Writing in Mathematics: Assessing Understanding

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Writing in math is an excellent way to determine if students’ understand or do not understand the math they are learning about.

Allowing students to explain how they solved a math problem, how they developed a formula to solve a problem, or how they applied a math concept requires critical thinking.

Students must use the minds as they formulate a logical explanation of how they solved a math problem. Because there is always the lingering idea regarding did a student solve a math problem by rote memorization of facts or does the student truly understand the math concept.

When students write how they solved the problem using sentences or a short story, their true understanding and misconceptions become readily apparent. This is why writing in math is a useful strategy for assessing understanding of math concepts.

Checklist

Using this checklist as overall guidance will help students grasp the fundamentals of how writing in math is different than other subjects.

• Clearly restate the problem.

• State the answer in a complete sentence which stands on its own.

• Clearly state the assumptions which underlie the formulas.

• Provide a paragraph which explains how the problem will be solved.

• Clearly label diagrams, tables, graphs, or other visual representations.

Writing Prompts

Often the best way to assess students’ prior knowledge and experiences with math is to provide a situation in which they must explain a math concept or math situation. The following are a few examples of writing prompts that can be used to stimulate student thinking:

• Tips I would give a friend to solve this problem are____________, ____________, and ____________.

• Where else could you use this type of problem solving?

• What other strategies could you use to solve this problem?

• The most important part of solving a problem is____________.

• You know several ways to____________(solve an equation, add fractions, etc.) Which method is your favorite? Why?

• Write instructions for a (insert grade level here) grader to follow when (adding fractions, finding percentages, calculating averages, etc.)

• Give two examples of situations in which you have used, seen or can find the concept of ____________. OUTSIDE of this classroom.

• Write a definition in your own words of a ____________.

• Compare and contrast the terms ____________.