Exploring the A.C.E. Writing Strategy: What It Is and How to Use It

Introduction

Writing is a fundamental part of any educational experience. As educators, it’s our job to ensure that our students have the tools they need to become competent writers. One writing strategy that has been gaining traction in recent years is the A.C.E. writing strategy. In this article, we will explore what the A.C.E. writing strategy is and how to use it in the classroom.

Explaining the A.C.E. Writing Strategy: What It Is and How to Use It

The A.C.E. writing strategy stands for “Answer, Cite, Explain.” It is designed to help students become more confident and competent writers by breaking down the process of writing into three manageable steps. The first step is to answer a prompt or question. The second step is to cite evidence from a text or other source to support their answer. The third step is to explain why the cited evidence supports their answer. By following these three steps, students are able to compose thoughtful, well-supported essays and other pieces of writing.

To use the A.C.E. writing strategy, start by providing students with a prompt or question. Next, ask them to answer the prompt or question. Then, provide students with evidence from a text or other source to support their answer. Finally, ask them to explain why the evidence supports their answer. This process can be repeated as many times as necessary until students have fully developed an essay or piece of writing.

Teaching Students to Write with the A.C.E. Method

When teaching students how to use the A.C.E. writing strategy, it’s important to provide clear instructions and examples. Start by explaining the three steps of the A.C.E. writing strategy (answer, cite, explain) and providing a few examples to illustrate each step. Make sure to emphasize the importance of citing evidence from a text or other source to support their answers. Also, encourage students to think critically about why the evidence supports their answer.

Another important factor in teaching students the A.C.E. writing strategy is to make it engaging. Incorporate reading and writing activities into the lesson, such as having students work in groups to read and analyze a text and then write an essay using the A.C.E. writing strategy. Additionally, provide positive feedback to students as they are working, and offer guidance and assistance when needed.

Incorporating A.C.E. into Your Writing Classroom

Once students understand the basics of the A.C.E. writing strategy, you can begin incorporating it into your classroom curriculum. One way to do this is to assign writing assignments that require students to use the A.C.E. writing strategy. For example, you could assign a compare and contrast essay where students must answer a prompt, cite evidence from a text or source to support their answer, and explain why the evidence supports their answer.

You can also incorporate the A.C.E. writing strategy into larger writing projects. For example, you could assign a research paper where students must answer a prompt, cite evidence from multiple sources to support their answer, and explain why the evidence supports their answer. You could also assign a persuasive essay or speech project where students must identify an issue, explain their opinion on the issue, cite evidence to support their opinion, and explain why the evidence supports their opinion.

Examples of Successful A.C.E. Writing Projects

There are many successful examples of A.C.E. writing projects from other educators. For example, one teacher had her students create a persuasive essay based on the book To Kill a Mockingbird. Students were asked to answer a prompt, cite evidence from the book to support their answer, and explain why the evidence supported their answer. Another example is a research paper assignment where students researched a scientific phenomenon and used the A.C.E. writing strategy to explain their findings.

You can also create your own A.C.E. writing projects. For example, you could assign a creative writing project where students use the A.C.E. writing strategy to develop characters and plot points in a story. You could also assign a research paper project where students research a particular current event and use the A.C.E. writing strategy to explain the event and its implications.

Benefits of Using the A.C.E. Writing Strategy

The A.C.E. writing strategy has numerous benefits for students. First, it helps students improve their writing skills by teaching them how to properly structure their essays and other pieces of writing. Second, it encourages students to think critically about the evidence they are citing and why it supports their answer. Finally, it increases student engagement by providing them with meaningful writing activities that they can complete.

Conclusion

The A.C.E. writing strategy is an effective way to help students improve their writing skills and engage in meaningful writing activities. By breaking down the process of writing into three manageable steps (answer, cite, explain), students are able to compose thoughtful, well-supported essays and other pieces of writing. With the right guidance and support, teachers can incorporate the A.C.E. writing strategy into their classrooms and help their students become more confident and competent writers.