Writing is CognitiveTheories in cognitive rhetoric have moved from simplistic (writing is an expression of thought) to more complex (writing is a way to think).
As we teach students how to write, we are teaching ways to think. These are a variety of cognitive skills/aspects of cognition that are used when writing. In the word cloud, notice these are both writing skills and thinking skills--because writing is a thinking process. |
Understanding the mind can change how we ourselves write, or how we teach writing.
- Teaching metacognition improves writing. Studies show that, for complex things (like writing), if you understand your own thought processes (= metacognition), you can improve how you think--and so improve how you write
- Knowing the cognitive aspects of writing process, as Flower and Hayes describe, improve writing. Instead of writing instinctually, we can learn the general processes successful writers do and have a starting point from our own writing.
- Understanding the cognitive principles behind transfer helps writers transfer knowledge from one realm to another.
- Grasping the cognitive sources of motivation helps writers actually begin writing and keep writing.
MetacognitionExamine how thinking about thinking is proven to improve writing.
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Problem Solving StrategiesExplore Flower and Hayes' problem-solving strategies for writing.
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