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Writing Skills
“One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.”
WRITING
SKILLS
WRITING A
PARAGRAPH
WRITING AN ESSAY
Writing Guide
The Writing Process
Writing is NOT magic or inspiration which comes out of the blue. Writing requires a complex combination of skills such as planning, brainstorming, drafting, organising, revising and proofreading before you finally share it or hand it in.
In order to master your wiriting skills and learn to write successfully, you need to focus on the different steps involved in the writing process.
CHECK your work
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Use the error checklist to make sure that you avoid common mistakes such as verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, annoying repetitions, punctuation, etc. Use the writer´s checklist so that you make sure the contents are organised in a coherent way.
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Use a dictionary to check the spelling of any word that you are not sure about.
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Proofread: examine your text carefully to find and correct typographical errors and mistakes in grammar, style, and spelling. Read out loud (by sounding out words, you’re forced to go over work more slowly and actually listen to what you have written.
Write a FIRST DRAFT
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Write your first draft on the computer or by hand. If you are writing by hand, use a pencil. Leave wide margins for notes.
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Leave space between lines for additions and corrections.
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Write quickly. Don´t worry about neatness or accuracy.
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If you can´t think of a word in English, write it in your own language. Look up the word in a dictionary later.
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If you can´t spell a word, write it any way you can. Then check the word in a dictionary or use a spellcheck when you have finished.
ORGANISE your ideas
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Decide which ideas to keep and cross out the others.
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Group similar ideas together.
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Organise the groups to convey a particular idea or present an argument
BRAINSTORM for ideas
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Write down all the ideas you can think of. Outline your ideas using diagrams.
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Don´t worry about whether all the ideas are relevant.
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At this point, don´t worry about grammar or spelling.
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You can also write ideas in your own language (later you will be able to develop them in English)
WRITE A FINAL DRAFT
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If you are writing by hand: copy your corrected work neatly onto a clean sheet of paper.
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If you are using a computer, print out a copy of your essay. It´s easier to find mistakes on a printed copy.
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Use a pen and leave a margin on the left-hand side.
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Proofread. Does it sound correct?
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Make sure your paragraphs are clearly indicated by indenting (moving the first word of the paragraph to the right) or by skipping a line before beginning a new paragraph (in that case each paragraph begins at the left-hand margin).
WRITING A
SENTENCE
Error Checklist