The process of writing entails high-order thinking processes that are integral to learning, among them the metacognitive processes required by critical thinking and problem solving. As all of us know, one way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. Another way is to write about it. Writing increase a sense of commitment and participation. It fights passivity.
Many disciplines evaluate student performance in terms of writing ability.
While there are other modes of learning, and while students admittedly learn differently, academic culture asks students to demonstrate learning in writing in their courses and at gateway points in their academic careers. Writing intensive courses give students more practice with the skills on which their performance in many academic situations will be assessed. The process of writing uniquely develops thinking and writing. Writing is a generative behavior. From email and lab notes to formal papers and essay exams, writing allows us not only to see what we think, but also to create, reflect on, and elaborate it.