Besides using conventional resources such as books and magazines, students use first-person resources and the Internet to conduct research. One way to create enthusiasm for such projects is for the teacher to provide model Web sites, preferably their own. Also, place a notice in the student bulletin, asking for the site addresses of any students in the school who have published to the Web. The students will enjoy looking at the work of the peers. Students should select a topic, which interests them, as they will be investing a great deal of time and energy in this project.
Students can work independently or with a partner to engage in cooperative learning activities.
Once the preliminary research has been completed, have the students write a rough outline. Once the final outline is approved, the students may begin to write. They will be inspired to do their best work because they know that it will be published, and they will have an audience other than the teacher, which should significantly raise their level of concern. John Collins, a leading authority on writing instruction, would certainly concur. Most students prefer to write using a word processing program on the computer, and in doing so will be more likely to revise.