improve your writing skill

improve your writing skill

1. Handwriting Format

If you need to write something in English you have to make sure your work looks right. If you don’t use the correct format, your reader will not even want to look at it. You will need to use a ruler to get the margins in the right places, as the printed measures on Japanese B5 loose-leaf paper are not good for English writing. It is best to ignore the printed blue lines at the top as they will make things look wrong.

If your paper looks like the one below your reader will be happy to read it. Study the position of everything carefully. 

2. Before You Write

Before you write, think about your readers. Make them smile!

Will this topic be interesting for them?

What will they want to know about the topic?

How can I make this more interesting?

What is the most logical order to present my ideas to the readers?

Let’s start with a paragraph about yourself. A good way to get ready is to make notes of what you think your readers will want to know.

My name is Miki Suzuki. I really enjoy playing the electric guitar. Recently I joined a rock band at my university. Last week we did our first live concert. I was very nervous but it was exciting. We are recording our own CD on my friends computer. I work three evenings a week at McDonald’s, and I am saving to go and home stay in Australia next year. I come from Okinawa a small island in the south of Japan. It is very different to Tokyo. I have two younger brother’s, they live there with my parents. I am a university student and my major is English. I live in Machida in a small apartment. It is quite nice as it is next to a park.

The topics are good but it is difficult read because of the order.

Now you need to think about the best order to present your ideas.

1. Your hometown, you lived most of your life there. General background, important for this topic. Darker colors.
2. 2.Your family, you lived most of your life with them. General background. 
3. 3.What you are doing now, the reason you are in Tokyo.
4. 4.Where you live now, and spend a lot of time.
5. 5.What you love doing.
6. 6.Your job and the reason you do it.
7. 7.The future in Australia.
   
   
   
   
   My name is Miki Suzuki. I come from Okinawa a small island in the south of Japan. It is very different to Tokyo. I have two younger brothers, they live there with my parents. I am a university student and my major is English. I live in Machida in a small apartment. It is quite nice as it is next to a park. I really enjoy playing the electric guitar. Recently I joined a rock band at my university. Last week we did our first live concert. I was very nervous but it was exciting. We are recording our own CD on my friends computer. I work three evenings a week at McDonald’s, and I am saving to go and home stay in Australia next year.
   1. 3. Writing Checklist  
    
   Before you write, think about your readers. Make them smile!

   Will this topic be interesting for them?

   What will they want to know about the topic?

   How can I make this more interesting?

   What is the most logical order to present my ideas to the readers?

   Below is a list of common mistakes made by Japanese students. If you check your work for these types of mistakes your readers will be happy.

   
   

   C1. Composition format

             Make sure you use the correct format, handwriting or PC, if using a computer.   

   
   

    C2. Capital letters

             Names of people, places and every word in the title should start with a capital letter.

   C3. Short sentences

   
   

             No. Start, stop, start, stop.       I get home late. I have a bath. I watchTV. I go to bed.

             Nice.                                         I get home late, have a bath and watch TV.

             Great, smooth!                         I usually get home late, take a hot bath and watch TV for an hour.

   
   

   C4. and but so because      Try this quiz

             Best to use these words to join sentences not to start them, unless you know why.

   
   

   C5. Repeated words

             Try not to repeat words if you don’t need to. It is tiresome for the reader.            

          

             ✘   I come from Tokyo. Tokyo is very exciting, there are so many things to do.   

   
   

             ✔  I come from Tokyo. It is very exciting, there are so many things to do.

   
   

             ✘   My parents have a baker's shop. My parents get up early everyday. 

   
   

             ✔  My parents have a baker's shop. They get up very early everyday.

   
   

   4. Topic Sentence & Paragraph

   The topic sentence - a sentence that tells the reader the topic of the paragraph.

   The paragraph - a group of sentences about one topic or theme.