Which instructional method is recommended to guide student writing?

• A. Use mentor texts; Compose in front of class; Think aloud; Scaffolding and model then practice
• B. Lecturing with minimal writing
• C. Isolating writing from instruction
• D. Focusing only on grammar rules

Answer: (A)

Guiding student writing works best when students see how writing actually happens and then practice it with support. Mentor texts give concrete models of craft, structure, and voice that students can imitate. Composing in front of the class shows a full drafting and revision process in action, helping learners understand how writing develops over time. Think-alouds reveal the writer’s thinking—how decisions are made about claims, evidence, organization, and word choice—so students learn strategies they can apply themselves. Scaffolding and model-then-practice provide a clear path from teacher demonstration to guided practice to independent work, gradually transferring responsibility to the student.

This approach is more effective than lecturing with minimal writing, which doesn’t give students the hands-on experience of writing; isolating writing from instruction, which breaks the link between reading, instruction, and writing; or focusing only on grammar rules, which ignores planning, drafting, revision, and audience awareness.