6 Keys for Good Writing

Knowing six key areas of writing can help improve your child’s compositions.Review the following together:

1. Ideas and content. A good piece of writing is interesting to read. It sticks to the topic and does not make the reader guess what the writer is trying to say.
2. Choice of words. In good writing, the words “paint a picture.” When the writer is describing something, the reader can “see it” in her mind. The words spark the reader’s imagination. Good writing does not use words that just take up space and have little meaning for the reader.
3. Mechanics. Good writing contains correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
4. Organization. Good writing has a clear beginning, middle, and end. There is a main idea that is clearly presented. Other sentences give details that support the main idea.
5. Voice. Good writing represents the author. The author’s personality, feelings, and tone shine through.
6. Sentence structure. Good writing, read aloud, is an attention-grabber. The sentences seem to “flow.” They sound natural and animated, like conversation. Each sentence is distinct. The patterns do not repeat. For example, one or two sentences may begin with “I feel” or “This is,” but the others are all quite different.

Copyright © 2012 Parent Institute
Source