Written By Joseph Deem Ed.D.
The science of writing is built on decades of research from around the world. Writing research shows what works in writing instruction. The science of writing research reveals that structured writing instruction is essential because it directly teaches students to logically organize information. This explicit instruction makes writing clear, helps readers understand the writer’s intent, and expedites the writing and editing process.
United States
The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) is a respected nonprofit testing and research organization. According to a NWEA content expert:
“There’s value in a more traditional and structured writing process for young
students. It is the academic equivalent of training wheels, giving one the
confidence to move through a writing process in a delineated way until
the writer comes into their own identity through experience.”
Kellie Schmidt, May 27, 2025
United Kingdom
The Education Endowment Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to support learning with research-based evidence. According to their guidance report “Improving Literacy In Key Stage 2,” effective writing is broken down into 7 stages:
- Planning 2. Drafting 3. Sharing 4. Evaluating 5. Revising 6. Editing 7. Publishing.
Standards Plus
Standards Plus’s research led to identical conclusions and embedded the science of writing elements in our Writing Highway product. Writing Highway incorporates a step-by-step research-based approach that unapologetically teaches linear writing structures. The intent is to ensure that students learn organizational and structural elements of effective writing. This allows young writers to, “come into their own identity” after mastering effective writing strategies.