ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses on the premise that when it comes to writing, the best way to know how to know how is by seeing the writing process consistently modeled by the best writer in that classroom—the teacher. Writing is personal and risky, and many of my students are paralyzed by the notion that the writing they produce will be sub-par. Students do not understand that most first-draft writing, for everyone, is lousy. Modeling is particularly important in the first-draft stage, when reluctant writers are more likely to give writing a shot if they see that struggling with the complexity of the process is normal for all writers—even for their teacher. Imagine picking up a new musical instrument and every time you experimentally hit an incorrect note someone records your shortcomings. Students will become more open to writing when they know that not everything they will write will be scrutinized under the grading microscope.
