Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively

Social 

studies

3-2-1  

summary 

strategy

A social studies teacher models summarizing a recent political 

debate that the class watched together online. He identifies three 

main points or ideas presented during the debate, two disagree-

ments between the candidates, and one question that he has for the 

candidates. Students then write a summary of the debate using this 

3-2-1 strategy and work in small groups to discuss their summaries. 

Social 

studies

Peer revising 

strategy

A social studies teacher selects a student to model peer revising 

with her at the front of the class. The teacher and the student review 

each other’s summaries of current events to identify two strengths 

and two areas for improvement. The teacher and student discuss 

the strengths and weaknesses, including strategies for improving 

the weaknesses. Then, students work in pairs to discuss and review 

each other’s summaries of current events.