Solving the problem of writing.

This paper explores the difficulties which some students appear to encounter with written work and recommends the teaching of a problem-solving approach. Exploration of the skills necessary for writing, e.g. language skills and memory functions, highlights the structured format of cognitive processes. Most study skill packages emphasise the need for planning and organising work. It may be that students require more detailed help and guidance in such skills. This paper promotes the teaching to students of a problem-solving approach to written work. We all solve problems every day, many we are completely unaware of. This approach seeks to harness these transferable skills and utilise them in a new area. It can be applied at a macro and at a micro level, i.e. the entire essay/project/report may be planned utilising this approach and then each section or paragraph further planned in the same manner. The use of a mnemonic further aids the student in developing and applying the problem solving approach to written work.