- Attitudes towards writing skills
- Exam writing
- Comparing model texts/candidate answers
- Register transformation with a formal letter
- Error correction
- Topic sentences
- Removing irrelevant details
- Guided brainstorming
- Conclusion
Attitudes towards writing skills
Often, students have had negative experiences of writing in the language classroom in the past, perhaps they see it as a waste of class-time, which could be better spent practising their oral skills, or perhaps they simply find writing a difficult and laborious task even in their first language. Whatever the reason, getting adult students motivated to write in class can be tough!
However, for teachers it can be very useful to monitor students writing in class. You are at hand to answer any language difficulties, give advice on how to structure sentences in a more natural way, provide vocabulary that students are lacking and generally be available to deal with individual needs as well as noting common problem areas. This is of great benefit to students too of course, much more so than receiving a marked piece of written homework covered in red pen!
Exam writing
Students who are studying for exams do tend to be slightly more motivated when it comes to writing in class but still often prefer to do the actual task for homework. The following activity ideas are ways in which we can teach the nuts and bolts of academic writing in an analytical way, illustrating a step-by-step approach that will hopefully show students the value of writing in the classroom without the pressure of simply being told to put pen to paper!
Each of the six activities focuses on specific areas of writing, such as planning, layout, content, etc. However, the activities are fairly general and could be easily adapted to suit most task types that exam candidates are required to do, such as writing a formal letter or an article.
Comparing model texts/candidate answers
In this activity students get a good idea of what examiners are looking for and learn how to avoid making common mistakes while also picking up tips on good examples of language.
- Students look at 2-4 model texts (task type depends on your focus) ranging in level from a fail to a strong pass. Real candidate answers are ideal if you get them.
- Students note the good and bad points about each answer and write comments under headings such as layout, organisation, content, style and accuracy. (You could easily focus on just one of these areas and discuss in more detail.)
- Students share their comments with each other before looking at the real examiner's comments if you have them. (Cambridge Exam Handbooks are a good source for these.) Alternatively, you give the students your own opinion on the model texts.
Register transformation with a formal letter
Here, students are made aware of differences in register and appropriacy of language, while building up a stock of suitable phrases they can use in formal letters.
- Students receive a formal letter which has several phrases written in the wrong register, i.e. informal/slang.
- Students identify which phrases they think are unsuitable for a formal letter and underline them.
- Then, they try and rewrite the phrases using a more formal style of language.
- Finally, students choose the correct answers from a list provided.
You can make this activity more communicative by dividing the class into two groups and giving each group a different letter to work on. When they have rewritten their phrases they pair up with a student from the other group who has the answers for their letter and compare answers.
Error correction
Students are made aware of common errors and learn the invaluable lesson of self-correction.
- Divide class into three groups (each group will focus on a different area for correction - spelling, vocabulary or grammar).
- Each group will look at an example test which contains 10 mistakes. Tell them that all the mistakes in each letter are related to only one of the following: spelling, vocabulary or grammar.
- First, students identify what type of mistakes are contained in their letter and then they work together to try and correct them. (Each group has the same letter but the mistakes are different.)
- After a set time limit, regroup the students so that there is one person present from each of the original groups. They compare their letters and in doing so they find the answers to the mistakes they have corrected.
This works particularly well if you have carefully selected errors which are often made by your students.
Topic sentences
In this activity students are made aware of how topic sentences function to produce a logical, coherent set of ideas.
- Students are given a set of topic sentences taken from a model text (a discursive essay works well here).
- They work in pairs to put the sentences in a logical order.
- Then, students are given the missing paragraphs from the composition.
- They match the paragraphs with the topic sentences.
- Finally, they compare their order with the model text in a class round-up.
To make this a longer activity you could have 4 sets of topic sentences/paragraphs which students pass around the class, taking turns to complete the activity in groups.
