Can we really teach writing? | Gray Scott | TEDxTWU

Society tends to conflate writing and grammar. So it’s no wonder then that teachers often focus on grammar when teaching writing. But longstanding research suggests such a focus is detrimental in learning to write. Research also points to effective writing pedagogies, but the community of writing teachers’ general disdain for quantitative analysis has obscured widespread adoption of these pedagogical methods.

Gray Scott runs the first-year composition program at Texas Woman's University, where he also teaches writing and writing pedagogy. A contributor to four editions of the ST. MARTIN'S GUIDE TO WRITING textbook, he studies writing assessment as well as on the impacts of academic dishonesty and stereotype threat on the development of writing skills. Before pursuing his PhD at the University of California, Riverside, he was a journalist and newspaper editor.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx