WRITING STRATEGIES
Sent by Mariola Maldonado from IES "Sierra de Gádor" de Berja (Almería)
A) 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
...)
B) 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 ...
C) CONNECTORS
Below is a chart of words and expressions commonly used
to connect ideas or show
relationships.
1. Contrast or opposing ideas: although, while, in spite of, but, however.
2. Comparison: like, similarly, both, just, as + adjective + as.
3. Reason, cause and effect: because, since, as, so that, in order that.
4. Time and sequence: when, while, first of all, secondly, finally.
5. Result and consequences: therefore, thus, as a result of.
6. Addition and example: moreover, in addition, for instance,
such as.
Webmaster Isabel Pérez Torres