Writing Still Matters: Improving Student Writing in an Age of AI and Beyond

In an age of generative AI, writing matters more than ever.

This book examines how educators can support meaningful writing instruction amid rapid technological change by drawing on more than 50 years of National Writing Project (NWP) research and practice. Rather than viewing artificial intelligence as a threat, the authors position writing as a deeply human act of thinking, meaning-making, and civic participation―one that must be taught intentionally at every grade level and across disciplines.

The text is organized around core principles of effective instruction and reframes an essential question for modern classrooms: How do we cultivate confident writers when AI tools can draft and summarize at the click of a button? Through vivid classroom portraits and analyses of current literacy research, the authors demonstrate how agency is built when students are positioned as critical decision-makers and designers of their own work, rather than passive technology users.

Writing Still Matters translates longstanding NWP principles―including teacher leadership and inquiry―for a field being reshaped by AI. It serves as a practical resource for K–12 teachers, literacy coaches, and school leaders committed to preserving the human dimension of writing.

Key Insights for Educators:

• Timely Response to AI Anxiety: Provides an authoritative, calm response to urgent literacy questions without relying on fearmongering.
• Grounded in NWP Research: Leverages 5 decades of classroom-based evidence from the National Writing Project, one of the most trusted organizations in writing education.
• Focus on Writer Agency: Moves beyond "how-to" tool adoption to prioritize student identity, curiosity, and ethical reasoning.
• Practical Instructional Frameworks: Includes user-friendly classroom examples, design principles, and inquiry models that teachers can implement immediately.
• Broad Grade and Disciplinary Reach: Offers strategies applicable for K–12 teachers across English-language arts, social studies, and media studies.

Kristen Hawley Turner is a professor at Drew University and founder of the Drew Writing Project. Tanya Baker is the executive director of the National Writing Project. Elyse Eidman-Aadahl is the former executive director of the NWP and a renowned scholar in digital writing. Tonya B. Perry serves as provost at Miles College and is a past-president of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).