1. QUICK WRITES
A WRITING STRATEGY TO USE WITH
ANY GRADE
Jacqui Dornbrack
Schools Development Unit (UCT)

2. So, what is a Quick Write
• Quick, non-stop writing
• Between 5-15 min max

3. Purpose of a quick write
• To provide learners (and teachers) with an
opportunity to write on something that is
meaningful to them
• To associate writing with meaning and
enjoyment
• To have a real purpose and a real audience for
your writing
• To have opportunities to practice writing

4. Make a list of ideas
• Friendship
• Politics
• Adventure
• Coffee
• Hikes
• Black

5. Let’s do a quick write
• Choose one of those topics and tell a partner
about it
• Start the quick write:
– Write the entire time
– Write quickly without letting the critic in you
censor you
– Relax, enjoy and have fun

6. When should you do a QW
• EVERYDAY
– At the beginning of the day
– At the end of the day
– Between activities
– Part of regular reading and writing

7. HABIT MAKES WRITING EASY
‘The daily practice of craft sharpens the writer’s vision and tunes the
writer’s voice’ Murray

8. What should students write about?
• Build on students’ personal and cultural life
experiences
– Oral family stories
– Music and memories
– Tiny moments
– A model text
– Sketches, photos, maps
– An aural text

9. Students can write in:
• Daily writing notebooks
• Choice journals
• Content subject journals
• Computer
• Google docs
• Blog sites

10. Re-reading quick writes
• This is an essential and often overlooked part
of teaching writing
• Rereading can improve:
– Focus and topic
– Vocabulary
– Organisation
– Purpose

11. Reread your writing
• Find a sentence that surprises you or one you
like and underline it
• Find 3 words you like. Encircle them
• Read your text aloud to a partner (read, do
not summarise it)

12. Dive back in…
• Take you best sentence and move it to the
beginning
• Write your 3 words on top of the page
• Try to use the three words again or come up
with better words
• Write again about your topic: try to go deeper
or wherever it takes you

13. Share your writing
• DO NOT JUDGE
• JUST LISTEN

14. Other ways to reread
• Collect verbs, adjectives…
• Cross out points that don’t stay on the topic
• Look for sequencing or natural order
• Add a metaphor or simile
• Join sentences or restructure them

15. Quick Writes
• It’s not about writing perfectly. It’s about
developing fluency, voice and a focus
• Do not require students to edit or find
mistakes when writing

16. Purpose and Audience
Ask students what they would like to do with
their writing
– What is your wish for this piece?
– Who do you think would want to read it?
– What would you want to read about this?
– What can I do to help you to write this into
something bigger and longer?

17. For younger writers
• Draw a picture first
• Let students dictate words
• Write word list on top of the page
• Let students use word bank to generate
thoughts
• Accept spelling &
• Punctuation attempts

18. How will you use quick writes?
• Share with a partner when and how you could
use quick writes in your classroom