Use a combination of low-stakes and high-stakes writing assignments. Low-stakes writing assignments are generally less structured and allow students to explore ideas and use more creativity in writing assignments. For example, allowing a student to free write while watching a clip from a film would be low-stakes writing. High-stakes writing refers to assignments with clear guidelines and specifics that need to be met for an acceptable grade. Allow students to free write and write low-stakes response papers to prepare them for higher-stakes papers.
Break down units and assignments by genre. For example, focus on a unit on film writing, another on newspaper writing or another on Internet writing. By breaking down the units by types of media, you can compare and contrast the differences and allow students to understand each type of media both independently and in comparison to others.
Break down units by topic across the genres of media. For example, units on gender and media, race and media and class and media.
Show or play media in class and allow students to model that media or write a critical response to it, depending on the assignment. For example, show a live video op-ed from a newscast, a clip from a podcast or a clip from a sit-com and ask students to model a certain aspect of the clip or audio. Giving students a clear example can help them to formulate their own ideas.