The writing strands and substrands from the Framework for secondary English link to sets of related resources and teaching approaches for use by teachers of secondary English. Secondary English teachers can use them to focus on key areas of writing, link with other areas, and help build, develop and secure pupils' writing skills.
The writing strands
The strands and substrands provide helpful categories, which make clear the separate, but related, skills needed to improve pupils' writing. The resources and teaching approaches can:
- provide the opportunity for stimulating and engaging contexts
- help create integrated and flexible programmes, which link the writing strands and those for language, reading, speaking and listening
- suggest ways of securing Functional skills in order to create real and purposeful contexts and learning sequences.
Attachments
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What are the key issues in relation to progression in writing for pupils?
Find some strategies used by good writers, obstacles that prevent pupils improving as writers and some ways you can help them improve. This is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
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Substrand 7.1: Generating ideas, planning and drafting
Find a set of specific teaching approaches to help you build, develop and secure your pupils' writing skills. This focuses on the Framework for English substrand 7.1: 'Generating ideas, planning and drafting in writing', and is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
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Substrand 7.2: Using and adapting the conventions and forms of texts
Find a set of specific teaching approaches to help you build, develop and secure your pupils' writing skills. This focuses on the Framework for English substrand 7.2: 'Using and adapting the conventions and forms of texts', and is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
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Substrand 8.1: Developing viewpoint, voice and ideas
Find out how to use teaching approaches and learning opportunities to help you develop your pupils' own viewpoint and voice in their writing, so that their ideas are clear, coherent and engaging. This is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
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Substrand 8.2: Varying sentences and punctuation for clarity and effect
Find a set of specific teaching approaches to help you develop your pupils' grasp of punctuation and their understanding of how to vary sentence structure well. This focuses on the Framework for English substrand 8.2: 'Varying sentences and punctuation for clarity and effect', and is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
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Substrand 8.3: Improving vocabulary for precision and impact
Find a set of specific teaching approaches to help your pupils improve their use of vocabulary in their writing, so that meaning is clear and their writing has impact and effect. This focuses on the Framework for English substrand 8.3: 'Improving vocabulary for precision and impact', and is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
- Improving vocabulary through games and quick tasks
- Using reading to build pupils' use of vocabulary
- Using reading to help pupils develop and apply what they have learned about vocabulary
- Using reading to help pupils secure and extend their use of vocabulary
- Using writing to build pupils' use of vocabulary
- Using writing to help pupils develop and apply what they have learned about vocabulary
- Using writing to help pupils secure and extend their use of vocabulary
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Substrand 8.4: Developing varied linguistic and literary techniques
Find a set of specific approaches to teaching linguistic and literary techniques that pupils can apply in their own writing. This focuses on the Framework for English substrand 8.4: 'Developing varied linguistic and literary techniques', and is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
- Using reading to build pupils' linguistic and literary techniques
- Using reading to help pupils develop and apply linguistic and literary techniques
- Using reading to help pupils secure and extend their linguistic and literary techniques
- Using writing to build pupils' understanding of linguistic and literary techniques
- Using writing to help pupils develop linguistic and literary techniques
- Using writing to help pupils secure and extend their use of literary and linguistic features
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Substrand 8.5: Structuring, organising and presenting texts in a variety of forms
Find a set of specific approaches to help pupils develop skills in structuring and presenting texts. This focuses on the Framework for English substrand 8.5: 'Structuring, organising and presenting texts in a variety of forms', and is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
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Substrand 8.6: Developing editing and proofreading skills
Find a set of specific approaches to help your pupils build, develop and secure their editing and proofreading skills. This focuses on the Framework for English substrand 8.6: 'Developing editing and proofreading skills', and is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
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Substrand 9.1: Using the conventions of standard English
Find a set of specific approaches to help your pupils use the conventions of standard English appropriately. This focuses on the Framework for English substrand 9.1: 'Using the conventions of standard English', and is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
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Substrand 9.2: Using grammar accurately and appropriately
Find a set of specific practical classroom ideas to help pupils understand how to use grammar accurately and appropriately. This focuses on the Framework for English substrand 9.2: 'Using grammar accurately and appropriately’, and is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
- Using grammar: What aspects could be taught – Section A
- Using grammar: what aspects could be taught – Section B
- Some general strategies for teaching grammar through writing
- Teaching grammar at word and sentence level
- Teaching pupils about accurate and appropriate use of grammar
- Using grammar for a range of forms, audiences and purposes
- Understanding standard English and other varieties
- Exploring style and tone in a range of texts
- Learning about structuring sentences
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Substrand 9.3: Reviewing spelling and increasing knowledge of word derivations, patterns and families
Find a set of teaching approaches to help pupils review and strengthen their spelling and increase their knowledge of word origins and families. This focuses on the Framework for English substrand 9.3: 'Reviewing spelling and increasing knowledge of word derivations, patterns and families’, and is part of Teaching for progression: Writing.
