Support for writing

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Writing frames are a way of providing learner writers with a support or 'scaffold' to help them develop independent skills for different types of writing, e.g.: some headings, subheadings and connectives for linking paragraphs when writing an explanatory information text; the layout, salutation, opening sentence and closure when practising a letter; sentence openings for making contrasting points when presenting an argument.

To be used effectively writing frames need to:

(a) offer enough support to help the learner attempt a new or difficult task, but not so much that the writing is reduced to filling in boxes, which will provide no scope for the learner to improve - the writing frame must require the learner to produce independent continuous text, at the appropriate level;

(b) be used as part of the planning and drafting stages, helping learners marshal their thoughts and organise what they want to write;

(c) be properly structured to suit the type of text and style of writing being practised - a frame for a description will be different from one for some instructions;

(d) be designed and used progressively, providing less scaffolding for harder tasks as learners gain in experience and skill;

(e) be used alongside reading texts that model the type of writing being practised.

Used in this way, writing frames can help learners to extend their repertoire of writing genres, learn the requirements of more formal registers, and improve the cohesiveness of their writing - all of which makes them more able to tackle different writing tasks independently in their own lives.

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