This study highlights how digital writing can open new possibilities for middle school writers—especially when students are given meaningful choice. Miami University faculty member Katherine E. Batchelor and Miami alum and seventh-grade teacher Kennedy Thompson collaborated to design an online writing unit where students created “Choose Your Own Adventure” (CYOA) stories during COVID-19 remote learning. Their work speaks directly to searches about digital writing, choice, online teaching, middle school writers, and writing units of study.

The authors describe how digital platforms helped students think beyond traditional, linear writing. Using Google Slides, Padlet, and Zoom, preservice teachers partnered with seventh graders to co-create interactive stories with multiple plot paths and endings. Early in the unit, students explored mentor texts (figure 2 on page 4) to understand how CYOA narratives work—such as using second-person narration and building branching choices. As the writing developed, students used flowcharts (figure 3 on page 5) to map nonlinear plot structures, experimented with embedded audio and video, and incorporated graphic design elements to enhance meaning.

Choice played a central role. While some students initially struggled with having so much freedom—“choice paralysis,” as the authors note—digital writing ultimately encouraged them to follow their interests. Examples on page 7 show topics ranging from daily middle school decisions (figure 6) to pop culture–inspired thrillers (figure 7) to adventurous cave exploration (figure 8). These varied approaches demonstrate how digital writing invites students to take creative risks and design stories that reflect their identities and experiences.

By centering flexibility, collaboration, and multimodal composition, this writing unit gave middle schoolers authentic practice as digital authors. The authors conclude that CYOA writing can strengthen writing instruction both online and in person, offering a model for future units of study that prioritize student agency and digital literacy.

Faculty authors: Katherine E. Batchelor, Miami University
Student/Alum author:  Kennedy Thompson
Keywords: digital writing, choice, online teaching, middle school writers, writing units of study
Publication details: Middle School Journal (2022). “Digital writing as multiple paths: 7th graders compose ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ stories.” https://doi.org/10.1080/00940771.2022.2096819