Low-Stakes Writing Activities

Introduction

Low-stakes or exploratory writing activities are short assignments or exercises that have little to no impact on a student’s course grade. These might be activities that students complete individually or collaboratively, and they might take place during class, in preparation for class, or in a reflection on a class session that has just finished. While these activities are “low-stakes” in terms of students’ grades, they are “high-impact” with regard to student learning. Low-stakes writing offers a means of discovery, questioning, and exploration. It can deepen students’ thinking, analysis, and persuasive skills, offer opportunities for reflection and growth, can build equity into a classroom, and can create connection between students and between students and instructors.