writing help

writing help

Writing Help: A Guide to Improve Your Writing Skills

1. Introduction

So have a go and see how using these methods the student’s writing can improve. Step by step, you will make it easier for a student to get from the question to the answer. A student will be able to understand the elements of a writing process and what differentiates one writing style from another. This guide will no doubt increase the quality and the creativity in students’ writing. Why not start now?

Using tried and tested methods of teaching the writing process, this guide allows the student to follow step by step, the method of getting from the question to the answer. It also allows for teacher modeling and student interactive participation. The guide has been broken down into easy to manage sections designed to be workshopped over a term at school, or taken in at the student’s own pace. In this way, the learning experience is relevant and worthwhile, as students apply the skills learned herein to their own writing.

This guide does just that. In a few easy steps, it provides a clear and concise set of tips that will improve your writing. With updated examples and easy to understand language, it is suitable for students from upper primary to adult learners. It deals with the mechanics of writing, whether it be spelling, capitalization, and punctuation, to more complex issues such as paragraph structure and the writing process itself.

At a time when students can access information from the Internet at the click of a mouse, more than ever, it is essential to engage students in the writing process. So, how can we provide the essential learning experience that enables students to write with clarity and purpose? How can we make the learning process a great deal of fun? How can we scaffold the learning process so that it is relevant and takes student writing from one level to the next?

It doesn’t matter if you’re the next Hemingway or just a beginner. Good writing is a skill. Many try, but few truly succeed at creating writing that is both engaging and easy to understand. Writing is more than just putting words on paper. It is about expressing ideas that are relevant and well presented.

2. Understanding the Writing Process

Thinking is a hard process, which is why I developed this visual process. It can be done on the computer and printed, but I have found that students enjoy doing this on large paper/craft rolls using only markers and colored pencils. This can be done alone, in pairs, or in small groups depending on the resources and assistants available for the class.

Pre-writing: This is the planning phase of the writing process, when students brainstorm, research, gather, and outline ideas, often using diagrams for mapping out their thoughts.

The writing process involves generating and organizing information. The process of writing is divided into five steps. If you’re teaching it – stop right there. The interactive, fun, and effective way to learn this process is by using this power writing process. This process is based on writing stages from Corbett Harrison and Dena Harrison’s books, over more than 30 years of teaching experience, and over 2 years of research and development. All of the instructions are broken into small steps and each step is explained in simple language that is easy to understand. Most importantly, the power process incorporates fun and movement so that students will enjoy learning each step of the writing.

3. Enhancing Grammar and Vocabulary

Among the many ways to improve your grammar and vocabulary, the single most effective way is reading. It may seem to be common sense, however, the more you read the more you will understand grammatical conventions and the more words you will add to your vocabulary. Not only will you learn proper sentence structure and new words, but you can learn the context in which these words are used. All of these linked elements are equally important when striving to improve your writing. Oftentimes it is hard to remember all the grammar and vocabulary rules, however, if you have the example from the text you read, these rules and words can be stuck in your mind as you attempt to emulate the text in your own writing. Reading also allows your brain to subconsciously learn grammar and absorb vocabulary. This will be manifested as you find yourself using words in the correct context and following grammar rules which you may not have been aware of. This is a case of learning taking place without being fully aware which is the best kind of learning!

4. Structuring Effective Sentences and Paragraphs

Clustering, chunking, and abstracting can help in structuring sentences and paragraphs. Clustering outlines thoughts and ideas and arranges them in a logical order. It is much like creating a web to connect the ideas. It is a useful way to generate raw material but also allows a person to get an overall view of how the ideas mesh together. Chunking involves taking a paragraph and breaking it down into its key points. Then those key points are written separately, and a paragraph is written for each point. This ensures that the key ideas are clearly defined and stops the issue of straying off-topic. Chunking is useful for readers, as the paragraph is clearly defined and not very long. Abstracting involves taking a brief yet precise overview of the content that was written. This ensures that the paragraph is both on point and on topic.

5. Mastering the Art of Proofreading and Editing

Proofreading is vital to the final version of any written work. It is surprising that so few writers avail themselves of this small but essential service. Any writer, however experienced, can gain from having someone else carefully check their work. In the professional world, proofreading is done many times by many people. In the academic world, even a dissertation can lose marks for the smallest mistake. After 10,000 words, concentration can dwindle on; it is not unknown for tired students to even miss out whole lines of an essay or to repeat themselves. Proofreading for the student is also more than just checking for typos. It is a chance to reassess the work in its entirety and to consider if the content fulfills the objective. A clear, well-thought argument portrayed by well-written content can be discredited by bad spelling and grammar. On its own, spell check is not an adequate substitute for proofreading and sometimes suggests changes for the worse.