Expanding the Scope of Writing in Chemical Education

Writing has a role of increasing importance in the teaching of chemistry. Analysis of the use of this writing can be aided by classifying writing by types such as expressive, poetic, transactional, empiricist and contingent. The status of chemistry teaching within the writing across the curriculum movement indicates that writing is important in teaching chemistry and that a range of writing including not only transactional but also expressive writing should be applied. Transactional writing such as laboratory reports and formal term papers has been used in chemistry teaching for a long time and its importance is unquestioned. Part of the value of expressive writing is that it can provide communication within the classroom and involve the students in the course. In-class writing is an example of this. In-class writing is described in some detail along with suggestions for its successful use.