Productive Skills: Writing

Writing skills encompass the ability to communicate ideas, thoughts, and information effectively through written language. For future English teachers, understanding these skills is crucial since you'll be both modelling and teaching them to students at various developmental stages.

1. Purpose and Process of Writing

Purpose of Writing

Writing is a powerful tool of communication that serves multiple purposes in education and society. The main purposes include:

• Expressive Purpose: To share personal thoughts, feelings, or experiences.
  Example: Writing a diary entry or a personal blog.
• Informative Purpose: To convey facts, explanations, or data.
  Example: Writing a report on school activities.
• Persuasive Purpose: To convince readers about a viewpoint or opinion.
  Example: Writing an editorial on the importance of environmental education.
• Creative Purpose: To entertain or create imaginative works.
  Example: Writing a short story for a children's magazine.

Process of Writing

The writing process is recursive and includes the following key stages:

1. Prewriting: Brainstorming and organizing ideas.
• Example: Creating a mind map for an essay on 'Inclusive Education'.
2. Drafting: Turning ideas into structured sentences and paragraphs.
• Example: Writing the first version of a lesson plan reflection.
3. Revising: Improving content, organization, and coherence.
• Example: Reorganizing paragraphs to improve the flow of argument.
4. Editing: Correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation.
• Example: Fixing subject-verb agreement errors.
5. Publishing/Sharing: Presenting the final version for readers.
• Example: Submitting an assignment or publishing a blog.

2. Sub-skills of Writing

Writing is not a single skill but a combination of several interrelated sub-skills:

Sub-skill	Description	Example
Mechanics	Correct use of punctuation, spelling, and capitalization	Using commas in lists
Grammar and Structure	Sentence formation, verb tenses, subject-verb agreement	Writing in past tense for a diary entry
Vocabulary	Appropriate and varied word choice	Using synonyms for 'good' like excellent, wonderful, effective
Cohesion and Coherence	Linking ideas smoothly and logically	Using connectives like however, in addition, finally
Content Organization	Structuring writing into introduction, body, conclusion	Essay format on Child-Centred Education
Editing and Revising	Improving language and ideas during proofreading	Removing redundant words or unclear expressions

3. Elements of Effective Writing

Good writing exhibits several key qualities:

a. Clarity

Use of clear and simple language to convey the intended message.

• Example: Instead of “Pedagogical strategies ought to be diversified,” write “Teachers should use different teaching methods.”

b. Coherence

Logical progression of ideas and smooth transitions.

• Example: Using “Firstly,” “In addition,” “To conclude” to connect paragraphs.

c. Unity

All sentences in a paragraph focus on a single idea.

• Example: A paragraph on 'importance of feedback' should not include irrelevant details about classroom discipline.

d. Precision

Use of accurate and specific vocabulary.

• Example: Instead of “thing,” use “educational resource” or “teaching aid.”

e. Style and Tone

Tone should suit the audience and purpose.

• Example: A formal tone for an academic essay; an informal tone for a personal reflection.

4. Writing Fundamentals: Spelling, Punctuation, Word Choice, Grammar

a. Spelling

Correct spelling is essential for credibility and clarity.

• Common mistake: 'recieve' → Correct: 'receive'

b. Punctuation

Punctuation helps convey meaning and structure:

• Comma (,): To separate items or clauses.
• E.g., She bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
• Full stop (.): To end a sentence.
• Apostrophe (’): To show possession or contraction.
• E.g., Teacher’s notebook, It’s raining.
• Question mark (?): To indicate questions.
• Colon (:) and Semicolon (;): For elaboration or linking related ideas.

c. Word Choice

Selecting appropriate words depending on context.

• Example: Using 'analyze' instead of 'look at' in academic writing.

d. Grammar

Understanding parts of speech, sentence structures, verb tenses, etc.

• Example: Incorrect: “She go to school.” → Correct: “She goes to school.”

 

5. Factors Affecting Writing Skills in Second Language (L2)

Students learning to write in a second language face unique challenge:

Factor	Description	Example
Mother Tongue Interference	Influence of first language on second language writing	Gujarati speakers might write “He going to school” due to local syntax patterns
Limited Vocabulary	Difficulty expressing ideas due to lack of words	Repetitive use of basic words like 'nice', 'good'
Lack of Exposure	Minimal reading or writing practice in English	Weakness in using academic structures
Grammar Confusion	Differences in rules between L1 and L2	Misuse of tenses and prepositions
Confidence and Anxiety	Fear of making errors restricts fluency	Students avoid complex sentence formation
Lack of Writing Habit	Without regular writing practice, skills do not develop	Difficulty in organizing essays or reports

 

6. Writing Activities to Strengthen Writing Skills

Activity 1: Guided Writing

• Objective: Help students write with structure and support.
• Example: Provide prompts and sentence starters for writing a paragraph on "My Ideal Classroom".

Activity 2: Picture-Based Writing

• Objective: Stimulate creativity and descriptive skills.
• Example: Show a picture of a village school and ask students to describe a typical day.

Activity 3: Peer Editing

• Objective: Improve editing skills through collaboration.
• Example: Exchange drafts and give feedback on grammar and coherence.

Activity 4: Dictogloss

• Objective: Enhance listening and writing simultaneously.
• Example: Teacher reads a short passage, students take notes and reconstruct it.

Activity 5: Letter and Email Writing

• Objective: Practice formal and informal writing.
• Example: Write a letter to the Principal requesting permission for an educational visit.

Activity 6: Diary Entry or Reflection

• Objective: Build expressive and reflective writing.
• Example: After a micro-teaching session, students write a personal reflection.

Activity 7: Collaborative Story Writing

• Objective: Encourage imagination and teamwork.
• Example: In groups, write a short story where each student adds a sentence.

 

Conclusion

Writing is an essential skill for future teachers—not just for academic success but for professional communication, lesson planning, and student assessment. Understanding the purpose, mastering the process, and regularly practising the elements and sub-skills of writing are crucial for becoming effective educators. With supportive environments and consistent engagement in writing activities, student-teachers can become confident and proficient writers in both academic and classroom settings.