What = 2; How = 2
Graham, S., Harris, K.R., & Sawyer, R. (1987). Composition instruction with learning
disabled students: Self-instructional strategy training. Focus on Exceptional
Children, 20 (4), 1-11.
Carnine, D. (1995). Curricular interventions for teaching higher order thinking to all
students: Introduction to the special series. Journal of Learning
Disabilities, 24, 261-269.
This is a writing strategy designed to help students ask themselves a series of
“story-grammar” questions to generate narrative text: “Who is the story about?”;
“What are they trying to do?”; “What happens when they try to do it?”; and “What
happens in the end?” The mnemonic, W-W-W, was suggested to help students
remember these essential questions, and to make sure they include all the
necessary elements when writing stories. The strategy consists of five steps:
Step 1
• Look at the picture – stimulus item.
Step 2
• Let your mind be free.
Step 3
• Write down the story part reminder: W-W-W What=2, How=2
 Who is the main character? Who else is in the story?
 When does the story take place?
 Where does the story take place?
 What does the main character do?
 What happens when h/she tries to do it?
 How does the story end?
 How does the main character feel?
Step 4
• Write down story part ideas for each part.
Step 5
• Write your story-use good parts and make sense.