Have you ever graded student writing and felt it just wasn’t really what you’d hoped it be? It just didn’t sound academic or appropriate for the task? Well consider this: to do everything you do particularly well, be it surfing, cooking, playing a musical instrument or even driving, you first had to learn a series of complicated moves. These moves may remain mysterious to others who do not possess your skill, but because you were taught them and practiced them, they come to you now without even thinking. Well, the same applies to writing.

Writers need a repertoire of basic moves that writers of a particular subject use.  Experienced writers use these moves repetitively, yet to the inexperienced writer, they remain a mystery. So how do you unlock the magic language of your subject?  Sentence frames.

They can be basic. ‘I agree with _______ because’ or ‘In my opinion…’ but also consider the use of these:

• On the one hand, ____. On the other hand, __________.
• This is not to say..
• As a result of my study, (equation, research, etc.)_____________
• My feelings on this are mixed. I do agree that _______, but I find the argument about _____to be equally persuasive because _____________.
• By focusing on __________, X overlooks the part of the problem where ...

Although, the critical thinking that fills in the blanks is obviously more complex than just giving out some language frames, but the habits of critical thinking cannot be put into practice in speaking or writing without the language with which to express those thoughts. It’s like building a house without first building its frame.

Consider how some of the above frames could be applied to work that students are doing in your room right now, or create some frames of your own by looking at the language of proficient writing in your subject. What frames are needed to link the ideas together? How can you show those to students and have them practice them?

If you would like more information or ideas for frames for a particular upcoming lesson please consult with me, any humanities teacher, or I’d be happy to let you borrow the book from which this blog’s message is adapted They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter In Academic Writing.