There is no doubt that good writing is the result of numerous characteristics that include original thinking, balanced arguments, and cohesive structure. However, there is another aspect of writing that is often overlooked these days; it is the ‘readers’ ‘interest level’. No matter how well-structured and original your written piece is, if it doesn’t spark interest in your readers, it will not make an impact.

By saying ‘interest’ we mean curiosity. Writing is not merely a conglomeration of words written for the sake of providing information, but it is much more than that. It has theme, emotions, implicit questions that do not only incite readers’ curiosity, but also make them want to keep on reading to learn more.  Besides this, a good piece of writing has a strong perspective and it is compelling from the beginning.

A boring piece, on the other hand, loses a reader’s interest, even if it includes facts and relevant point. If the writing style is not impactful or poorly handled, it can undermine those excellent points, especially if the subject is dry or dull. Some people, arguably, consider this writing style best for the purpose of academic writing, but that too should have interesting content.

That is why knowing how to spark interest in your or your student’s writing is even more important. The good news is that there is a plethora of things that can be done to make writing interesting. You can make it interesting while remaining within the boundaries of formal academic writing. Click source.

Here we discuss some effective strategies to boost students’ engagement in writing that will strengthen not only their interaction with the words, but also their connectedness to what they are learning.

Tips to Boost Student’s Writing Engagement

Reinforce the Power of Curiosity

You might consider this aspect of writing insignificant, but it is something many famous storytellers and writers like Dan Brown have used as a strategy. Whether you agree or not, every human has a compulsive instinct to explore’ What will happen next’?

 This is perhaps one of the reasons why we love tracing patterns, sequences and solving puzzles. That is to say, mystery in your student’s writing can play a crucial role in sparking attention.

To make them realize the importance of mystery in writing, first have a few brainstorming sessions with them. Pose a broad question related to the specific topic, like ‘What will happen if so and so happens?” or “what if the specific character did a different thing’? Let your students discuss multiple possibilities and ask them to present it to the class with logical justifications. Make sure your students understand that conjecture is the first step of learning.

Play with your Students’ Curiosity

This is one of the best strategies to make these writing lessons fun. If you will rush through questions in the class and don’t wait for students’ answers, it will not benefit their learning.

 That means giving all students a chance to answer the questions and enough time to process the information is of paramount importance.  

The best way to do is to take pauses after posing every question. It will help students reconsider and reflect on the situation in a better way.

 Design Critical and Creative Questions

Literal questions can never lead you to interesting answers or deeper discussions. That is why it is substantially important to thoughtfully design questions that can reinforce the critical thinking in your students.

 It will be helpful when they need to analyze situations and options. The questions should aim to prompt a student’s critical thinking. Try to make questions with ‘How might’ or ‘What if’ so students will not have to rely on the facts they’ve read in the text. Try to come up with ’open questions’ to help students reflect on their opinions, plus it will initiate a collaborative discussion in the class. Check this additional resourses.

 Allow Students to Debate

Self -opinionated topics rarely interest readers. There must be some arguments or contradictory opinions to help readers analyze the topic with two or more different perspectives. That means dichotomy can help trigger a debate in class. Teach your students the significance of debating and persuading their readers the right way. Tell them this helps their readers to shape their opinions about something.

You can help students by posing a question that asks their opinion like ‘what do you think or why do you think something happened?’  Whether it is a current affair, historical analysis or literature, once students are given the chance to speak their minds and listen to others’ opinions, they will develop a better understanding of the topic.

Bridge the Knowledge Gap

Making your class student-centered is tremendously advantageous, but it doesn’t mean that your input is of no importance. As a teacher, it is your responsibility to bridge the knowledge gap by providing a sufficient amount of information on the topic.

 Make it a combination of guidance, curiosity, and self-direction to help students learn new things. Ask for their opinions and ask them what they want to learn about the topic. If they seem to guess the topic, they are on the right track.

In addition to that, it is the teacher’s responsibility to help students identify their strengths and weaknesses. Motivation can do wonders and can improve writing skills. Helpful information here.

Bottom Line

To a small extent, with the right strategies and guidance, boosting the writing skills of students is fairly easy. Students should be taught and encouraged to incorporate these strategies to spark interest in their writing. If a teacher is consistent and knows how to make her students curious about the topic, she/he can make students more engaged in their writing.