Overview:

• Writing templates, like structural organizers, break down the writing process into steps by outlining a process for students to follow.

• Writing templates can be found online and downloaded or printed.

• Writing templates can support students who experience challenges in the brainstorming and organization stages of writing.

Research

Bishop, Sawyer, Alber-Morgan, & Boggs (2015)

• This study explored the impact of a graphic organizer intervention on the writing of middle school autistic students. Three students completed a three day training package which involved direct instruction on essay writing.

• The results suggested that students with a range of disabilities have been shown to benefit from the explicit instruction of organization and pre-writing strategies.

Fontenot et al. (2015)

• This study compared a novel process writing approach (using templates) with a  widely-taught process-writing approach. 113 sixth-grade students took a written expression examination before and after receiving one of the training approaches.

• Results suggest that students show better writing performance when using writing templates than when simply following the writing process approach typically taught by their teachers

Tijani & Ogbaje (2013):

• This study examined the Four Square writing template whereby a paragraph is organized to promote writing skill development. This study took place with secondary school students in Nigeria.

• Results suggested that students displayed better essay development with the Four Square Method.

Flanagan & Bouck (2015):

• This study examined the efficacy of using concept mapping to support essay writing. This took place amongst 19 secondary school students

• Results demonstrated that when students use pre-writing strategies the quality of their writing improves. For example, essays were more cohesive, relevant and had better structure. The authors note that students expressed preference for computer-based concept mapping.

Quick Facts

Advantages

• Most students spend very little time planning and/or at the prewriting stage, and this can be encouraged by writing templates

• Research shows that when students use pre-writing strategies the quality of their writing improves (Flanagan & Bouck, 2015)

Disadvantages

• Using writing templates requires comprehensive instruction

• Some students may be resistant to handwriting templates because they will be required to retype all of the information into a computer for composition. It may be preferable to use AT to complete the writing templates.

To Consider

• Providing writing templates will only improve writing if students are properly instructed

• Consider whether or not a computer-based structural organizer is necessary for the student, or whether a paper-based tool may be just as useful

• Students with Learning Disabilities or challenges may require the use of assistive technology along with writing templates in order to be successful