Best Practices for Teaching Writing & Critical Thinking

Help students understand that they can’t rely on authority to tell them the answers (or the questions), or what is important for them to study or read. They must rely on themselves.
Help students begin to ask questions of all texts.
Help students understand that writing (from quick-writes to more formal essays) can aid in their understanding of the ideas they are reading and thinking about.
Help students understand how analysis works, how taking apart the whole and exploring the individual pieces will help them better understand what the writer (and how the writer) explores or persuades.

Build Vocabulary and Background Information

Without adequate vocabulary, students often feel overwhelmed in college classes that assume certain language knowledge.
Without adequate background knowledge (current events, historical events, literary touchstones, etc.) students will be at a disadvantage.
Without good study habits, students often flounder.
Without learning to be accountable for shoddy work, students will rely on writing assignments and studying at the last minute.

Help students learn to read directions carefully and focus on what the key words (often verbs) ask of them: analyze, compare, define, describe, discuss, evaluate, explain, illustrate, prove, summarize, state, etc.
Help students to understand the difference between revision and editing.
Help students to understand what constitutes plagiarism, how to avoid it, and what the penalties are for those who insist on plagiarizing
For those students who resist an emphasis on reading and writing, all must fulfill the CSU Graduation Writing Requirement which requires that they read an essay or passage and respond with an argument (under time pressure).