3. Post writing stage:

• (proof-reading - checking for mistakes in accuracy), editing, sharing the writing with the group mates, redrafting)

Learners can:

• Display their finished work and share with the group -mates for checking and redrafting.

• Explain how successful their works are.

Teacher should:

• Do follow-up work on language.

Types of exercises in teaching writing

Writing activities in the classroom can be from copying to free writing:

ACCURACY
			FLUENCY
C opying	Doing exercises	Guided writing	Free writing

Skill building exercises: The aims:

1. To develop learners’ accuracy in penmanship, spelling and punctuation.

2. To fix the linguistic material in learners’ memory

3. To provide conditions for developing learners’ skills in free writing (fluency).

Examples of exercises:

1. Copying.

2. Exercises on penmanship, spelling and punctuation.

3. Dictation. This kind of writing exercise is much more difficult than copying. Some methodologists think that it should never be given as a test to young beginners. Dictation is a valuable exercise because it trains the ear , the hand and the eye. Dictations can vary in forms and in the way they are conducted:

3. Writing sentences on a given pattern. This kind of writing exercise is more difficult because pupils choose words they are to use themselves:

(a) Substitution: Nick has a sister. The pupils should use other words instead of a sister.

(b) Completion: How many … are there in the room? He came late because ... .

(c) Extension: Ann brought some flowers. (The pupils are expected to use an adjective before flowers.)

Practice of this kind can lead pupils to long sentences.

(d) Writing words to pictures.

4. Writing answers to given questions. The question helps the pupil both with the words and with the pattern required for the answer.

Guided and Free writing exercises: The aims:

To develop learners’ skills in written form to express thoughts, reproduce the content of a story, describe, write letters, etc.

1. A written reproduction of a story either heard or read. Difficult words must be written on the blackboard.

2. A description of a picture, an object or a situation. For example:

— Write not less than three sentences about (the object).

3. A descriptive paragraph about a text, or a number of texts on a certain subject.

- Describe the place where the action takes place.

4. An annotation on the text read.

— Pick out sentences which express the main idea (ideas) in the text

5. A composition on a suggested topic. For example, “My family” or “Our town” or “The sports I like best”. Pupils should be taught to write a plan first and then to write the story to following the plan. The teacher can ask learners to write dialogues, advertisements, poems, etc.

6. Letter, postcard, e-mail writing. Pupils are usually given forms and patterns in English.

— Write a postcard to your friend who lives in another town.