In order to help students to make connections in science and literacy through writing, the authors present them with an open-ended question (OEQ), which is a divergent assessment in the form of a writing prompt (a situation), and directions for writing at the beginning of each major unit. Students complete this assessment by the end of the unit. Through the OEQ reports, students build competence in literacy skills in two curricular areas, science and language arts (Harris-Freedman 1994).