TSA Writing Skills

(Primary 6)

Pre-writing

John is writing his diary about a new classmate in his class.You are John.Complete the diary in about 80 words.The following questions may help you.

Read the question

Underline the key words

Situation

Text type

What to write

Number of words

Brainstorm ideas(1) Pictures

??

?reading surfing

dancing

From the pictures, find out:

• Who is the new classmate?

• What does he look like?

• What does he like doing?

• How do you feel about him?

• Can you think of any other ideas?

Brainstorm ideas(2) Mind map

• Think of as many ideas about this new classmate as possible

• Sometimes there may be a mind map to tell you what you can write about

(2) Mind map12 years

old

short hair

?

Main ideas

Supporting detailsOther ideas

A new classmate

readingsurfing

likes doing

dancingfeel about

himgood

student

Name: Henry

What: the thing or action

When: the time Where: the place Who: the people Why: the reason …

How: the way something happens

How many: the number of something

How much: the price …

Brainstorm ideas(3) Question words

• Use ‘wh-’ words and ‘how’ question words to brainstorm ideas of different areas, e.g.

(3) Question words• Who (is the new

classmate)? • How (old is he)?• What (does he look

like)?• What (does he like

doing?)• How (do you feel

about him)?

• Henry

• 12• short hair, big eyes

• reading, surfing and dancing

• good

While-writing

(1) Topic sentences

I have a new classmate in my class. His name is Henry and he is 12 years old. He has short hair and big eyes. He is happy in this new school. We often have lunch together and we become close friends. I like reading and so is he. He is a good student.

A topic sentence is usually put at the beginning of a paragraph.

Use topic sentence to tell the main idea of a paragraph

(2) Supporting details

Write more details under the main idea

I have a new classmate in my class. His name is Henry and he is 12 years old. He has short hair and big eyes. He is happy in this new school. We often have lunch together and we become close friends. I like reading and so is he. He is a good student.

Details about this new classmate

After class, he always does what he likes to do. He likes surfing in the sea. He also likes dancing. He dances very well! Later I will join him to learn how to play chess and have fun together.

Use relevant vocabulary items

Here are some vocabulary about activities.

(2) Supporting details

(2) Supporting details

I have a new classmate in my class. His name is Henry and he is 12 years old. He has short hair and big eyes. He is happy in this new school. We often have lunch together and we become close friends. I like reading and so is he. He is a good student.

Use adjectives to describe how Henry looks and the writer’s feeling towards him.

Use more adjectives

After class, he always does what he likes to do. He likes surfing in the sea. He also likes dancing. He dances very well! Later I will join him to learn how to play chess and have fun together.

Use connectives to link up ideas

(3) Linking ideas

More connectives

• Cause: because, since, as• Addition: and, too, also, besides• Contrast: but, however, yet, on the other hand• Purpose: in order to, so as to• Result: therefore, as a result• Sequence: first, then, after that, finally, later

Connectives can link up short sentences and make the paragraph looks more natural

Formats

(1) Story

Beginning

• introduce the setting and the characters

Development• Introduce the plot / problem

Climax• the most important or exciting part

Ending• the problem is usually solved

• What happened

• How you feel and think

(2) Diary

Date

(3) Informal letter

Recipient

• Opening

• Main body

• Ending

Date

Sender

Closing

(4) Email

Recipient

• Opening

• Main body

• Ending

Sender

Closing

(5) Article

Introduction• introduce the topic

Main body• main idea 1 + supporting details• main idea 2 + supporting details• main idea 3 + supporting details

Conclusion• sum up the ideas• give your view

Post-writing

Read again

• Take 5-10 minutes to read your writing again

• Check the language (grammar)

- tenses

- spelling

• Check the format (especially letters)

• Check the number of words (about 80 words)

- The End -