Some Writing ProblemsSome Writing Problems

Prof: Alexis Maizo

UNIVERSIDAD PEDAGÓGICA EXPERIMENTAL LIBERTADORUNIVERSIDAD PEDAGÓGICA EXPERIMENTAL LIBERTADORINSTITUTO PEDAGÓGICO DE CARACASINSTITUTO PEDAGÓGICO DE CARACAS

DEPARTAMENTO DE IDIOMAS MODERNOSDEPARTAMENTO DE IDIOMAS MODERNOSPROGRAMA DE INGLÉSPROGRAMA DE INGLÉSCÁTEDRA DE IDIOMACÁTEDRA DE IDIOMA

LECTURA Y ESCRITURA ILECTURA Y ESCRITURA I

May, 2010May, 2010

As we know, writing is more than As we know, writing is more than jotting down words on a piece of paper. jotting down words on a piece of paper.

Those words should go together to Those words should go together to create sentences, and the sentences create sentences, and the sentences

should go together to create should go together to create paragraphs and longer strings of ideas.paragraphs and longer strings of ideas.

(Sichacá, J. S. 2007, p. 13)(Sichacá, J. S. 2007, p. 13)

The Writing Process

Sometimes, students have Sometimes, students have difficulties when writing because difficulties when writing because

they do not know how to organize all they do not know how to organize all the ideas in their minds before the ideas in their minds before

writing them down. writing them down.

Of course, there is a series of steps Of course, there is a series of steps that should be followed before that should be followed before

writing a final version to hand in.writing a final version to hand in.

One of the steps that should be followed One of the steps that should be followed is: Write down your ideas on a piece of is: Write down your ideas on a piece of paper and then organize them there paper and then organize them there instead of doing it in your head. It is instead of doing it in your head. It is much easier to organize them once much easier to organize them once

they are on paper.they are on paper.

If you do not take that step into If you do not take that step into consideration, the ideas you present in consideration, the ideas you present in your first draft will not be really logical your first draft will not be really logical

or organized. Then you will have to or organized. Then you will have to restructure the whole text from the restructure the whole text from the

very first sentence.very first sentence.

All the aforementioned instructions are All the aforementioned instructions are basically to be followed by beginner basically to be followed by beginner writers. Once you have control over writers. Once you have control over the ideas you want to write about, the ideas you want to write about,

that particular step could be skipped.that particular step could be skipped.

For now, keep that step in mind, For now, keep that step in mind, and try to go through it every time and try to go through it every time

you create any piece of writing.you create any piece of writing.

Apart form the previous steps, there are two Apart form the previous steps, there are two particular aspects students have to bear in particular aspects students have to bear in

mind before handing in any piece of mind before handing in any piece of writing. They are:writing. They are:

a.The heading of the composition.

b. The text itself.

At the IPC, we, teachers, ask our students to At the IPC, we, teachers, ask our students to follow a specific pattern when it comes to the follow a specific pattern when it comes to the heading of a composition. The heading should heading of a composition. The heading should

contain: contain:

a. The whole name of the university.b. The name of the institute.c. Name of the department.d. The program in which you study.

e. The name of the “cátedra” the subject you are taking belongs to.

f. The name of the subject you are taking.

g. The section and the group you belong to.

It is important to remember that all the It is important to remember that all the information you write in the heading information you write in the heading should be written using your native should be written using your native

language; in this case: Spanish. language; in this case: Spanish.

The order of the information should be kept as it was explained before. (from

general to specific)

Your name or the teacher’s name is NOT part of the heading!

Remember:

Now, let’s take a look at Now, let’s take a look at two headings and try to two headings and try to

figure out what is figure out what is wrong with them.wrong with them.

1.- Heading1.- Heading

Universidad Pedagógica experimental libertadorUniversidad Pedagógica experimental libertador

Instituto Pedagógico de CaracasInstituto Pedagógico de Caracas

Departamento de idiomas ModernosDepartamento de idiomas Modernos

Cátedra de Lectura y Escritura ICátedra de Lectura y Escritura I

Prof. Alexis MaizoProf. Alexis Maizo

Sección 001Sección 001

What is wrong regarding this heading?What is wrong regarding this heading?

Another strange heading:Another strange heading:

Universidad Pedagógica Experimental LibertadorUniversidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador

Instituto Pedagógico de CaracasInstituto Pedagógico de Caracas

Departamento de Idiomas ModernosDepartamento de Idiomas Modernos

Curso: Reading and WritingCurso: Reading and Writing

Section: 001Section: 001

What is wrong with this heading?What is wrong with this heading?

Once we have seen the heading, let’s Once we have seen the heading, let’s focus on the second aspect: focus on the second aspect:

the text. the text.

