Written expression
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Written expression is the ability to communicate ideas in writing, including planning, organizing, writing sentences and revising.
Topic: Reading and writing instruction
In plain terms
Written expression draws on many skills: ideas and vocabulary, sentence construction, organization, spelling, handwriting or typing, and editing. A student can have rich ideas and still struggle to get them onto paper. It is one of the areas named in the definition of specific learning disability.
How it shows up in an IEP
Goals can target one part of writing, such as sentences, paragraph structure or revising, measured with rubrics or counts like correct word sequences. Separating transcription from ideas helps find the real barrier.
Example
A student dictates a story with strong details but writes only two sentences alone. Goals target typing speed and paragraph organization, scored with a 4-point rubric.
Related terms
- RubricA rubric is a scoring guide that describes several levels of quality for each part of a task, so work can be scored consistently.
- Correct word sequencesCorrect word sequences is a writing measure that counts each pair of adjacent words that is correctly spelled and grammatically acceptable in context.
- Graphic organizerA graphic organizer is a visual framework, such as a chart, map or diagram, that helps students organize ideas, information or steps.
- DysgraphiaDysgraphia is a learning difficulty with writing that can affect handwriting, spelling and putting thoughts into written words.
- Constructed responseA constructed response is a question students answer in their own words, such as a short written explanation, rather than choosing from options.
On IEP Atlas
- Written Expression IEP goals
- Sentence Construction IEP goals
- Paragraph Organization IEP goals
- Writing IEP goals
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