How Do I Improve My Writing Obviously, you have to write with clarity and have a good idea or points to raise.

However, it is the structure of your writing that also matters. 1) 2) 3) Start a new paragraph when you need to: TiPTOp time, person, topic, place If you are writing a short story, we want to see characterization and voice come through. Note: only use dialogue if it is purposeful to the story i.e. rather than telling me twp characters have apoor relationship, we see it through the dialogue. Ex: A Hero Vary your types of sentences: simple, compound, complex. a. Simple 1 independent clause i. Do well on your exams. b. Compound 2 simple sentences (2 independent clauses) joined by a semi-colon or a comma and a coordinating conjunction i. She must study for her exams, or she will regret it. ii. She didnt study for her exams; she got a poor mark. c. Complex 1 independent clause and 1 dependent clause (not a complete thought) i. If you want to do well on your exams, you must work hard. ii. Although I studied all night, I still wasnt ready. iii. Any of these words used at the start of a sentence will make it a complex sentence: because, although, When, While, if etc Avoid comma splices and run-on sentences: a. Comma splice is when you join two independent clauses together with only a comma i. It was hot, the students didnt feel like working. (This is wrong) b. You can fix a comma splice in the following ways: i. It was hot; the students didnt feel like working. ii. It was hot, so the students didnt feel like working. iii. It was hot. The students didnt feel like working. c. Run-on sentence when you join two independent clauses together without any punctuation i. It was hot the students didnt feel like working. 1. You can fix it the same way you fix a comma splice. Use a variety of end punctuation a. ! ? . Use a variety of punctuation throughout. a. Semi-colon i. To join two independent sentences 1. My daughter was very sick; I sped to the hospital. ii. To join two independent sentences with a subordinating conjunction and comma (words such as: therefore, however, nevertheless).

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1. You can prepare your child the best you can; nevertheless, the choice is theirs in the end. b. Dash i. To interrupt a sentence (almost like an aside) 1. Today no, yesterday- I arrived late to school. 2. You should never and I mean never- talk to strangers. 3. Studying oh the agony- is never-ending. ii. After a listing at the beginning of a sentence with a sentence after it that explains the list 1. Studying, doing homework, having to do what others tell you this is the life of a typical teenager. c. Colon i. To emphasize a word but there must be a complete sentence before it 1. There is only way I can describe studying for my IGCSE exams: torture. ii. To list a bunch of items at the end of a complete sentence 1. I went to the party with a bunch of my friends: Sally, Ann and Debbie. 2. Do not put a colon after a verb: a. My school has: a pool, science lab and ICT lab. (Wrong) b. My school has the following facilities: a pool, science lab and ICT lab. 7) Use connectives within your paragraphs and between your paragraphs a. Moreover b. Finally c. Also d. Additionally e. However f. Whereas g. Next h. In addition i. After j. Etc 8) Vary the way you start your sentences a. Dont always begin with the subject b. Try starting with an ing phrase i. Racing out the door, my sister forgot her school bag. c. Try starting with an infinitive phrase (To + verb) i. To achieve high marks, you must study, take good notes and revise often. d. Try starting with a prepositional phrase i. From my bedroom window, I could see the blue sea stretch out for eternity. 9) Use descriptive language a. Adjectives b. Adverbs quickly, suddenly clumsily

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c. Throw in a metaphor or simile d. Use personification the sun smiled down on us. For persuasive writing a. Use a triplet idea repeated 3 ways i. It is not the end of the school year yet, so dont become lazy, irresponsible or careless too soon. b. Ask a rhetorical question c. Offer an incentive i. If you study hard now, you can relax over the summer feeling guilt free knowing you tried your best. d. Use alliteration i. Serious, sensitive students work diligently. e. Direct address i. You and We f. Expert or celebrity reference Remember in all writing to inform or describe or persuade tasks give a specific example or anecdote Spelling counts Write clearly so the examiner can read it.

This website goes over different types of writing http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/english/writing/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/