Writing
skills
 Grammar
Don't try to remember a complex set of rules
Avoid very long sentences
Write in a simple and clear style
Punctuate your writing clearly and simply
Take special care with the apostrophe
Be careful with semicolons and colons
Re-write and edit your work
Cut out anything vague or over-complex
Use a spelling-checker and a grammar-checker
Punctuation
Use punctuation as little as possible
Avoid using abbreviations in continuous writing
Short, clear, and simple sentences are most effective
Use double quote marks for "speech", single for 'quotations'
Spelling-checkers
Use the spelling-checker at least once before printing out your work
Look out for the names of people or places
Eliminate any double words or false word breaks
Grammar-checkers
Use the grammar-checker at least once before printing your work
Eliminate any over-long sentences
Use it with a dictionary to check any alternative word choices
Summarising
A summary is a shorter version of a piece of writing
It should be written in your own words
Identify the main issue(s) in the original
Write your own version in stages if necessary
A diagram might help you in some cases
Writer's
block
Writer's block is a very common problem, so don't feel guilty
The cause of the block is always in your mind
It can easily be cured - by doing some writing which doesn't matter
Or you can break the block by doing something else entirely
Editing
Check your work carefully before submitting it.
Check for mistakes, missing words, and bad punctuation.
Split up any over-long sentences.
Use a spelling-checker and a grammar-checker if you have them.
Check the layout of work on your pages.
Layout
The layout of writing on a page is very important
Good layout shows that you know what you are doing
It also conveys a very clear message to the reader
The secret is to use plenty of space - in margins and between lines
You can gain extra marks for creating well designed pages
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