· Writing is not only a way of communicating or expressing knowledge, but a powerful way of thinking and learning.
· Students clarify their understandings of content material through exploratory writing assignments which enable them to consider class material in new ways.
· Content understanding shines though in student writing.  This type of writing gives content instructors a window into students’ thinking about the subject
· Writing activities, properly designed, can help students structure and synthesize knowledge, rather than merely regurgitating it.
· Providing audiences for student writing, real or imaginary, (preferably real) will allow students to have a sense of writing for someone other than the teacher, and will help them to  better understand material.
· Writing activities that allow the student to play the role of learner and researcher are especially effective.
· The process of writing is important
· time spent with prewriting, will help students acquire a solid grasp of the material, and organize their understandings
· it is important to provide assistance and support as students write, helping them solve problems as they arise, rather than waiting until they turn in the paper.
· Let students respond to each other’s papers.  Provide support through response forms and guidelines.  Give class time to that purpose.
· Teach revision before copy-editing, having students clarify the content and substance of their work before turning to questions of spelling, mechanics, usage, etc.
· As often as possible, more formal assignments should be directed  to real purposes and audiences.  Display or otherwise publish student writing through shows, demonstrations, book-publishing (duplicated or one of a kind), oral readings etc.  Don’t be the only reader of your students’ work.
· Keep content at the center of the writing process.