The Impact of Instruction-Free Independent Reading on Overall Quality of Analytic Writing

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 27
  In Roundtable Session: Reading in Writing and Literacy Development

Abstract

The reading-writing connection is thought to be bidirectional. That is reading influences writing and vice versa. While previous research has suggested that instruction-free independent reading positively influences narrative and descriptive writing performance, this paper sought to investigate the impact of independent reading on analytic writing performance. Eighth-grade students whom received 10 hours of independent reading as an intervention statistically significantly outperformed control group in an experimental study. Findings suggest that the reading experience offers exemplary models of written compositions on which writers can draw resulting in an enhanced writing performance. The findings do not suggest that independent reading should replace explicit writing instruction but rather complement explicit writing instruction in the quest of enhancing students’ writing performance.
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Author

• Mohammed Jouhar, Texas A&M University - College Station