Writing strategies: Learn it!!!!!!!!!

A) BASIC WRITING SKILLS

When we write a composition, it is not enough to have good ideas or persuasive arguments.
It is important to express them correctly.

Word order: Subject + Verb + Object + Complements (manner place time)
I found the book easily at the library yesterday

Notes:
1. Time expressions can come at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
2. Don´t separate the verb from its object.
3. Frequency adverbs (often, always, never) often come before the main verb.
4. If a sentence has a direct object and an indirect object, we often place the indirect
object first: "She wrote him a letter" ( "She wrote a letter to him", is possible).
5. Adjectives come before the noun and they have no plural form.

Subject-verb agreement: The subject and the verb must agree in number. For example, when the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular:
"She sings well"

Some nouns are always followed by a singular verb (everything, news, furniture, information ...)
Some nouns are followed by a plural verb (people, children, police, trousers ...)


B) WRITING A COMPOSITION

A good composition has three elements: an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
It should also flow from sentence to sentence and connect the ideas in a clear and logical
way. There are several ways to achieve this:

· Repeat key nouns throughout the composition.
· Use pronouns to refer back to key nouns
· Arrange the sentences in a logical order and use linking words to indicate the order ( first,
second, then, later, next, since, then, finally)

A good composition should have a strong opening which attracts the readers´ attention and makes them to read more. A few good ways of opening your composition include:

· A question
· A surprising statistic or fact
· A personal address to the reader
· A provocative statement (not too provocative!)

Certain words or expressions are often used to indicate the conclusion of a piece of writing:
In conclusion, lastly, finally, to sum up, in short ...

C) CONNECTORS

Below is a chart of words and expressions commonly used to connect ideas or show
relationships.

1. Contrast or opposing ideas: although, while, in spite of, but, however.

2. Comparison: like, similarly, both, just, as + adjective + as.

3. Reason, cause and effect: because, since, as, so that, in order that.

4. Time and sequence: when, while, first of all, secondly, finally.

5. Result and consequences: therefore, thus, as a result of.

6. Addition and example: moreover, in addition, for instance, such as.