The Savvy Citizen & Eloquent Writer Connection

If you are a high school teacher looking for a way to mesh writing literacy and scientific literacy (which includes shaping environmentally literate citizens), this article does the job! Th... See More

If you are a high school teacher looking for a way to mesh writing literacy and scientific literacy (which includes shaping environmentally literate citizens), this article does the job! The authors discuss the R.A.F.T. technique. They say, “This is a writing strategy that helps students understand their ROLE as a write, the AUDIENCE they will address, various FORMATS for writing, and the expected TOPIC for each of the categories. The article uses the concept of cloning to set up a sample scenario. A brainstorming chart is provided on this topic addressing examples of elements students might come up with under each of the 4 writing strategy headings. To show a scientific literacy connection, the authors provide further examples using their own experiences teaching 11th grade vocational track environmental science students. By working with NAAEE (North American Association of Environmental Education), students developed the RAFT on the topic of wetland and farmland development for