Workshops

Teaching Language for Academic Writing

The power of persuasion extends beyond school writing assignments. The ability to articulate and support opinions, inferences and interpretations is essential for success in schooling and beyond. While some writing programs teach these skills, few adequately address the embedded linguistic challenges for English language learners.

This workshop will illuminate the key vocabulary, verb tenses and linguistic demands of two expository genres emphasized in core standards and testing: response to literature and persuasive essays. Through demonstration lessons and practical instructional materials, participants will gain tools to frontload language, teach academic vocabulary, and scaffold instruction to enhance language use during the writing process. Training materials include genre-specific word lists, student-friendly vocabulary continuums, and linguistic frames.

Participants will:

• Understand the linguistic challenges of the academic writing genres taught in school.
• Learn concrete strategies for empowering ELLs with the vocabulary, verb use and linguistic tools they need to succeed.
• Gain resources and strategies to enhance academic language use for all students in their classrooms.