because of a simple framework? Let’s break it down, so you can get these same results in your classroom!
First off, using a proven writing framework for literary analysis essays, like the EBW Approach, increases students’ confidence in their writing abilities. The framework provides them with a solid starting point, giving them direction and purpose.
Rather than facing the dreaded writer’s block and struggling to figure out how to begin their essay, students are equipped with a clear structure and a set of guidelines. This eliminates the overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to start and replaces it with a sense of direction and purpose.
Have you ever given a writing assignment and immediately have students need help or even worse, just stare around the room and not do anything because they don’t know how to start their essay. A framework eliminates this, and is an absolute game changer for creating confident writers!
Evidenced-Based Writing Framework
Within the EBW framework or Evidence-Based Writing framework, students learn that a strong essay begins with a TAG (Title, Author, Genre) to introduce the text and provide context. This ridiculously simple, yet effective step immediately gives students a foundation upon which to build their thoughts and ideas.
From there, they move on to a summary of the text, followed by a clear and concise claim that outlines their stance on the topic. Each component of the EBW framework serves as a building block, ensuring that their writing flows logically.
By following this approach, students no longer feel overwhelmed or paralyzed by the blank page. Instead, they have a roadmap that guides them through each step, making the task of writing much more manageable and less daunting.
When students have this clear structure to follow, they can focus their energy on generating ideas and crafting stronger arguments. They are free from the anxiety of how to structure their writing and they’re empowered to express themselves more effectively!
When they’re more confident and produce stronger essays, their grades naturally improve and they identify themselves as a writer, whether they express that aloud or not.
Furthermore, using a writing framework allows students to refine their skills over time. As they become familiar with the structure and different parts of the EBW framework, they can experiment with different techniques to enhance their writing.
So, the framework doesn’t stifle your more advanced writers, but rather provides them with the basics and then lets them elevate each part of the framework. Maybe they spend more time coming up with stronger, descriptive language. Maybe they write more complex sentences instead of just simple ones, Maybe they write three justification sentences instead of just two like the framework suggests.
Using a writing framework also increases your confidence as a writing teacher.
Once I had a framework, I slowed down in order to speed up. I broke down the framework and had a plan to teach every single day and I was actually teaching HOW to write and not just giving random writing assignments. When my confidence increased, I could have a bit more fun with the lessons and give assignments like graphic essays and one-pagers, and my passion for writing came through, making writing much more enjoyable for my students.
Finally, a proven framework gives you the best writing results you’ve ever seen because, if it’s an effective framework, it will translate into other writing genres. The EBW framework includes steps on evidence and justification, which can also be found in argumentative, persuasive, cause and effect, problem solution, and compare and contrast writing, and even research papers. So, when you’re focused on a new writing genre in class, you don’t have to start from scratch. Students will be able to rely on their writing framework for the basics and can then focus on the more nuanced parts of the different writing genres like persuasive language or counterclaims.
