Quick writes are short, timed writing assignments that help teachers assess student understanding and writing ability. They can be used before, during, and after reading to promote reflection, critical thinking, and summarization. Quick writes work well individually but can also be adapted for group work using thinking, sharing, and graphic organizers. Some example prompts are provided. Overall, quick writes are meant to build student confidence and make them better readers, thinkers, listeners, and writers.

1. QUICK WRITES

2. What are Quick Writes
 Open Ended Statements
 Brief timed (3-10 minutes) writing assignments
 Make students employ writing skills with critical
thinking
 Help teachers assess students writing ability and
understanding of concepts.

3. When to use Quick Writes
 Brainstorm prior to reading
 Assess student knowledge about a concept
 Summarize what has been read
 Promote reflection
 Encourage critical thinking
 Make predictions and/or inferences

4. Group Scenarios
 Quick writes can be used in cooperative group
learning. It is easy to adapt quick writes into a
Think-Pair-Share lesson. Students are encouraged to
think about a given concept, respond appropriately
and share with the small group.
 In a small group students may apply the use of
graphic organizers to respond to quick write topics.

5. Graphic Organizers

6. Examples of Quick Writes:
 “Boy, right now I wish I could…”
 “The best thing that happened to me so far this school
year…”
 “I spend too much time…”
 “ The President of the United States should focus on…”
 “We need to be less dependent on foreign oil because…”
 “Technology in the classroom is benefcial because…”

7. At the end of the day…
 Quick writes can do the following things for
students:
1. Build confidence
2. Make writing more accessible and less intimidating
3. Make students better READERS, THINKERS and
LISTENERS
4. Develop overall language fluency