Philosophy of Formula Writing

Janet E. Cosner has developed a writing program to assist educators to enhance the writing capabilities of their students - at all grade levels and in all subjects. This may seem too good to be true, but it’s actually based on several proven theories that have withstood the test of time. The success of Formula Writing, as taught by Janet Cosner, is well documented on this website. Formula Writing not only sharpens the skills of writers of all ages but it leads to higher test scores, inspires greater self-confidence in students, and enriches the classroom environment by this success. Formula Writing is the path to greater achievement in the classroom. It’s a program that helps both educators and students – the proof is all around – why not join in the success.

Writing is expression and communication and both must be embraced for writing to be truly mastered. Good ideas expressed richly, but without structure, will most likely go unheard. Formula Writing is a formula with a wheel and spokes at its core as well as a writing chart with guidelines that will help both teachers and students be heard. It will bring clarity and purpose to students' words and ideas. Educators are given a concrete plan from which to teach, while students are given an organizing method from which to work. Students will find confidence, and even joy, from their new found ability to express themselves with clarity and reason – this will lead to a level of communication with their audience that they’ve never achieved. Formula Writing is a theory that is extremely practical in the classroom. It is a theory that works…why not bring it into your classroom?

Formula Writing is the explicit teaching of structure as a key component of the writing process.Structure and theory are fundamental to the teaching of math or the sciences, but somehow in writing, structure can get lost. Formula Writing brings structure back into the foreground. Jerome Bruner,educational psychologist and scholar, suggested that it’s possible to begin teaching advanced courses to young students by teaching information in some intellectually honest, albeit basic, form. Further education adds complexity, depth and content to previously learned structures. This is what Bruner means by the "Spiral Curriculum" where knowledge is built upon previously learned structures. Formula Writing is this lifelong structure that students will carry with them, no matter when it is learned.

Click Here to View Janet’s Article: “Why Formula Writing Works!