Writing skill

February 26

How to write a paragraph

Basic Writing Skills 

When writing a text, it is not enough to have good ideas or persuasive arguments. It is also important to express them correctly. These are some grammar rules to keep in mind:

Recuerda estas reglas simples para escribir una idea clara.                           

1.     Write the correct word order in a sentence:

Word order: Subject + Verb + Object + Complements (manner – place - time)

Example:          I            found    the book      easily at the library yesterday

2.     Use time expressions at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. Example: In 1994, Arafat received the Nobel Peace Prize or Arafat received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994

3.     Place frequency adverbs (often, always, never) before the main verb or after to be (am, is are, was, were, been). Example: She often does the homework. Jimmy is always on time

4.     Adjectives come before the noun and they have no plural form. Example: They are beautiful girls. She is abeautiful girl.

5.     Subject-verb agreement: The subject and the verb must agree in number. For example, when the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular: "She sings well" “They sing well”

6.     Use auxiliaries to write questions or negative sentences (except when using to be= am, is, are, was, were)

Example: - Do you speak English? – No, I don’t speak English

7.     In a simple present sentence where he, she, it or a name is the subject, verbs must end in -s or -es depending on the way the verb ends. Example: Mathew speaks English very well. He goes to USA.

8.     Use time and sequence connectors: Sequencing refers to the order in which events happened. These are some of the most common ways to sequence in writing or speaking:

Beginning the text: First of all, Initially, To begin with

Continuing the text: Then, After that, Next

Ending the text: Finally, In the end, Eventually.

Retrieved from: http://www.isabelperez.com/select/writingstrategies.htm

Punctuation

Take a look at the video and take notes about the main punctuation marks used in English: