Students need well developed writing skills to help them master new concepts and ideas and to document and demonstrate their learning. In addition, effective writing is valued and demanded by employers. However, feedback from students, lecturers and employers shows that many students do not have well-developed writing skills and are, as a result, disadvantaged as learners and as future graduates seeking work in a competitive marketplace. Thus, students need help to develop their writing skills. Current theory and research suggests that such help is most effective when it is provided by the discipline lecturer in the context of subject learning. Therefore, all lecturers, irrespective of their discipline, need to take responsibility for helping their students to develop writing skills.

In this paper, we outline the importance of effective writing for students and graduates and describe the outcome of a CUTSD project – a to help lecturers across the disciplines help their students develop their writing skills. We outline the rationale and philosophy underpinning the design of the book, present feedback from students and lecturers who trialled the activities and strategies included in the book, suggest how lecturers can use the book and reflect on empowering lecturers to help their students develop writing skills for learning and for life.