The ABC\'s of writing

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The ABC’s of writing When you are writing (it doesn't matter if you are writing an email, a report, an essay, a review) there are some aspects that you need to take into consideration. Being aware of them will help you to understand better the process of writing. From now on, next time you write check this list so as to be capable of evaluating your own work before handing it in to your teacher.

CONTENT * Am I answering everything I am being asked in the task? Is there anything I wrote that is irrelevant (not connected) to what I am being asked? * A successful writing as regards content will have your reader fully informed on what he/ she wishes to know.

Pro tip:

COMMUNICATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

ORGANISATION

* Is my text type the right type? For * Is my writing ordered and divided in example, if the task asks for an article, am I paragraphs in a logical way? writing an article? * Did I make good use of a variety of * Did I use the correct register for the text connectors to connect my sentences in a type that the task is asking me to write? For logical way? example, if the task asks me to write an essay, I must use a formal register, with formal connectors, formal language structures and avoiding contracted forms.

LANGUAGE * Did I use a variety of grammatical structures accurately? * Did I use more complex vocabulary accurately? Or is the vocabulary I used rather simple?

Pro tip: Pro tip:

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The task will tell you what information you are expected to include. To make sure you do not forget to mention anything, once you finish writing about a specific aspect, tick it in the task.

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The task will tell you, explicitly, which text type to write. The task will also tell you who the intended reader is, which will help you determine the appropriate register.

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Structure your writing in a separate sheet of paper. Writing a paragraph plan before hand will help you organise your writing in a coherent way.

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Re-read your writing. As regards vocabulary: can you spot words or expressions which sound very simple to you? (E.g. instead of “very big”, which is a rather simple expression, you should write “huge”). As regards grammatical structures: can you spot structures which do not sound right? When in doubt, check with the coursebook.

1) As you now know, register is a vital aspect of your writing, and being able to tell the difference between informal and formal language is key. Work in pairs and decide which of these are examples of formality and informality. You will find these in... Passive voice Phrasal verbs Incomplete sentences Indirect questions Informal vocabulary (e.g. “great” instead of “impressive”) Formal vocabulary (e.g. “accommodation” instead of “a place to stay”) Exclamation marks Contractions Full verb forms

Informal language

Formal language