2. Some common problems: - you don't have enough to say about
the topic - you don't know how to begin - you don't know how to
organise your ideas - you are unsure of your grammar, spelling,
punctuation and vocabulary - you don't know how to end your
composition - you don't have enough time 3. STEP 1: Preparing (i)
BRAINSTORMING. Once you have chosen the topic... - make a list of
all ideas that come into your mind. - don't worry about grammar or
spelling (you don't even have to write in English!) - don't worry
whether the idea is relevant or not 4. STEP 1: Preparing (ii)
GROUPING YOUR IDEAS.Read through the list of ideas you have written
down. Are some of the related to others? Write the same number or
letter next to all the ideas that form a group. GETTING RID OF
IRRELEVANT IDEAS.Cross out ideas that don't fit into any of your
groups. NAMING THE GROUPS.Give each group a name. This will help
you in the next stage to write the first sentence of each
paragraph. 5. STEP 1: Preparing (iii) ORDERING YOUR IDEAS.Number
the groups in the order you would like to mention them. 6. STEP 2:
Writing (i) Now that you have a clear idea of what you want to say,
you are ready to begin writing. DON'T WORRY ABOUT GRAMMAR, SPELLING
OR PUNCTUATION. Just try to get your ideas down on paper as quickly
as possible. Write a DRAFT (!!!) and leave margins to make notes
in. Circle the words you don't know how to spell or how to write it
in English. 7. STEP 2: Writing (ii) Your composition will include
the following parts: - the opening - the body - the closing
(restate the opening in different words) 8. STEP 3: Improving (i)
When you have finished to write the draft, reread it and mark the
things that need improving. 1.the content: -Have you included all
the points you wanted to mention? 9. STEP 3: Improving (ii) 2.the
organisation: - Are your ideas easy to follow? - Have you presented
them in a logical order? - Have you used connectors to link your
ideas? 10. STEP 3: Improving (iii) 3.the language: - Are your
sentences complete? - Is the word order correct? - Are the verb
tenses correct? - Is the vocabulary appropriate? - Have you
repeated the same word too often? - Is the tone appropriate (too
formal / informal)? 11. STEP 3: Improving (iv) 4.the spelling and
punctuation: - Is your spelling correct? - Does every sentence
begin with a capital letter and end with a suitable punctuation
mark?-Have you used capital letters where necessary? 12. STEP 4:
Rewriting (i) When you are satisfied with your work, copy it onto a
clean sheet of paper. Be sure that... - your hanwriting is neat and
easy to read. - you leave margins. - your paragraphs are clearly
indicated. 13. And remember that... If you can't find the proper
spelling of a word, or you don't know it in English, try to use
another word that you can spell it and you already know!