Removing irrelevant details
Students are made aware of the need to be selective in the details they choose in order to present their ideas clearly and concisely.
- Students are given a list of sentences each with an extra word which is not necessary. They have to identify which words needs to be omitted.
- Then, students look at an exam question and a list of points relating to that question. They have to decide which points are not really relevant and which they would therefore not include in their answer.
- Then, students are given a model text containing superfluous sentences which they have to identify and omit due to their irrelevance. Each time, they have to justify their decision.
Guided brainstorming
The aim of this activity is to get students into the habit of planning their answer before they start writing to ensure it is well structured and logically ordered.
- After reading an exam question students brainstorm all related vocabulary on the given topic. This could also include a list of expressions used for making suggestions or giving opinion, depending on the text type.
- Then, they make a list of key points that they need to include in their answer.
- Then, they organise the content under suitable headings depending on the layout of the text type. This could be a simple paragraph plan including an introduction and a conclusion for a discursive essay.
- When students have a comprehensive plan of what they are going to include, they are ready to write their answer.
Conclusion
All of the activities are intended to facilitate each stage of the writing process, from planning a first draft to editing the final answer. By analysing both good and bad model texts, students are made aware of what examiners are looking for and can learn to avoid common errors.
Overall, this very guided approach to exam writing should make students feel more confident about attempting writing tasks.
Written by Jenny Bedwell, British Council, Spain
Comments
I prefer doing some…
I prefer doing some activities in groups and some not. Because in group activity some learners are inactive
planning a draft is very…
planning a draft is very important not only in the final writing paper but also learners can avoid errors
Peer review
What I like best about this process is the peer review of written content. It permits for learners to be reflective and critics. This matures and deepens their understanding of what they write through assessing work from their peers
Planning in groups
I think planning in a group to write about a topic motivates all the participants and creates a stimulating and exciting experience that enhances future writings.
This framework provides a highly effective and structured approach to teaching writing, especially for exam preparation. It addresses the core challenges students often face with writing—such as lack of motivation or confidence—by breaking down the process into clear, manageable steps.
Key strengths of the activities include their practical focus on common writing issues (e.g., register, coherence, relevance), and the way they encourage students to actively engage with real texts, both good and bad examples. This not only helps students internalize the characteristics of effective writing but also fosters critical thinking, as they analyze and evaluate the texts.
Moreover, the inclusion of collaborative tasks like comparing answers and group brainstorming helps to create a more dynamic and communicative writing class, moving away from the often solitary nature of writing exercises. The activities provide students with immediate feedback and peer learning opportunities, which can boost confidence and make the writing process more enjoyable.
Overall, these strategies promote a more hands-on, guided approach to writing, which is likely to reduce the stress and anxiety students often feel when facing exam writing tasks. By focusing on specific skills like error correction, register awareness, and logical organization, the activities prepare students thoroughly for writing assessments while also helping them improve their general writing abilities.
This framework provides a highly effective and structured approach to teaching writing, especially for exam preparation. It addresses the core challenges students often face with writing—such as lack of motivation or confidence—by breaking down the process into clear, manageable steps.
Key strengths of the activities include their practical focus on common writing issues (e.g., register, coherence, relevance), and the way they encourage students to actively engage with real texts, both good and bad examples. This not only helps students internalize the characteristics of effective writing but also fosters critical thinking, as they analyze and evaluate the texts.
Moreover, the inclusion of collaborative tasks like comparing answers and group brainstorming helps to create a more dynamic and communicative writing class, moving away from the often solitary nature of writing exercises. The activities provide students with immediate feedback and peer learning opportunities, which can boost confidence and make the writing process more enjoyable.
Overall, these strategies promote a more hands-on, guided approach to writing, which is likely to reduce the stress and anxiety students often feel when facing exam writing tasks. By focusing on specific skills like error correction, register awareness, and logical organization, the activities prepare students thoroughly for writing assessments while also helping them improve their general writing abilities.