1 / 11

Timed writing strategies

Timed writing strategies. Margarita Seregina ESL 116G 17.04.12. Directions: Read the question below. You have 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise your essay. Typically, an effective response will contain a minimum of 300 words. Question:

chaim
Download Presentation

Timed writing strategies

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Timed writing strategies Margarita Seregina ESL 116G 17.04.12

  2. Directions: Read the question below. You have 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise your essay. Typically, an effective response will contain a minimum of 300 words. Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A teacher’s ability to relate well with students is more important than excellent knowledge of the subject being taught. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

  3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=r30rw64OlDAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=r30rw64OlDA

  4. Strategies for Timed writing assignments • Read and analyze the prompt (the question) • Brainstorm • Plan your response carefully • Pace yourself while writing • Revise and proofread (pay attention to your thesis statement)

  5. Analyzing the prompt • Read the prompt carefully (at least twice) • Look at the directions (what exactly you are supposed to do) • Look at the topic (Ask yourself: what is the question I am supposed to respond to?) • Underline, highlight or circle key words. • Identify any specific details asked in the prompt Analyze – divide an idea into its component elements and examine each one. Agree/Disagree – Take a position and stick with it throughout your essay. Don’t change your mind or try to argue both sides. Compare & Contrast –outline similarities and differences between two sides); don’t just choose one. Define – explain the meaning of smth. Describe – tell in detail, creating a clear image of the object/phenomenon in question. Evaluate – give your opinion regarding the value of smth. Illustrate – Make a point and use specific examples to support it.

  6. Planning your response • Determine your thesis statement (your answer to the prompt) • Brainstorm (think of supporting points) • Make an outline or draw an idea map • List some details • Think about the purpose of your writing and the audience (to determine your style and voice) • Plan how much time you can allocate to each step of your writing

  7. Time management • Use the “25-50-15-10” formula 25% of total time – reading a prompt and planning your response 50% - actual writing 15%- revising the work 10% - a “reserve” (an extra time you might need) • Define which parts of your response require more time (due to their significance, difficulty) • Have your response planned BEFORE you start actual writing

  8. Revising your work • Look for any major content or organization errors; • Pay attention to your thesis statement to check whether the body of your essay and your conclusion correspond to it; • Check if there are any grammatical, spelling, punctuation mistakes (CTOPS – Capitalization, Tense, Organization, Punctuation, Spelling).

  9. Practice time! • Ben Robertson (Troy University, Alabama) on co-education of American and foreign students in the U.S. institutions of higher education (2011): “American system of education is experiencing a big crisis nowadays: the number of instructors is decreasing, tuition fees are rising, etc. Enrolment of foreign students becomes an extra source of profit. The level of language proficiency of foreign students isn’t always adequate enough, so the instructors are facing a challenge of looking for a golden mean in teaching both American and foreign students, what in its turn degrades the quality of the overall level of teaching”. (http://www.vshu.kirov.ru/content/v-vyatggu-obsudili-problemy-prepodavaniya-inostrannyh-yazykov) • In your opinion, how does the growing number of international students affect the academic performance of American schools? Usespecificexamplesto support youropinion.

  10. Practice • In your opinion, are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy? • Use specific examples to explain your answer. Try to incorporate the legal cases, if you can think of any, to support your point of view.

  11. Timed writing of a response to hypotheticals • Plan your writing time; • Read your prompt carefully, underlining the cases mentioned; • Identify which rules you are going to apply and the facts given in the hypothetical; • Make an outline for your argument; • Spend more time on writing application of the rules to the facts; • Revise your response.

More Related