What are Low Stakes Writing Assignments?

Low Stakes Writing Assignments (LSWA) are short writing assignments that are meant to assist students in clarifying their thinking, demonstrating understanding, experimenting  with and applying concepts, and generating ideas & questions, in an environment freed from negative consequences, such as a bad grade. 

Freeing students from adverse outcomes can allow them to shift from a passive mode of learning to a more active one. 

What are the Benefits of Low Stakes Writing Assignments? 

Low Stakes Writing Assignments Foster Critical Thinking

• Through writing about a topic, students can often be encouraged to be more critical and analytical about it.
• LSWA gives students a chance to take what they have experienced in class and apply it to real-world scenarios / their own experience, explore implications, identify and engage with problems or “gaps."

Low Stakes Writing Assignments Enable Reflection and Processing

• Writing gives students a chance to reflect on course content in a meaningful way—even very briefly—and gives them space to respond to how the material impacts them
• Writing also gives students a chance to reflect on their own practices, experiences, and evolution as a learner.
  
  

Low Stakes Writing Assignments Assist in Content Retention

• Writing is often an effective way to help students retain knowledge and concepts to which they have been exposed via class content.
• Summarizing / synthesizing notes, paraphrasing research sources, translating aspects of a course lecture, etc. all foster stronger retention of course materials