Overview

Writing templates, like Structural Organizers, break down the writing process into steps. They help with brainstorming and organizing ideas by either outlining a process for students to follow or a graphic organizer with process instruction and support.

Students with a range of disabilities have been shown to benefit from the explicit instruction of organization and pre-writing strategies (Bishop, Sawyer, Alber-Morgan, & Boggs, 2015). Much research has found that students show better writing performance when using writing templates than when simply following the writing process approach typically taught by their teachers (e.g., Fontenot et al., 2015). Further, writing templates have been modified for all age and grade levels. For example, Cronje and colleagues (2013) developed a writing template for university students, and the Four Square Method has been used up to the secondary level (Tijani & Ogbaje, 2013).

​

It should be noted that though writing templates can be used without the aid of computer-based technology, students who have spelling or reading challenges may benefit from using assistive technology along with the templates in a digital format.

​

Research Rating: Due to the experimental nature of the information cited in this description, this information is to be trusted as valid and reliable. Note that not every writing template strategy has been empirically validated, but the research does show that in general writing templates are preferable to less structured writing.

​

Advantages:

• Most students spend very little time planning and/or at the prewriting stage, and this can be encouraged by writing templates

• Research shows that when students use pre-writing strategies the quality of their writing improves (Flanagan & Bouck, 2015)

​

Disadvantages:

• Using writing templates requires comprehensive instruction

• Some students may be resistant to handwriting templates because they will be required to retype all of the information into a computer for composition. It may be preferable to use AT to complete the writing templates.

To Consider

• Providing writing templates will only improve writing if students are properly instructed

• Students with Learning Disabilities or challenges may require the use of assistive technology along with writing templates in order to be successful