BASIC WRITING SKILLS
When we write a composition, it is not enough to have good ideas or persuasive arguments.
It is important to express them correctly.
Word order: Subject + Verb + Object + Complements (manner place time)
I found the book easily at the library yesterday
Notes:
1. Time expressions can come at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
2. Don´t separate the verb from its object.
3. Frequency adverbs (often, always, never) often come before the main verb.
4. If a sentence has a direct object and an indirect object, we often place the indirect
object first: "She wrote him a letter" ( "She wrote a letter to him", is possible).
5. Adjectives come before the noun and they have no plural form.
Subject-verb agreement: The subject and the verb must agree in number. For example, when the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular:
"She sings well"
Some nouns are always followed by a singular verb (everything, news, furniture, information ...)
Some nouns are followed by a plural verb (people, children, police, trousers ...)
WRITING A COMPOSITION
A good composition has three elements: an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
It should also flow from sentence to sentence and connect the ideas in a clear and logical
way. There are several ways to achieve this:
· Repeat key nouns throughout the composition.
· Use pronouns to refer back to key nouns
· Arrange the sentences in a logical order and use linking words to indicate the order (first,
second, then, later, next, since, then, finally)
A good composition should have a strong opening which attracts the readers´ attention and makes them to read more. A few good ways of opening your composition include:
· A question
· A surprising statistic or fact
· A personal address to the reader
· A provocative statement (not too provocative!)
Certain words or expressions are often used to indicate the conclusion of a piece of writing:
In conclusion, lastly, finally, to sum up, in short .
Reference: http://www.isabelperez.com/select/writingstrategies.htm by Mariola Maldonado from IES "Sierra de Gádor" de Berja (Almería)
A good composition has three elements: an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
It should also flow from sentence to sentence and connect the ideas in a clear and logical
way. There are several ways to achieve this:
· Repeat key nouns throughout the composition.
· Use pronouns to refer back to key nouns
· Arrange the sentences in a logical order and use linking words to indicate the order (first,
second, then, later, next, since, then, finally)
A good composition should have a strong opening which attracts the readers´ attention and makes them to read more. A few good ways of opening your composition include:
· A question
· A surprising statistic or fact
· A personal address to the reader
· A provocative statement (not too provocative!)
Certain words or expressions are often used to indicate the conclusion of a piece of writing:
In conclusion, lastly, finally, to sum up, in short .
Reference: http://www.isabelperez.com/select/writingstrategies.htm by Mariola Maldonado from IES "Sierra de Gádor" de Berja (Almería)
WRITING A PARAGRAPH
A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with one topic. It is composed by topic sentence, supporting sentences, and closing sentence.
TOPIC SENTENCE
The topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is going to be about. It introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
The topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is going to be about. It introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
How do I write one?
Summarize the main idea of your paragraph. Indicate to the reader what your paragraph will be about.
Summarize the main idea of your paragraph. Indicate to the reader what your paragraph will be about.
SUPPORTING SENTENCES
They come after the topic sentence, making up the body of a paragraph. They give details to develop and support the main idea of the paragraph.
They come after the topic sentence, making up the body of a paragraph. They give details to develop and support the main idea of the paragraph.
How do I write them?
You should give supporting facts, details, and examples.
You should give supporting facts, details, and examples.
CLOSING SENTENCE
The closing sentence comes after all the details have been included in the body of the paragraph. It restates the main idea of your paragraph.
How do I write one?
Restate the main idea of the paragraph using different words.
Restate the main idea of the paragraph using different words.
USING PUNCTUATION MARKS
Period [.]
1. Use a period to show the end of a sentence.
Hockey is a popular sport in Canada.
The federal government is based in Ottawa.
2. Use a period after certain abbreviations.
B.C. is the province located on the West Coast.
Dr. Bethune was a Canadian who worked in China.
It is 4:00 p.m. in Halifax right now.
Apostrophe [']
1. Use an apostrophe to show ownership of something.
This is David's computer.
These are the player's things. (things that belong to the player)
Note: For nouns in plural form, put the apostrophe at the end of the noun.
These are the players' things. (things that belong to the players)
2. Use an apostrophe to show letters that have been left out of a word.
I don't know how to fix it.
Dash [-]
1. Use a dash before a phrase that summarizes the idea of a sentence.
Mild, wet, and cloudy - these are the characteristics of weather in Vancouver.
2. Use a dash before and after a phrase or list that adds extra information in the middle of a sentence.
The children - Pierre, Laura, and Ashley - went to the store.
Most Canadians - but not all - voted in the last election.
3. Use a dash to show that someone has been interrupted when speaking.
The woman said, "I want to ask - " when the earthquake began to shake the room.
Comma [,]
1. Use a comma to show a pause in a sentence.
Therefore, we should write a letter to the prime minister.
2. Use a comma with quotation marks to show what someone has said directly.
"I can come today," she said, "but not tomorrow."
3. Use commas for listing three or more different things.
Ontario, Quebec, and B.C. are the three biggest provinces.
4. Use commas around relative clauses that add extra information to a sentence.
Emily Carr, who was born in 1871, was a great painter.
Colon [:]
1. Use a colon to introduce a list of things.
There are three positions in hockey: goalie, defence, and forward.
2. Use a colon to introduce a long quotation.
The prime minister said: "We will fight. We will not give up. We will win the next election."
Semicolon [;]
1. Use a semicolon to join related sentences together.
The festival is very popular; people from all over the world visit each year.
2. Use a semicolon in lists that already have commas.
The three biggest cities in Canada are Toronto, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; and Vancouver, B.C.
Hyphen [-]
1. Use a hyphen to join two words that form one idea together.
sweet-smelling
fire-resistant
2. Use a hyphen to join prefixes to words.
anti-Canadian
non-contact
3. Use a hyphen when writing compound numbers.
one-quarter / twenty-three
Reference: http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/sentence/puctuate.htm
EXERCISE
EXERCISE
Authenticity
The
final and the least important reason to take charge of your English learning is
authenticity I believe it is important
to learn from real American and British content instead of resources prepared especially
for English learners If you hear something in a podcast or read it on a blog you
know it is really used in the English speaking world By contrast
textbooks used in English classes often try to teach proper English stripped of
any informal expressions such as crap sucks or stuff
Their authors probably disapprove of such phrases and believe that learners
dont need them But most learners would choose relaxed natural language the
language of regular educated Americans and Britons over the artificial language
of English textbooks A related problem is that English teaching is dominated by
British English while the real world is dominated by American English Although
in recent years British textbooks and teachers have started teaching American
vocabulary they still treat American English as a second class citizen If you want to get an accurate picture of the
language used in the English speaking world you will need to go beyond English
classes and start getting real-life input on your own
Text taken from: http://www.antimoon.com/how/input-own.htm
And remember the importance of using punctuation marks properly:
"woman, without her man, is nothing" (emphasizing the importance of men)
"woman: without her, man is nothing" (emphasizing the importance of women)
And remember the importance of using punctuation marks properly:
"woman, without her man, is nothing" (emphasizing the importance of men)
"woman: without her, man is nothing" (emphasizing the importance of women)
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