Skip to main content

Learning from Writing in Secondary Science: A Case Study of Students’ Composing Strategies

  • Chapter
  • 338 Accesses

Abstract

The role of writing in learning secondary science has received increasing research focus over the last decade. This study aimed to identify students’ drafting strategies when they wrote for a readership other than their teacher, as well as their perceptions of the value of this task. The findings indicated that students perceived this writing process and task as valuable for their learning of science concepts and that their drafting approaches were consistent with current conceptualisations of effective strategies to enable writing to promote learning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Chinn, P. & Hilgers, T., (2000). From corrector to collaborator: The range of instructor roles in writing-based natural and applied science classes. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 37,3, 3–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halliday, M., (1985) An introduction to functional grammar. Baltimore, MD: Edward Arnold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halliday, M. A. K., & Martin, J. R., (1993). Writing science: Literacy and discursive power. London: Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hand, B., Prain, V., & Hohenshell, L., (2000). Exploring Year 10 biotechnology students’ response to conceptual questions when engaged with planned writing experiences. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, New Orleans, LA, April 28-May 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanrahan, M., (1999). Rethinking science literacy: enhancing communication and participation in school science through affirmational dialogue journal writing. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 36(3) 699–718.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hildebrand, G., (1998). Disrupting hegemonic writing practices in school science: Contesting the right way to write. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 35(4)345–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, G. & Chen, C, (1999). The sound of music: Constructing science as sociocultural practices through oral and written discourse. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 36, 883–915.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keys, C.,(1999). Language as an indicator of meaning generation: An analysis of middle school students’ written discourse about scientific investigations. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 36 ,9, 1044–1061.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein, P., (1999).Reopening inquiry into cognitive processes in writing-to-learn. Educational Psychology Review, 11, 3, 203–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. & Veel, R., (1998). Reading Science: critical and functional perspectives on discourses of science. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, C. (1998) Writing mathematically: The discourse of Investigation. London: Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prain, V. & Hand, B., (1996). Writing and learning in secondary science: Rethinking practices. Teaching and Teacher Education, 12, 609–626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prain, V. & Hand, B., (1999). Students perceptions of writing for learning in secondary school science. Science Education, 83, 151–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivard, L., (1994) A review of writing to learn in science: Implcations for practice and research. Journal of Reseach in Science Teaching, 31(9), 969–983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowell, P.A., (1997). Learning in school science: The promises and practices of writing. Studies in Science Education, 30, 19–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutton, C. (1996). Beliefs about science and beliefs about language. Internationaljournal of Science Education, 18, 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unsworth, L., (2000). Investigating subject-specific literacies in school learning. In: L. Unsworth, Ed. Researching language in schools and communities. London: Continuum (Cassell).

    Google Scholar 

  • Unsworth, L. ,(1997). Explaining explanations: enhancing science learning and literacy development. Australian Science Teachers Journal, 43 (1) 34–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veel, R., (1996) Learning how to mean — scientifically speaking. In: F. Christie (ed.) Genre and Institutions: The language of work and schooling. London: Cassell Academic

    Google Scholar 

  • White, R., (1994). Dimensions of content. In: P. Fensham, R. Gunstone, & R. White (eds.) The content of science: A constructivist approach to its teaching and learning (pp. 255–262). London: Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Prain, V., Hand, B., Yore, L. (2003). Learning from Writing in Secondary Science: A Case Study of Students’ Composing Strategies. In: Psillos, D., Kariotoglou, P., Tselfes, V., Hatzikraniotis, E., Fassoulopoulos, G., Kallery, M. (eds) Science Education Research in the Knowledge-Based Society. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0165-5_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0165-5_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6337-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-0165-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics