Assessments of Writing Literature Review

According to Graham et al. 2007, Guided writing is a component of balanced writing curriculum, provides an additional supported step towards independent writing. From those statements, it can be concluded that guided writing prepares students to write independently. Guided writing is an important technique for helping students to become better writers. Barnes 2006:81 states that guided writing technique is a very important classroom tool for helping them to become better writers. He states that help is given in thinking through ideas, ordering, considering vocabulary and grammar, cooperatively preparing notes and draft copies as an alternative to simply giving them an essay title and leaving them to get on with it. The teacher guide them to improve their writing skills. Barnes 2006:123 suggests that this technique gives them an opportunity to become better writers by a actively encouraging them to follow a series of preparatory steps and exposing them intensively to writing b making them more aware of that preparation process through guidance which can be done more independently and transparently in the future, c expositing them to a variety of interaction types. In line with statement above, Doff 1997: 153 states “as soon as students have mastered basic skills of sentence writing, students need to progress beyond very controlled writing exercises to freer paragraph writing. However, they will make this transition more easily and learn more if we can guide their writing.” Meanwhile, there is another definition from Reid 1993: 25-27, who states that: “Guided writing is free writing limited to structuring sentences, often in direct answers to questions, the result of which looked like a short piece of discourse, usually a paragraph. Moreover, the exercises were language-based; they usually concentrated on vocabulary building, reading comprehension, grammar, and even oral skills that culminated in a piece of writing…. Today some ESL writing classes, particularly at the lower levels of language proficiency, successfully use guided writing techniques to build vocabulary, sentence structure knowledge, and self-confidence …. The application of the principles of guided writing may enhance students’ grammatical awareness of a second language, particularly at the lower levels of language proficiency.” Based on the definitions above, it can be concluded that guided writing is a technique that prepares students to become better writers. It also provides support that is going to assist them to improve their writing. It is a writing process guided by the teacher, limited to structuring sentences, and concentrated on vocabulary building. It also assist them to increase their self-confidence.

2. Processes of Guided Writing

According to Reid 1993: 25 typical guided writing exercises in widely used textbooks include the following: a. Model Paragraphs The teacher gives model paragraphs to students in the beginning of the teaching and learning process. Model paragraphs are used as the media. They study particular features of model paragraphs given by herhim. They observe the text by themselves which is guided by herhim. b. Comprehension questions A series of questions based on model paragraphs will be asked by the teacher. The questions are related to the basic information about the content of the paragraphs. Shehe also gives opportunities to them to ask a series of questions. c. Language based exercises In language based exercises, the teacher gives a series of exercises which focus on vocabulary building and sentence structure knowledge. Students do exercises in order to improve their ability in grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. d. Oral compositions Oral compositions here mean discussions. The teacher and the students discuss what they are going to write. Shehe guides them to build up an outline or a list of key expressions on the board as a basis for students’ writing. e. Written compositions Students start to create their own writing. They use the knowledge they got within the teaching and learning process. They also may follow model paragraphs given by changing the information based on their topics.

3. Advantages of Guided Writing

According to Crown 2007:6, there are some advantages of guided writing. First, it enables the teacher to tailor the teaching to the need of the group. Second, it facilitates the teaching and learning of individual teacher. Third, it provides the teacher with the opportunity to extend and challenge more able groups of students. Fourth, it encourages the students to be active participants in discussing about writing. Fifth, it builds confidence. The groups are a grappling with the same issues. Last, it allows the teacher to give immediate feedback on success on the opportunity to discuss further areas for improvement.