C4E Literacy Initiative: Creating more effective HSC responsesMy name is Amanda Stavert. The other

academic involved is Judy Adnum, who has recently been the Literacy Consultant in the Hunter region.

We propose to work with Head Teachers across KLAs to improve the quality of your students’ written responses in the HSC.

How often are teachers teaching writing in a HSC unit of work?

Immature/mature writing

Scardamalia and Bereiter (1987): distinguish between knowledge telling (“immature writing”) and knowledge transforming (mature writing).

More successful HSC responses transform knowledge by evaluating and synthesizing what is known to create a thesis or line of argument supported by evidence.

We hope to assist teachers to develop this skill in their students.

Characteristics of immature/mature writingImmature writing takes place without

planning or problem solving e.g. factual exposition (“info dump”)

Mature writing involves planning and problem solving to create an integrated response e.g. essay

A number of studies have confirmed the effectiveness of textual models/scaffolds and planning in improving the quality of students’ written composition (Graham & Perin, 2007,2008)

Improving HSC responsesBackward mapping: teachers think about

assessment before designing units and lessons

1. Identify the desired results2. Consider relevant outcomes, syllabus

content and and literacy issue: i.e. creating a successful written HSC response

3. Determine acceptable evidence of student achievement and the meeting of syllabus standards.

4. Plan instructional activities

Strategies to improve the quality of students’ HSC written responses

CONTENT: teachers analyse HSC syllabus, rubrics, exam questions, marking guidelines and examiner’s comments to determine what to teach students

SKILLS:1. teachers provide students with models of

relevant Band 6 responses and analyse to identify features of successful writing

2. Teachers and students jointly construct a conceptual framework to scaffold students’ ideas when writing.

The C4E Project Involves Head Teachers from a variety of

KLAsJudy and I will work with Head Teachers to

assist with backward mapping and strategies for successful writing

Timeline to be determined

ANY QUESTIONS?