DEVELOPING YOUR WRITING SKILLS

BEFORE WHILE AFTER

BEFORE YOU START P P P

PLAN the content PLAN the organization PLAN the type of language you are going to use.

HOW TO PLAN
Step 1Step 2 Step 3 THE CONTENT: BRAINSTORMING THE ORGANIZATION: ORGANIZING THE PARAGRAPHS THE TYPE OF LANGUAGE: DECIDING WHICH TENSES TO USE DECIDING WHAT STYLE AND EXPRESSIONS TO USE

HOW TO PLAN
Step 1 - BRAINSTORMING THE CONTENT Think about the topic. Remember the topic vocabulary. (Discuss your ideas with a partner or in groups whenever possible). List your ideas before you start writing. Think of examples.

Step 2 - ORGANIZING THE PARAGRAPHS

Decide how many paragraphs you need. Decide on the content of each paragraph. Use linkers to connect your paragraphs (Firstly, Secondly, Personally I think, ) and to connect ideas within each paragraph (Besides, Moreover, However, ...) .

Step 3 - DECIDING WHICH TENSES TO USE

Before you start writing, decide which tense(s) you need for the text type. E.g. Which tenses would you need to write a story, to describe the plot of a film/book, to write an article (My ideal house), for a diary entry?

Step 3 -

DECIDING WHAT STYLE AND EXPRESSIONS TO USE

Before you start writing, decide what style to use: Formal: for a letter or e-mail, for a for and against composition, for an opinion composition, for a report, for some types of articles. Informal: for a letter or e-mail to a friend, for a letter or e-mail to a TV/radio chat programme. Remember the key aspects of each style: Formal: no contractions, no colloquial expressions, more formal expressions E.g. To sum up, etc. Informal: use contractions and colloquial expressions. List useful expressions and linkers for the kind of text.

WHILE YOU WRITE ...

Try to make your text clear, vivid and imaginative: Make your language more vivid (use adjectives and adverbs to make a text come alive, especially when you are telling a story or describing.) Use a wide selection of nouns, adjectives and verbs . The more varied vocabulary you use, the more interesting your writing will be.

WHEN YOU FINISH

CHECK When you are happy with the content of your text, check it for mistakes. Make a checklist of your own typical mistakes and memorize it. That way youll find it easier to spot and correct them. Check your spelling. Check your grammar and vocabulary. Typical mistakes: verb agreement, word order, use of tenses, prepositions, using a formal word where the style is informal, and viceversa. Check your punctuation.

NOW LETS TRY IT

ESSAY TOPIC: What are the advantages and disadvantages of being famous?

REMEMBER THE THREE Ps:

Step 1Step 2 Step 3 PLAN THE CONTENT: BRAINSTORMING PLAN THE ORGANIZATION: ORGANIZING THE PARAGRAPHS PLAN THE TYPE OF LANGUAGE: DECIDING WHICH TENSES TO USE DECIDING WHAT STYLE AND EXPRESSIONS TO USE

Step 1- BRAINSTORMING THE CONTENT Think about the topic. Remember the topic vocabulary. (Discuss your ideas with a partner or in groups whenever possible). List your ideas before you start writing. Think of examples.

EXAMPLE
They are rich, e.g. expensive houses and cars, travelling Fans and paparazzi: private life? Most people would like to be famous. Many magazines tell us about the lives of famous people. Time for themselves? VOCAB: Paparazzi, afford, luxury, wealth,

Step 2: ORGANIZING THE PARAGRAPHS Decide how many paragraphs you need. Decide on the content of each paragraph. Use linkers to connect your paragraphs (Firstly, Secondly, Personally I think, ) and to connect ideas within each paragraph (Besides, Moreover, However, ...) .

EXAMPLE

INTRODUCTION: Most people would like to be famous. Many magazines tell us about the lives of famous people. ADVANTAGES: They are rich: expensive houses and cars, travelling DISADVANTAGES: Fans and paparazzi:private life? Time for themselves? CONCLUSION: Life is not so easy for them.

Using connectors: Advantages and disadvantages of being famous Nowadays many magazines tell us about the lives of famous people. It seems everybody is interested in them, and that most people would like to be famous. _________, there are advantages and disadvantages.

______________________ of being famous is probably the lifestyle it gives you. Most famous people are very rich and can afford big houses with swimming pools, and expensive cars. __________________, they spend a lot of time travelling, visiting different countries, and staying in luxurious hotels.

___________ there are disadvantages. Every time famous people go out they are surrounded by fans and paparazzi. ____________ , it is very difficult for them to have a normal private life. _____________, they often cant spend much time at home as they have to travel so much, ____________ if they are making a film or doing a concert tour.

_____________________, I think it is probably easier to be happy if you are not famous, in spite of all the money famous people have.

(Adapted from English File Pre-intermediate OUP)