TSL3107

TEACHING WRITING SKILLS IN THE PRIMARY

ESL CLASSROOM
1

LESSON 1:
NATURE AND PURPOSE OF
WRITING

What is writing?
2

Definitions:
1. Writing is a method of representing language in visual or
tactile form (http://www.omniglot.com/writing/moon.htm)
2. A system for interpersonal communication using visible

signs or graphic symbols on a flat surface such as paper,

cloth or even stone slabs (Chitravelu,N. et.al , 2005)
3. Written language is simply the graphic representation of

spoken language (Brown, H.D, 2001)

Writing is usually learnt through systematic instruction, example in

schools or a child is taught to write by his / her parent.

Mohd Iskandar TSL3107 Lesson 1

What is writing?
4

What is writing system?

Definitions:
A system of more or less permanent marks used to

represent an utterance in such a way that it can be

recovered more or less exactly without the intervention of
the utterer.
(The World's Writing Systems)

A set of visible or tactile signs used to represent units of

language in a systematic way, with the purpose of recording

messages which can be retrieved by everyone who knows
the language in question and the rules by virtue of which its
units are encoded in the writing system.
(The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writings Systems)

What is writing?
5

Writing system:
Writing systems use sets of symbols to represent the sounds

of speech, and may also have symbols for such things as

punctuation and numerals.
All writing systems use visible signs with the exception of
the raised notation systems used by blind and visually
impaired people, such as Braille and Moon. Hence the need
to include tactile signs in the above definition.

What is writing?
6

(Brown, H.D, 2001)

Unlike walking and talking, swimming and writing
are culturally specific, learned behaviours.
We learn to swim if there is a body of water and if
someone teaches us
We learn to write if we are a member of a literate
society and usually if someone teaches us.
Writing is like swimming

What is writing?
7

We see various kinds of writing everyday (newspaper,

adverts, bills, notices, etc) that we sometimes take reading

for granted
We forget that not everyone can write (if not taught, or due
to certain cognitive conditions)
As a teacher we need to:

Be very familiar with what writing is all about

Know why people write
Know what kinds of things they write and for what purpose
Know what a writer of different kinds of writing needs in order to write
successfully
Know the various stages in the development of writing skills

Comparison between writing in KBSR & KSSR

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Similarities
Both involves penmanship.
The pupils started off with the same word level.

Differences
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KBSR

KSSR

The pupils are taught to plan, draft, revise

and edit.

Begin at word and phrase level and

progress to sentence and paragraph levels.

Pupils learn to write at word, phrase and

sentence levels.

Emphasis on spelling and dictation

Didnt mention about it.

Use just one curriculum specification for

year 1 till 6.

Clear state the learning standards of each

year