WHAT are the skills required to write creatively and with accuracy? This involves completing pieces of descriptive and narrative writing. Descriptive means that you must focus on a scene or a person. Learn how to use your imagination to write creatively. Write in controlled sentences with attention to punctuation. Choose your words carefully to express your meaning. Write a focused piece of descriptive writing. Write a sensible piece of narrative writing.
If you are preparing to write your O-level English Language examinations, you need to be serious about your writing. This means you have to avoid childish imaginative stories about monsters, outer space and saving the world from evil. Daring your friend to go into the haunted house at the end of your street at night. The question asked by many students is: What is wrong with this?
Experts will tell you that, that piece of writing has been done time and time again and done badly.
However, you do not have to write about yourself to be successful. You can write realistically about fictional events. In other words, you can make things up that can still be believable. This is a key point which needs to sink into most students’ brains.
The best approach to such tasks is to write about places and events that are reasonably close to your own experience and knowledge of the world. Familiar settings are the best to write about. You will be close to them in many facets. When writing a piece of descriptive writing the key word is focus; this means making sure you meet the requirements of the task.
Can you write a focused piece of description? Your description needs to be engaging and believable. You need to create a proper sense of place. Begin by forming a picture in your head and then try to put that in words. Often it is the little details, such as people and movement in the scene, which can help to bring your writing to life. It is also important not to overdo the description — senses, adjectives, similes and metaphors are useful, but not as important as sentence control and clear punctuation.
Writing an effective opening. Can you write an effective opening? Openings are very important because the reader’s interest can be won or lost, and so will the marks in examinations. The writer needs to start well, writing accurately and convincingly. Ask yourself the following questions as you write: Is the description believable and realistic? Is the writing controlled and precise?
Your writing is guaranteed to make a better impression on the examiner if it is constructed out of clear controlled sentences with accurate punctuation. You can also make your writing more interesting by varying your sentences. Make use of the following tips: Stop at the end of sentences — with full stops, question marks or exclamation marks. Slow the pace of sentences — with commas, semi-colons, brackets and dashes.
Use a semi-colon between independent clauses that are closely related in thought and are not joined by and, but, for, nor, or, so, or yet. Use a colon to mean “note what follows”. Use a colon before a list of items, especially after expressions, like as follows and the following. Use a colon before a long, formal statement or quotation. Use a colon between the hour and the minute. Use a colon between the hour and the minute.
Use a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought. The author of the book – I can’t recall his name – said there would be a reprint of the book. The truth is – and you probably already know this – the final examinations have been postponed until January. Use a dash to mean namely, in other words, or that is before an explanation.
Use brackets to enclose an explanation within quoted or parenthetical material. Previously we looked at some words often confused. There are many more we did not consider. Here are some of them: All together — everyone in the same place. We were all together waiting for transport to take us to school. Altogether- entirely. Her reaction was altogether different from what I expected. Altar -(noun) a table or stand at which religious rites are performed.
Alter (verb) to change. We can alter the size of your shirt if it is too big. Brake (verb) to slow down or stop; (noun) a device for slowing down or stopping. Brake cautiously on wet roads. A defective brake caused the accident. Break (verb) to cause to come apart; to shatter; (noun) a fracture. Try not to break any cups. The X-ray shows a break in your left fibula.
Complement (noun) something that makes whole or complete; (verb) to make whole or complete. What we do in the library complements what is done in the classroom. Compliment (noun) praise; a courteous act or expression; (verb) to express praise or respect. Thank you for the compliment.
Counsel, noun (advice; (verb) to advise. Counsellor (noun) one who gives advice. He was given wise counsel by the headmaster. Mr Moyo is her guidance counsellor.
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