The Teaching of Writing Across the Curriculum in School Years 4-6 in Sweden

Written Communication Jul 2023 Open Access

The Teaching of Writing Across the Curriculum in School Years 4-6 in Sweden

Erika Sturk Umeå University

Abstract

This study explored disciplinary writing in grades 4-6 and the potential of writing to learn and learning to write across the curriculum to prepare the pupils for their future writing. Using Ivanič’s discourses of writing as an analytical framework, observation protocols from 104 observers in 374 lessons in 76 Swedish schools were analyzed exploring school writing in the different curriculum subjects. Analysis of the data reveals that in most lessons the teachers required their pupils to write with a single focus on reinforcing learning, enacting three of Ivanič’s seven discourses of writing: thinking and learning discourse, skills discourse, and social practices discourse. Much less frequently overall but commonly in language lessons, teachers required their pupils to write with a dual focus, developing writing proficiency while reinforcing learning. In these cases, all of Ivanič’s discourses were enacted. The results suggest potential for a dual focus on writing to learn and learning to write to further develop the pupils’ writing across the curriculum.

Journal: Written Communication
Published: 2023-07-01
DOI: 10.1177/07410883231169505
Open Access: OA PDF Hybrid
Topics: writing across the curriculum

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

Palm et al. (2026)

Writing Instruction for Adult L2-Learners: A Case Study From Three Swedish Classrooms

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Bodger (2025)

Gateways to a Different World of Meaning: Expanding Theme Use in Primary-Aged C…

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Sturk et al. (2019)

Discourses in Teachers’ Talk about Writing

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Blikstad-Balas et al. (2018)

Opportunities to Write: An Exploration of Student Writing During Language Arts …

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McCarthey et al. (2014)

Elementary Teachers Negotiating Discourses in Writing Instruction

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