Grafted Writing Book

What is "Grafted Writing"?
Grafted Writing is a method that uses comprehensible input to create student output. It employs a variety of activities centered on authentic text or text in the target language to improve students' writing skills, while also promoting reading comprehension, speaking skills, and self-expression.

How does Grafted Writing work?
Teachers select a text in the target language and pair it with one of the Grafted Writing activities. The activity is completed in class with students using their acquired language skills to "graft" onto the original text. Examples of activities include changing details in a text, adding or removing details, and summarizing texts—just to name a few. The end result is that students have created an original, unique piece of writing in the target language—on their own, in a group, or together with the whole class.

What is included in Grafted Writing?
In addition to an explanation of the method, the book contains 15 basic activities, plus extensions and variations. It also includes "Teacher Talk," tips, examples, and reproducible activity pages. The activities can be used for students in elementary through high school, beginner through advanced. Presented in English, the Grafted Writing method can be adapted to any language.

©2017. English. All levels. Reproducible. 87 pages.

Book Download: PDF. Adobe® Reader® required to view PDF.

Print Book: Spiral-bound. 5 x 8 inches.

About the Author

Eric Richards is an experienced high school German teacher, presenter, and author. He is the 2020 Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (CSCTFL) Teacher of the Year, as well as the recipient of the 2019 Foreign Language Association of Missouri (FLAM) “Distinguished Foreign Language Educator” award. He transformed a small German program into a large, successful, growing, and vibrant program, where his students also enjoy opportunities to travel abroad. Eric presents on various topics in foreign language methodology and strategies. He is also the creator of “grafted writing”—a method to help facilitate language acquisition through reading and writing. He has presented at national and regional conferences in various cities around the United States.