V. High-Stakes, Formal Writing Assignments
In this section
This section considers “high-stakes” (also called “formal” or “summative”) writing assignments. Throughout the section, we offer suggestions for designing high-stakes writing assignments for your course. When designed well, high-stakes writing assignments can significantly deepen student learning, can help students learn the writing conventions of a particular discipline, and can foster a sense of accomplishment and significance for and in students. In this section, you will find:
- An explanation of what “high-stakes” writing is
- An exploration of the reasons to incorporate high-stakes writing into your teaching
- A list of factors to consider as you design high-stakes writing assignments
- An annotated example of a well-designed writing assignment
- Examples of high-stakes writing in UW-Madison courses
- A checklist for designing high-stakes writing assignments
