WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT STUDENT PUBLISHING

“Publication is an essential part of the writing process.” (The National Council of Teachers of English, Position Statement, 2004)

“Not only does publication encourage students to write by creating purpose and vision, but it also serves to improve writing skills.” (Ensio, Tobi C. & Krystal R. Boxeth. (2000). “The Effects of Publishing on Student Attitude toward Writing.” ERIC Research Report. University of Virginia. [ED 448 471])

ACT, American College Testing, conducted a study with college freshman comparing test scores between those who had worked on a high school publication and those without publication experience. In 10 of 12 statistical academic comparisons, journalism students earned significantly higher scores than their non-publications counterparts. As well as scoring higher cumulative college freshman GPA's and English Assessment scores, students with publishing experience scored higher on final high school grades in social studies, mathematics and natural science. (Dvorak, J. (1989). Publications experience as a predictor of college success. Journalism Quarterly, 66(3), 702-706. [EJ419864])

“While many methods can be used to improve writing instruction, research repeatedly points to publication as a beneficial and integral addition to any writing program.” (Ensio, Tobi C. & Krystal R. Boxeth. (2000). “The Effects of Publishing on Student Attitude toward Writing.” ERIC Research Report. University of Virginia. [ED 448 471])

“Motivation is crucial to writing - students will write far more willingly if they write about subjects that interest them and that they have an aptitude for.” (Zinsser, William. “Writing To Learn”. New York: Harper & Row, 1988.)

“According to studies, the first step towards generating positive student attitude is teaching that writing is valuable to individuals everywhere and in society at large. The next step is for students...to understand that they are capable of producing works that others in the community want to read.” (Ensio, Tobi C. & Krystal R. Boxeth. (2000). “The Effects of Publishing on Student Attitude toward Writing.” ERIC Research Report. University of Virginia. [ED 448 471])

“A sense of audience - the knowledge that someone will read what they have written - is crucial to young writers. Kids write with purpose and passion when they know that people they care about reaching will read what they have to say...” (Atwell, Nancie. (1998). In the Middle: New Understandings About Reading, Writing, and Learning. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.)

“Publishing students' work in a form that looked professional, students were more eager to develop their writing products than if they were only hand-writing them.” (Guthrie, L. & S. Richardson. (1995). “Turned on to the Language Arts: Computer Literacy in the Primary Grades.” Educational Leadership. 53(2), 14-17.)

“Publications work is authentic assessment at its best: a synthesis of analysis and critical thinking, planning, and relating to an audience beyond the classroom, and performance-based outcomes. Student work leads naturally to a portfolio of specific completed tasks, and publications skills positively support school-to-career progress” (Graff, Patricia. “Standards in the Journalism Classroom.” State of Scholastic Journalism: Principal's Guide to Scholastic Journalism. (Quill and Scroll Foundation: University of Iowa), 2003.)

“We'll spend a lifetime crafting our teaching in order to allow children to be the authors of their own texts.” (Graves, Donald H. “The Child, the Writing Process, and the Role of the Professional.” In “The Writing Process of Students”, edited by Walter Petty. Buffalo: State University of New York. 1975.)