You may have guessed that I am a teacher, and, yes, I have taught high school English. Currently, I am a private tutor during the day for a sixth-grade student, and after school I tutor students of all ages in reading, writing, and math. I tell my students their writing will improve the more they practice, and I give them strategies to improve their writing. I decided I would share with you the advice and the tips I teach them.
1. Don't stress.
2. This essay is not an academic paper; there is no research involved, and you do not have to write a traditional five-paragraph essay!
3. Write from your heart. Let us get to know you.
4. Grab our attention with your introduction.
5. Tell us stories; how did you get involved with your hobby?
6. Show us your passion for your horses, alpacas, sheep, goats, chickens, or whatever animal has captured your heart by describing how you interact with them.
7. Why do you want to live on a farm in a rural area? How will living here bolster your hobby and improve your life?
8. Spend time organizing your essay. This is the most important step! Taking the time now to organize your writing will save you hours of revising time and spare you hours of anxiety.
9. When you begin writing, think of the computer screen or the blank piece of paper as your best friend. What would you tell your best friend? Write it!
10. Arrange your ideas so your words flow from one sentence to the next. Each sentence should connect and not sound choppy. The ending sentence of one paragraph should flow into and connect with the first sentence of the next paragraph.
11. Print your paper and read your writing out loud! You will be amazed at how hearing your words will improve your writing, especially if you are not reading from the computer screen!
12. Give yourself plenty of time to plan, organize, and write your first draft. Begin now!
13. Improve your writing by allowing your words to settle and your mind to rest. After your break, whether a day, a week, or even one hour, reread your work - out loud - from a hard copy! Does your writing make sense and sound fluid? If yes, begin the editing process. If not, revise your writing until you're satisfied.
14. Edit your paper one step at a time. Is the first letter of each sentence capitalized? (Check the entire paper for just capitalization mistakes.) Are proper nouns capitalized? Does each sentence have the proper punctuation? (Go through a second time to check for punctuation mistakes.) It might sound tedious, but focusing on one area at a time means you will be less likely to miss a mistake!
15. Have your written complete sentences?
16. Check subject-verb agreement (They have, he has, etc.)
17. Did you write "your" when you intended to write "you're" for you are?
18. Are verb tenses correct?
19. Use a dictionary to make sure your word are spelled correctly; use a thesaurus to select the precise word!
20. Submit your paper BEFORE the deadline to ensure we receive it before the cut-off date!
I hope you have found these suggestions helpful! If you have questions, please post them on the Facebook page for all to see.
https://www.facebook.com/virginiahorsefarm
Good luck!
