The Problem with Product-Focused Writing Teaching
The 5-Stage Writing Process
Freewriting, mind mapping, list-making, discussion. Generate ideas without self-censorship. This stage is not about English — it's about content. Get ideas down first.
Write a first draft quickly. Don't stop to fix errors — focus on getting ideas into sentences. First drafts are supposed to be imperfect. Teach students this explicitly: 'This draft is for your eyes only. Don't worry about mistakes yet.'
Step back from the draft. Read it for meaning, not errors. Are the ideas logical? Is the structure clear? Does each paragraph have a clear purpose? Revision is the most important stage and the most skipped.
Only now focus on language errors: grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation. Editing after revision prevents students from fixing sentences that will be deleted anyway.
The social dimension of writing: sharing with a peer, uploading to a class blog, sending to the teacher as a polished piece. The audience makes the writing feel real.
Process vs. Product Teaching
Metacognition
Process learning develops awareness of writing strategies, not just correct outputs
Revision Skills
Students learn to evaluate and improve their own work — a skill that transfers to all writing
Better Outcomes
Studies show process-trained writers produce higher-quality texts than product-trained peers
Teacher Tip
“Colour-code your feedback by drafting stage. On a content draft (Stage 2), comment ONLY on ideas and structure — not language. On a language draft (Stage 4), comment only on errors. This teaches students what to attend to at each stage. Mixed feedback short-circuits the process.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the process approach work for exam preparation?
Yes, with adaptation. Exam writing has time constraints that don't allow full process cycles — but teaching students to spend 5 minutes planning (brainstorm + structure) before writing dramatically improves exam writing quality.
How do I do peer review effectively in ESL?
Provide a structured checklist: 'Is there a clear topic sentence in each paragraph? Do you understand the main argument? Find one strong sentence.' Vague peer feedback ('it's good!') helps nobody; structured criteria produce useful observation.
Can DrillKit help with writing lessons?
Indirectly yes — generate a vocabulary exercise from the topic before students draft, ensuring they have the words they need. After a draft, identify vocabulary gaps and create targeted exercises for the editing stage.