UNIT 6

WRITING 

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Writing is a productive skill which means that it is used to produce language. This skill involves a complex process to elaborate. In a simple way, writing communicates a message through written symbols. Write those symbols include several factors and everyone has a meaningful role.

There is a variety of text types such as letters, cards, essays, poems and more. All of them have different layouts and registers. According to the context and function, people decide the complexity of grammar and register to use. It means that every written text has a purpose to be done. After that, the writer has to domain some sub skills belonging to accuracy and the communication of ideas.

Taking those sub skills in mind, to write it is necessary to manage in a correct way the punctuation, the letters formation and layouts that correspond to each text type. Talking about expressing ideas the function of the writing takes an important role because the purpose of the text directs the appropriate register and style. Further, the writer has to link the sentences and ideas in a logical order. It is known as cohesion.

It was said that writing is a process, so it means that there are six stages to create a good text. First, the writer has to brainstorm some ideas to then arrange them coherently. Next, a first draft can be done so once the draft is finished, it can be considered to improve the content. The next stage is to check for mistakes, this stage is called proofreading. At the end, the writer is able to make a re-drafting considering all corrections in grammar and content.

To encourage students to improve the writing the teacher can consider applying tasks to improve the sub skills mentioned. A good option is to work with gap-filling exercises because learns have to complete with information in a specific part of the text. By doing this, the teacher makes learners to practice a specific language point.

For example, in the class, students can be provided with a short story and after reading that, the teacher gives a worksheet with gap filling exercises with information about the story. In addition, each paragraph of the story can be a different task. I mean that the second paragraph of the story can omit all punctuation signs so students have to write them to give connect the ideas correctly. In advanced courses, a task about sentence transformation is a good idea. In this task, learners have to express the same idea of the original sentence but with different words. So, take in mind the time when using this task because students will need space to think and structure a new sentence to say something. Another option is to develop task oriented to work on the stages of writing. The process writing approach help students to identify their weakness in each part of the creation of a writing text. The teacher has to manage the activity considering that not all students will be in the same stage of the writing process at the same time. This way by giving students a topic to write about, the teacher can guide students and also evaluate their ideas and organization.

Additional Information

The Writing Progress

References

Lincoln Learning Solutions. (2021, April 3). The Writing Process. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsffR-cu00kUmgc.edu. 2021. 

The Writing Process. [online] Available at: <https://www.umgc.edu/current-students/learning-resources/writing-center/online-guide-to-writing/tutorial/chapter2/ch2-01.html> [Accessed 20 May 2021].

Spratt, M., Pulverness, A., & Williams, M. (2011). The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3 (2nd ed., TKT Course). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139062398