Writing

Anna Rothman, Nicolaiskolan, Helsingborg www.lektion.se Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbleith/3803599149/

A common argument from students is I dont know what to write I have no imagination

Tips!

Look around yourself what in your immediate field of vision can trigger your imagination?Can you think of related things that have happened recently to yourself or anyone you know of?Is the given topic something that does not interest you in any way? Why?Make a mindmap with ideas. Linking words are words you use to connect sentences or parts of sentences. By using linking words you express yourself more clearly and the reader finds it easier to understand your ideas. The more formal the text is the more linking words are required. Here is a list of useful linking words you can use:

* Must be followed by a noun, a pronoun or an ing-form verb.

Group 1 Result linkers (so)ThereforeThat is whyFor this/that reasonConsequentlyhence

Group 2 Reason/Cause linkers (because, as)SinceAs a result of*In view of*Because of*Due to*Owing to*Thanks to*

* These are just a few examples of linking words. Ask your teacher for more!*These linkers should be followed by a comma if they come at the beginning of a statement. Sometimes if they come in the middle of a sentence, we put commas both before and after. Group 3 Concessive linkers (but)

ThoughEven thoughAlthoughWhileWhilst

WherasYetIn spite of*Despite*

Group 4 Other linkers*

Above allOn the wholeNevertheless HoweverIn factStill/even soOtherwiseOn the one hand

On the other handAt the same timeMoreoverWhat is moreIn additionBesidesApart fromHardly

Tip! Do not confuse:

Whats more, moreover and in addition

with

Besides

Whats more, moreover and in addition add extra information. Example: I reckon this is the car I should buy as its cheap enough and not really so old. Whats more, its just been re-sprayed.

Besides adds another argument that is shown as being stronger than the other ones mentioned. Example: I reckon this is the car i should buy as its not so old, and its just been re-sprayed. Besides, its the only one I can afford.

Note that besides can also be used as a preposition, in which case it must take an ing-form verb. Example: Besides having the right price, what attracted me to the car was its new re-spray. Try to learn as many linking words as possible! Use them in writing as well as speaking. This will help you improve your English instantly. The more you force yourself to write academically with advanced language, the more natural it will come to you and in the end you will not even think about it!

Have a look at the following two sentences:

She felt weak after her illness, but she turned up for the exam and managed to pass.

She felt weak after her illness; nevertheless, she turned up for the exam and managed to pass.

Which one looks more professional to you?

Write a story about anything. Use one of the phrases below to start off your text. Try to use as many linking words as possible. In a normal situation you might not use as many in one place, but this is for practicing, so that you get used to using them.

The day I foundMy great grandfather always used to say

When she opened the refrigerator After three years of searching ge finally

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomgauld/3397589927/ (Tom Gauld)

Ml att strva motSkolan skall i sin undervisning i engelska strva efter att elevenutvecklar sin frmga att kommunicera ochinteragera p engelska i skiftandesammanhang kring varierande frgor och iolika situationer frfinar sin frmga att uttrycka sig i skrifti olika sammanhang samt utvecklar sinsprkliga medvetenhet och kreativitet utvecklar sin frmga att analysera ochbearbeta sprket mot allt strre tydlighet,variation och formell skerhet

Ml som eleverna skall ha uppntt efteravslutad kursEleven skall kunna formulera sig i skrift fr attinformera, instruera, argumentera ochuttrycka knslor och vrderingar samt hafrmga att bearbeta och frbttra den egnaskriftliga produktionen

BetygskriterierGodkndEleven skriver med klart och tydligt sprk, svlpersonligt hllna meddelanden, berttelser ochreflexioner som sammanfattningar som har attgra med egna intressen och egen studieinriktning

Vl godkndEleven skriver brev, kommentarer och sammanfattningartill inhmtat stoff p ett tydligt ochinformativt stt och med anpassning till ngraolika syften och mottagare.

Mycket vl godkndEleven skriver med sammanhang och variation,anvnder sprkets ord och strukturer med skerhetsamt kommunicerar skriftligt med anpassningtill olika mottagareFljande faktorer r avsedda att vara till hjlp vid bedmningen.

Vilja och frmga att anvnda sprketi skrift fr att uttrycka ett innehll

Innehll

idrikedom/fyllighetanpassning till mne och innehll- sammanhang, struktur och klarhet

Sprk

- flyt och ledighet- strategisk kompetens (frmga att komma runt svrigheter) och flexibilitet- vokabulr, idiomatik och fraseologi (bredd och variation)- grammatisk kompetens- meningsbyggnad- stavningRMIT University, http://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/4_WritingSkills/00writingskills.htm (A great page with lots of tips!)http://www.dailywritingtips.com/http://www.meredithsuewillis.com/writingexercises.html

Anna Rothman, Nicolaiskolan, Helsingborg www.lektion.se