Writing Strategies

For all writing assignments:

• Read the assignment or prompt over at least twice. 
• Next to the prompt or on separate paper, list the points or main ideas you must include.
• Ask yourself-What is the format of the assignment?   What is expected of me?

       (short answer, open-ended response, or essay)

• On the assignment sheet or on separate paper, brainstorm and list thoughts you want to convey to the reader and ideas you will include in your response.
• Write or type a rough draft of your response.  As you write, restate the question or questions from the prompt to help you effectively express your ideas and to fully address what is being asked. 
• Go back to the prompt and the corresponding list of points that you made and check to make sure that your response addresses all of the points from the prompt.  If your response is missing something, add the necessary information.
• Read over the rough draft orally.  Suggestion:  Use colored ink to mark any errors in punctuation, grammar, or spelling and use a highlighter to highlight any sentences that do not sound correct or do not make sense.
• To the best of your ability, fix the errors you have found as you write a final draft.

 

Writing Tips:

Keep sentence structure simple.  Each separate thought should have a period after it. 

 

If you want to combine thoughts, do so with a semicolon or a comma with a conjunction. 

Samples:                                                                                                                                                       

The author carefully chooses his words; for example, he describes the main character as “lonely” and “lost” throughout the novel.                                                                                                                                                     

The character looks to her mother as a role model, and she follows closely in her footsteps.

 

Do your best with spelling.  If you are able to look up a word, do so.  If not, use your instincts and prior knowledge to help you decide if you have spelled a word correctly. 

 

Capitalize letters as needed.  There should be a capital letter at the beginning of each sentence and for proper nouns, such as people and places.  In addition, always capitalize “I” when you are using it as a word.

 

Do not use language that you would use on a text message.  Use the full proper English words.  Watch for common errors such as their/there/they’re and  your/you’re.

 

 

Structure for multi paragraph essays:

Introduction:

What idea do you want to express in your hook?

How will you bring the reader from the hook to the thesis?

Draft your thesis.

 

Body Paragraphs:

What idea do you want to express in your topic sentence?  What transition can you use?

Good transitions include: To add or provide information:    In addition,    Moreover,    Furthermore,     For example, To show contrast:    However,     On the other hand,     To explain:    In other words,     That is to say,     To show effect:    As a result,     Consequently,

 

What details and support will you provide to prove the topic sentence?

 

How will you wrap up the paragraph? 

Good sentence starters for concluding sentences include: It is obvious that… The evidence demonstrates… Clearly,… The facts prove that…

 

Conclusion:

Restate your thesis in different words.  It may be helpful to break up the ideas presented in your thesis into 2-3 sentences.

How will you bring the reader to your concluding sentence?

Revisit the idea(s) presented in your hook to wrap up with a strong thought or statement.