Peer Review

Encouraging Student Writing

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Mar 25, 2026 by Faculty Development

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This learning material provides an instructional resource designed to support student learning in the subject area of writing, communication, or language study (depending on the specific course focus). The material presents structured instructional modules that guide learners through key concepts using explanations, examples, and interactive learning activities. Content appears to be organized in a way that supports both independent learning and integration into classroom instruction. The resource can be used as a supplemental learning tool or as part of a structured curriculum, allowing students to engage with content at their own pace while reinforcing core academic skills.

Type of Material:

Reference Material

Recommended Uses:

This book offers a variety of advice, resources, and analysis on college writing inside and outside of writing classes. The material could be used in several instructional contexts, including:

Supplementary material for lectures
Homework or independent learning assignments
Small group discussion preparation
Online or hybrid course modules
Guided practice activities

Technical Requirements:

The material appears to require standard internet access through a modern web browser. No specialized software or plug-ins appear necessary beyond basic multimedia capability and a PDF reader.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Readers will learn about different stages of writing (from brainstorming to finished product) and about different assignments that can help improve abilities in each one of these stages within the context of teaching writing in different academic disciplines.

After using this learning material, students should be able to:

Understand and apply key concepts presented in the instructional content
Analyze examples related to the course topic
Practice applying concepts through structured activities or prompts
Develop critical thinking and analytical skills connected to the learning objectives

Target Student Population:

College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Students should have basic familiarity with writing pedagogy, college-level reading and comprehension skills. Basic computer literacy and the ability to navigate online learning environments are assumed.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The learning material functions like a repository of praxis for a writing teaching or someone using writing assignments in their college course.

The material presents information in a clear and organized manner that is accessible to students. Concepts are explained in a way that supports comprehension and practical application.

The material is flexible enough to be used in multiple instructional settings, including face-to-face, hybrid, or online learning environments. Its modular structure allows instructors to incorporate individual sections into their curriculum without requiring full adoption of the entire resource.

Concerns:

At times, the text alludes to academic scholarship, but contains no engagement with the literature, in-text citations, footnotes, or references (other than a text adapted from another source on plagiarism).

While the material is generally strong in its presentation of information, the inclusion of more explicit references to scholarly research or theoretical frameworks could further strengthen the academic foundation of the content.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

There is a nice letter that starts off the book and provides a good overview of the book; readers good sense of the general audience; and the underlying philosophy. The book remains more of a collection of related resources that can be utilized ala carte in a variety of contexts.

The resource can be easily incorporated into a variety of course structures. Its organization into clearly defined sections allows instructors to select portions that align with their specific learning objectives. The activities and explanations support active engagement and reinforce understanding of key concepts.

Concerns:

There are no clearly stated learning objectives -- that might be useful for these different assignment prompts and handouts throughout this collection.

Although the resource provides opportunities for learning, the addition of more explicit assessment tools (such as quizzes, reflection prompts, or embedded evaluation activities) could enhance its usefulness for measuring student learning outcomes.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The pages throughout this book are well designed with headings, subheadings, color contrasts.

The content is user-friendly and easy to navigate. The layout allows learners to move through content logically without confusion. Instructions are generally clear, and the design supports straightforward interaction with the material.

Concerns:

There are incorrect URLs throughout the document. Links are not available.

Accessibility features are not clearly documented within the resource. Providing additional information about accessibility compliance (such as screen reader compatibility, captioning, or alternative text for images) would improve the usability of the material for diverse learners.

Other Issues and Comments:

This document is in a Wayback Machine archive. The advice still remains relevant, but without any engagement about AI there are some basic gaps in advice. While MERLOT suggest the object was added in 2013, the first page suggests this object is nearly 25 years old. Its first version goes back to 1988. Some advice is timeless, but it might be useful to update some of these links and even augment with current topics and resources. Secondly, this document lacks any clear description of its intellectual property, in terms of who owns it and how it can be used.

This learning material provides a valuable instructional resource that can support student engagement and reinforce key academic skills. Its flexibility and modular design make it particularly useful for instructors who wish to supplement existing coursework. With minor improvements related to assessment tools and accessibility transparency, the material could become even more effective as a teaching and learning resource.

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