The final copy is a copy of the writing once all the changes have been made through revision and proofreading. Please remember that not all writing has to be taken to the final copy .  Sometimes students just need the practice in revision and proofreading and will put aside the writing at that step of the process.  For those writing assignments that will make it to the final copies, I am including some tips that should make writing them less of a pain for you and your students.

1. Have available to students fun writing supplies like colored pens and pencils and  bright-colored paper.  One of the best final copies I ever got was a research paper that I had  students write on  brown paper bags.  They punched holes around  the edges and tied yarn to make a small rug. We published them on a bulletin board entitled “Research Rugs.”  Be creative and encourage creativity in your students.

2. Students should use the format that is appropriate to the writing purpose and audience.  If they are learning to write thank you notes, have them use actual thank you cards and write them by hand. If they are learning to write memos, use a memo pad that you can purchase for a dollar at many stores. If they are practicing for the state writing test, they need to follow the specific instructions provided.

3. This is the time to pretty-up the writing. Not all final copies have to be typed, but students do need access to word processors.  If copies are not typed, students need to be reminded to use their best penmanship.

4. Most importantly, students need to realize that a final copy is NOT a recopying of their rough draft before changes.

Come back next for ideas for publishing your students’ writing.