Notes (Apuntes)  Writing Strategies
Writing Strategies: Brainstorming, Outline (before) and Proofreading (after)
By michelle (used with permission of talkingpeople.net)
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Before Writing: Think!
Brainstorm and work out your outline. In exams, they usually give you the points you need to mention, which means, those can work as an outline. But you should check tose points are in the correct order, and also whether you need to add anything else, especially at the beginning and the end.
 Brainstorm on ideas. What do we want to say? Brainstorm and then select and order your ideas. Do an outline with tose key ideas/words.
Brainstorm on language. What language do we need to use to say that?
Tenses: past simple, past continuous; present perfect, present perfect continuous; Conditional sentences type 1 or type 2 (e.g. If you come, I'll take you to...) and Conditional sentences combined with modals (e.g. If you come/came, we can/could do this or that); Future Simple (for predictions), "going to" future (for plans and intentions)...
Language Functions and Modals / Useful Expressions: Thanking, Inviting, Making Proposals/Suggestions (e.g. can, could for proposals as in We could visit the Prado), Volunteering/Offering to do something (e.g. I'll fetch you at the airport), Expressing your Ability to do something (e.g. I can pick you up at the airport). What language structures can you use to perform these and other language functions? (Some extra support: TP Podcast - Useful Language  )
More: Linkers correctly used, a wide range of vocabulary...
After Writing: Proofread your work!
You need to read your work carefully a minimum of two times. The order doesn’t matter.
Here is what you should do:
One Proofreading: Check for general coherence: Read your letter aloud (non-stop) checking it makes sense, that people can understand the ideas in it. Repeat the process after introducing your corrections. Be aware of cultural differences, in order to explain what a foreigner might not understand. Check linkers/sequencers make sense (cohesion).
The Other Proofreading: Check your Grammar and Spelling. Your List of Mistakes during the course should have taught you what you need to pay special attention to.
Read your letter slowly, checking your...
• spelling: review the spelling rules in your textbooks.
• syntax & morphology: Are all the subjects there? Any "It" subject missing? Are the tenses built correctly (e.g. you cannot use a modal with the full infinitive, as in We must to go to the Prado; unless that modal is "have to"; you cannot use a gerund with no auxiliary, as in I [am] not working); any adjectives in a non-existing plural form?! (e.g. I love travelling to differents places); any misplaced adjectives (e.g. did you put the adjective after its noun?!); what about agreement between subject and verb? (e.g. You is, We was; I are!!!)...
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