I have never been a fan of student writing models.  To me, they were a banner of mediocrity that prompts a student writer to think, "Oh, that's all we have to do?"  Why set a bar for a student? Would not John Steinbeck trump any student's essay in beginning English composition?

Such lofty thoughts quickly dissipated as I recently hunkered down in my own classes, in the role of a student. The instructor has posted a model assignment in each lesson. With a sigh of relief and confidence to move forward, I dig into the material, less bogged down in the details and nagging questions that would surely have otherwise surfaced. I realize that my students deserve the same sanity check, and that, although Steinbeck may also serve as a role model, there is something comforting about seeing a paper that conforms to the week's assignment.

There are clear advantages to model essays and teachers use them in a number of ways.  Some post at the beginning of the lesson, as a way to see the big picture, while others find success offering them to students who seem to be struggling. A model essay as part of the course is also a great help to a new instructor.

To build your arsenal of model essays, be sure to choose them carefully. The runaway favorite may not be the one that strictly meets the syllabus and rubric guidelines. Instead, choose a strong essay that clearly corresponds to the instructions. Of course, that potential Pulitzer can probably be modified to fit the assignment criteria. Edit the student work so that the format and all details correspond to the requirements.  Finally, follow the guidelines for student permission, and removing the names for future use.