One of the most important things taught in all languages is learning to write essays. These essays are important for future projects, whether it’s to write a class assignment, to correctly write your resume, or to write content like this article.
But teaching to make more complex texts isn’t an easy task, since there are many things to take into account when writing these texts. You have to make sure that the language is correct. That’s the main thing, but you also have to check the correct structuring of the sentences. Regarding the content of the essay, we have to make sure it is covering the topic accurately, that the context of the essay is good and that each point of the text made is being explained correctly.
Although there are hundreds of possible tips to give ESL students, I will explain the most important and beneficial ones to improve writing skills to higher levels. I will detail the steps and tips, presented by Easy Essay, to follow so that each writing task is as instructive and beneficial as possible.
Develop essay writing skills
Start with the basics: model clear writing of all sentences
To start writing more complex texts, you have to start from scratch and ensure the bases of all redactable texts: sentences. Ideally, first explain the differences between each type of sentence, the keys to each one, and the effect they produce. It would be a good idea to put an example of each one on the board or to write one of each type in the notes so that you have a reference at all times. Once they have learned how to perform a simple sentence, we go on to teach compound sentences, and after the compound sentences, the complex ones.
It’s also advisable to explain the different equivalences to put phrases together, such as coordinating conjunctions and subordination conjunctions (also known as fanboys and wabbits, respectively). Then you could continue with the prepositions and the conjunctive adverbs. All this will help them to make complex sentences more easily.
Link language sentences
Once they have learned to make complex sentences and know the use of conjunctions and prepositions, it’s time to begin to join the different sentences to form small paragraphs, in this way they practice joining different sentences to form a coherent text, as well as they, learn new ways to put two sentences together.
Written essay practice
Understand the structure, form, and ideas of an essay
Now the students know how to write short texts, with more or less meaning. The next step would be for them to do their own essay, but first, it’s recommended that they understand an example. For this, the best would be a simple exercise, in which the students receive a short text, in which they must identify the different language links of the sentences and examples of fanboys and widgets. Subsequently, they should indicate how the essay is organized (usually an introduction, body, and conclusion) and that they identify the parts of a said essay, as well as the main idea of the text.
If they solve the exercise, it means they understand the general structure of how an essay should be carried out. It will also serve as an example to make their first texts, getting ideas from it, like the conjunctions to use or correctly divide the essay. If a student doesn’t understand the structuring of an essay, it’s better to explain it to him through an everyday example. An example could be a sandwich. This example can help them understand how an essay is divided into three parts and that the main part is usually the central one.
Understand the topic and break the essay down
When the time comes to write the first essay, it’s vitally important the student understand the topic. Whether it’s a topic chosen for everyone or each student chooses their own, they must know what they are going to write about, as well as learn about the topic to write. The best thing is that in the first essay the students choose what they want to write about. If any student can’t think about a topic to write about, suggest one according to their strengths or what they like, this will help them to carry out the essay more easily.
You also have to choose a suitable amount of words. For the first, I recommend 200 words. This also serves to check the initial level of each student. The general structure of an essay in three differentiated parts must be clear to them since knowing how to divide the essay will help its completion when writing longer essays.
Practice makes perfect
Finally, it only remains for them to practice. If they are good at it, it will show from the first exercises, but by carrying out multiple trials they will discover different ways to improve the distribution of the points, as well as being able to control approximately the volume of text in each paragraph and improve the correct division of the essay.
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