In one sense of the word, writing is a simple matter of being able to produce letters on a page to form words, whether by hand or digitally. As long as you have been taught to do so, you can write. And if your handwriting is neat, people are better able to understand what you have written compared to if it was untidy.
But in another sense, writing is also about choosing the right words for your purposes, and arranging them in an optimal manner. Being able to write well, in this sense, is like having neat handwriting: people are able to understand you better because you are clear and concise. Because writing underpins much of how we communicate and think, being an effective writer is an advantage that will serve your child well in school and beyond.
Here are 5 basic principles of effective writing that apply across most situations, and that your child should be aware of:
1. Understand who you are writing for
Perhaps the most important principle of writing is to understand the audience you are writing for, because your ultimate goal is for your audience to understand or appreciate what your message is. This determines what you write and how you write it.
For example, sending a text to a friend is a vastly different undertaking compared to writing an argumentative essay for an assignment.
Where a casual tone, short-form words and the odd ungrammatical sentence are perfectly acceptable for the former, they are considered a cardinal sin for the latter.
In the same vein, not all essays are tackled the same way. A History essay, for instance, is structured and scored differently from a General Paper essay. Markers are looking for certain keywords and key facts for the former, while the latter allows for more flexibility as long as a compelling argument is made.
2. Keep it simple
Another fundamental principle that generally applies across the board is keeping your writing simple and easy to understand. Again, the goal is effective communication.
Younger children should be encouraged to deploy new words that they come across, but that is a different matter from getting into the habit of littering one’s writing with bombastic words and flowery phrases for the sake of doing so. There are a few exceptions that go back to the first principle.
An academic paper on a new invention, for example, may contain very precise but obscure jargon that can only be understood by its intended audience - other academics.
But a newspaper article on the same invention cannot contain the same jargon, which will only confuse the general reader.
Another good general rule of thumb is that if you are reading something meant for a wide audience filled with jargon and buzzwords, it can only mean two things: either the writer also has no idea what he is writing about, or he is trying to hide something from you.
3. Signpost
Signposting refers to the act of giving readers regular cues in your writing so they are left in no doubt about what your message is.
It is a habit and skill that only becomes more important as your child gets older and is asked to complete increasingly complex assignments which comprise multiple paragraphs and points. Signposting lets teachers know that “this way lies the student’s thesis statement”, or “here is the student’s evidence”.
In other words, signposting makes it easier for teachers to award your child marks! It also inspires confidence by demonstrating that the writer understands what he or she is writing about and can give clear, easy to understand directions to anyone who is lost or unsure.
4. Read as much as you can
Reading is the other side of the coin when it comes to writing well. The logic is simple: there are many different forms of writing and situations where writing is needed, and the more of these you are exposed to, the more you learn and the bigger your writing armoury grows.
And the only way you can be exposed to the myriad kinds of writing is by reading. Encourage your child to read, and think more deeply, about anything they come across. This does not just have to involve books, although books alone offer a treasure trove of material.
But the labels on food packaging, brochures, and social media blurbs all also have much that your child can pick up on. There may be far less words in an advertisement than in a book, but that also means that the words that do appear have been selected very carefully indeed. You can also talk to your child about examples of bad writing — an advertisement that turned you off the product instead of getting you excited about it, for example. Why did the writing fail to have its intended effect? How would you improve on the ad?
5. You get better with practice
Finally, always remember that writing is above all a craft, a skill and a discipline. This means that you get better by practising, and that the best writers are the ones who have devoted painstaking hours to polishing their craft. Writing is a truly democratic discipline.
Those that are “talented” but neglect their craft will inevitably fall behind, to be overtaken by less “talented” writers who have worked hard. While your child may not be gunning to be the next coming of Charles Dickens or Haruki Murakami, hard work and diligence will take them a long way when it comes to excelling at their writing assignments.
Teaching the Write Approach to Language
The ability to write clearly and concisely is a highly prized asset anywhere you go in the working world, because effective communication is what greases the wheels of business. This is why school also places a premium on being able to write well.
At The Learning Lab, we also believe that a child who can express him or herself clearly is a more confident one. Our teachers work closely with students to instill the fundamental principles for good writing and to help iron out any kinks along the way.
Click here to find out more about how we can introduce students to good writing, teach them specific writing techniques and help them understand the importance of characterisation, tone and imagery.
Resources for Your Child's Learning Journey
Read our other articles for parenting advice and academic tips.
School is where your child has to read, but through these 5 techniques, you can transform your home into a place where your child wants to read.
Nurture your child’s mastery of written English by introducing him or her to what we consider the 5 basic elements of writing an effective composition.
We look at some humorous examples of how missing commas, misplaced dots and curious choice of punctuation marks can send the wrong message.
The Learning Lab is now at 9 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact us at 6733 8711 or drop us an email at enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.
The Learning Lab is now at 9 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may fill in the form below or contact us at 6733 8711 / enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.