There are four myths that hinder the teaching of writing. First, that it is so cognitively complex that there can be no established pedagogy that captures that complexity in a rational and teachable progression. Second, that the research on teaching writing is so thin as to be almost irrelevant. Third, that reading and writing are inverses and so long as we teach reading we are per se teaching writing. Fourth, that writing is a creative form and is therefore a divine gift rather than a teachable social necessity. Through analysis of the substantial and growing research into writing, this book aims to dispel all four myths and offer a clear, research-led and unambiguous companion to the DfE Writing Framework on how writing is best taught in primary schools.

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This short and pithy guide helps readers to understand the differences between English language tests and university-level work. It covers the study and language skills directly connected to using (English) language successfully in an academic context. It also covers critical thinking, disciplinary knowledge, styles and genres, useful skills for reading, making notes, writing assessments (particularly use of language) understanding lectures and seminars, and speaking in seminars.

This Pocket gives readers the tools and information needed to not only cope with university study, but to excel and produce top-level work. It encourages the reader to see themselves not just as a ‘student’ but as a researcher, an original and creative thinker, and as someone who can share their ideas and insights with others in order to add to the knowledge of their field.

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