Once you have written your first draft, it is important you make some questions to yourself to test the effectiveness of the text you wrote. Ask yourself the

following:

1.1. Did I write a clear topic sentence?Did I write a clear topic sentence?

2.2. Are my supporting ideas relevant to the Are my supporting ideas relevant to the topic I’m talking about?topic I’m talking about?

3.3. Is my concluding sentence linked to my Is my concluding sentence linked to my topic sentence?topic sentence?

So far, if the answer to each of the previous questions is “no”, you have to go back and fix the problems in the text. If the answer is

“yes”, then you can continue with the following questions:

1.1. Am I using liking words to connect the Am I using liking words to connect the sentences in the paragraph? Or are sentences in the paragraph? Or are they separated just by means of they separated just by means of periods?periods?

2.2. Am I using the English grammar Am I using the English grammar appropriately? appropriately?

3.3. Is my punctuation helping my reader Is my punctuation helping my reader understand what I want to say/mean understand what I want to say/mean in the text?in the text?

4.4. Are my sentences TOO long? If so, Are my sentences TOO long? If so, break it into two sections.break it into two sections.

Once you have made sure that your Once you have made sure that your paragraph is alright by means of the paragraph is alright by means of the previous questions, then show it to previous questions, then show it to

somebody else, and see whether your somebody else, and see whether your ideas are going through effectively. ideas are going through effectively.

If your reader understands what you are trying to communicate in your text, then

you are definitely on the right track!

Now, let’s take a look at Now, let’s take a look at three texts, and let’s try to three texts, and let’s try to

answer the answer the aforementioned questions aforementioned questions to check whether the texts to check whether the texts

are effective or not.are effective or not.

In search of a good lifeIn search of a good life We always are looking for have a better life, but what We always are looking for have a better life, but what

happens when we never get it? I mean, we always try happens when we never get it? I mean, we always try

to work to get a good car or a good house thinking in to work to get a good car or a good house thinking in

having a better life and being more happy because of having a better life and being more happy because of

that but when we obtain it, we never get satisfied! So, that but when we obtain it, we never get satisfied! So,

my question is: a good life really will make us happy? my question is: a good life really will make us happy?

There is that better life? I think that with all the stress There is that better life? I think that with all the stress

that we have desiring to get this better life makes us that we have desiring to get this better life makes us

unhappy even if we get it that house or that car. Also, unhappy even if we get it that house or that car. Also,

I’ve seen people been more happy in short moments I’ve seen people been more happy in short moments

but unique than others trying to get that life. That’s but unique than others trying to get that life. That’s

why I come to the conclusion of happiness is not in why I come to the conclusion of happiness is not in

search of a better life if not enjoy the way to do it.search of a better life if not enjoy the way to do it.

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In the all John’s life he never had to concern to another In the all John’s life he never had to concern to another

person. He always was a guy who just had to take care by person. He always was a guy who just had to take care by

himself becoming in the most selfish person that I never himself becoming in the most selfish person that I never

knew. But believe or not we are married now and have a knew. But believe or not we are married now and have a

beautiful child, he’s name is Thomas and is intership in the beautiful child, he’s name is Thomas and is intership in the

children’s hospital near of our house because he has children’s hospital near of our house because he has

leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. He’s just 7 leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. He’s just 7

years old! But could not believe it when John took with the years old! But could not believe it when John took with the

doctor for give us his own bone marrow to our son. How a doctor for give us his own bone marrow to our son. How a

selfish person can gives part of his body to someone else? selfish person can gives part of his body to someone else?

Now I can see the power that the love of a father can do, and Now I can see the power that the love of a father can do, and

even all de differences that have I have to admit that he’s even all de differences that have I have to admit that he’s

the best father that my son could has.the best father that my son could has.

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A sad dayA sad day February 15th 2009, was a sad day, because I didn’t February 15th 2009, was a sad day, because I didn’t

approve the English subject, that day I could realize approve the English subject, that day I could realize the important that is English to me. Besides, that sad the important that is English to me. Besides, that sad day, I was thinking about the real cause of my failure, day, I was thinking about the real cause of my failure, and I concluded that if I would have studied harder, I and I concluded that if I would have studied harder, I hadn’t disapproved the English subject. I could realize, hadn’t disapproved the English subject. I could realize, that I didn’t work enough, in order to approve de English that I didn’t work enough, in order to approve de English subject, and I deserved the result of the mark, besides subject, and I deserved the result of the mark, besides the consequence was terrible, since I had to postpone the consequence was terrible, since I had to postpone the course. In addition to that, it’s the first time that I the course. In addition to that, it’s the first time that I fail in the English subject. I call it, a sad day; because I fail in the English subject. I call it, a sad day; because I felt very sad and disappointed about myself, I have felt very sad and disappointed about myself, I have always studied English a lot since I was a child however always studied English a lot since I was a child however at that time, I was crossing a bad moment in my life, at that time, I was crossing a bad moment in my life, and the result was sad day in my life.and the result was sad day in my life.

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