Writing well is not just an option for young people-it is a necessity. Along with reading comprehension, writing skill is a predictor of academic success and a basic requirement for participation in civic life and in the global economy. Yet every year in the United States large numbers of adolescents graduate from high school unable to write at the basic levels required by colleges or employers.... Because the definition of literacy includes both reading and writing skills, poor writing proficiency should be recognized as an intrinsic part of this national literacy crisis. (Graham & Perin, 2007b, p. 3) As Graham and Perin (2007b) assert, the ability to compose represents a fundamental and essential competency for children and adults alike. Writing is one of the most powerful tools we have for learning and for demonstrating what we know. Therefore, difficulties with writing create significant barriers in education, employment, and other life pursuits (Graham, 2006b).Despite the importance of writing, assessment data indicate that we are not yet highly effective at helping students gain the critical knowledge and skills required for competent narrative, expository, and persuasive prose. For example, according to the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 33% of eighth graders and 24% of 12th-graders were classified as proficient writers (Salahu-Din, Persky, & Miller, 2008). The NAEP data further documented that students with disabilities are at particularly high risk for writing difficulties, as the percentage of eighth-and 12th-grade students with disabilities classified as "proficient" writers was 6% and 5%, respectively (see , for a review of research related to writing difficulties among students with disabilities).In this article, we offer a synthesis of contemporary qualitative and quantitative research related to one of the most critical elements vis-à-vis improving struggling writers' performance: effective writing instruction. To facilitate understanding and implementation of the findings from what is, ináeed, a substantial body of literature, we have organized our discussion into four overarching recommendations:1. Establish the context for effective writing instruction. 2. Use research-based instructional methods and practices. 3. Teach writing strategies. 4. Teach word-, sentence-, and paragraph-level skills.