Low Stakes versus High Stakes Writing

Low Stakes Writing (LSW)
Objective: Writing is used to promote learning and thinking.

• LSW is used to simulate thought, generate ideas and connections, keep students engaged and thinking during class, after class, and/or give us information about how well students understand new facts and concepts presented during class.
• LSW is used to help students clarify their own knowledge of the course material, and/or to help you see how well students understand new facts and concepts presented during class.
• LSW is usually brief and informal.
• LSW can be written in or out of class.
• LSW can consist of myriad tasks from one-word responses to short essays.
• LSW may be messy and not completely organized, it is never corrected.
• You can give credit for LSW, it is usually ungraded.
• LSW can take place online using the discussion board on BlackBoard

High Stakes Writing (HSW)
Objective: Writing is used to demonstrate learning.

• HSW is used to show the instructor what the student knows.
• HSW typically follows the conventions of formal academic prose as well as well as the conventions that are specific to your discipline.
• HSW is typically written outside of class.
• It is expected to be error free when written outside of class.
• HSW may include: essay tests, out of class essays, research papers and projects, book reports, lab reports, analyses of case studies etc.
• HSW is graded.

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