Whether it’s a skill assessment, a midterm essay, or an end-of-semester reflection, students benefit from regular opportunities to write. These activities help them deepen their understanding, develop critical thinking skills, and become more confident communicators. While writing is a challenging process, it is a foundational skill that supports learning across the curriculum. When we are intentional in the ways we design writing assignments, we can help students recognize that writing is not only a means of communication but also a powerful tool for thinking, analysis, and knowledge-building—and that mistakes are a natural part of learning, with improvement emerging through practice and revision.

Here are some strategies to help students engage in the writing process and be more confident as writers:

Scaffold writing assignments

Breaking big writing projects into smaller steps allows students to develop ideas gradually and receive guidance along the way. Scaffolding makes large tasks more manageable, which makes students feel less overwhelmed and more supported as writers.

Incorporate writing as a regular activity

Including frequent, low-stakes writing tasks in coursework helps students become more comfortable with writing. Regular low-stakes writing can help improve understanding, reduce writing anxiety, and reinforce the idea that writing is an ongoing process.

Give students a choice

When students have some choice in their topic or in aspects of what they write about, they are more likely to be engaged in their work. Having agency over their writing also encourages students to think more critically about the assignment in ways they might not otherwise.

Design rubrics that prioritize understanding

Rubrics that prioritize key criteria—like clear thinking and solid evidence—can bring clarity to grading and help students focus on the big ideas and worry less about mistakes. This shows students what really matters in the assignment and can reduce writing anxiety and fear of error. Co-creating rubrics with students can also give them ownership over the work and an opportunity to express their concerns with the ways their writing is graded.

Offer draft feedback

Writing in isolation is challenging. Providing students with regular, structured opportunities for non-evaluative feedback to reflect on and discuss their writing process helps them understand writing as a collaborative aspect of learning, rather than something they must perfect on their own.

Facilitate peer review

Peer review encourages students to learn from one another, see different ways to approach a writing task, and normalize revision as a part of the writing process. Peer review activities also build a writing community full of support.

Promote the University Writing Center

Encouraging students to utilize tutoring services like the University Writing Center provides them with access to individualized support at any stage of the writing process. It helps them build confidence and develop long-term writing strategies.

Bringing it all together

Taken together, these strategies highlight that confidence in writing develops over time through consistent practice, clear expectations, and supportive feedback. When writing is treated as an ongoing process rather than a single high-stakes task, students are more willing to take risks, reflect on their thinking, and learn from revision. With intentional design and sustained support, writing can become a productive and meaningful part of learning rather than a source of anxiety.

Encouraging students to write: Strategies for building confidence and engagement