How do u improve your writing skills?

everzinny · 02-25-2005, 09:42 PM

I know this is really stupid question but i'm so scared right now.
again, the fact that i spent most of my lifetime in non-English speaking country seems to cause many problems on my brain.

IT TAKES SO MUCH TIME TO THINK OF GOOD SENTENCES.

Because i take New SAT on June, i have some times to prepare.
Does anyone have any problems like mine?

NoFX · 02-26-2005, 05:55 AM

yes i do. and im taking mine in may.
I've been practising writing essays for about a month now. I used to have the same problem - thinking up of good sentences. But to solve that problem, I just brainstorm for about 5 min and think about all the ideas in my head and write them down (really fast). I used to brainstorm for like 1min because i was scared that i wouldnt finish writing the essay within 20 min.

after writing the essay, i compare it to other essays (you know, the ones they give you in review books, so you can compare) and i write down all the good and bad points of my essay. Then, when I write my next essay, i carefully think about my mistakes i made in my last one.
So I guess practise is the best way.

aignam · 02-26-2005, 06:35 AM

If you need help with style and sentence variation, or you're just looking to improve your writing in general, it's worth it to check out William Strunk and E.B. White's The Elements of Style.

encore · 02-26-2005, 09:57 AM

elements of style is fantastic!!! definately go through it.
read alot of books. I mean alot.
practise writing until you pull a muscle, just kidding, but practise every day.

everzinny · 02-26-2005, 10:32 AM

what is elements of style?

Rmac2188 · 02-26-2005, 10:35 AM

http://www.bartleby.com/141/

Rmac2188 · 02-26-2005, 10:36 AM

That's most of the original book, before it was augmented by White.

Newbyreborn · 02-26-2005, 10:48 AM

fact : SATs require no writing skills

everzinny · 02-26-2005, 12:59 PM

Hey, i just wrote an essay on the topic that was on my review material
It took me almost 30 minutes... i know this is over-timed.
How do u guys think about this? ( this is exactly what it is)

Topic :Consider carefully the following statement(s) and the assignment below it.
"The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves."
-Sophocles
Assignment: What do u think of the view that the worst sorrows are those for which we are responsible? In an essay, support your postition by discussing an example(s) from literature, science and technology, the arts, current events, or your own experiece or observation.

My essay:

Sometimes people get confused with the feeling of sorrow and that of fear. This is because they are afraid to recognize that those two emotions are closely related. To clarify this, if we take an example of a child whose parent has recently passed away, the child may suffer from both feelings of sadness and great fear. Therefore, one can say that fear comes from the extreme sadness or vice versa.

Last summer, i went to Six Flags America amusement park with my two cousins and brother. I was the youngest among them and was planning to ride only the things that are not that scary. However, as soon as we entered through the entrance gate, my way of life has completely changed. They started to ask people what is the scarest thing in this park, and to my surprise, these stranger were so kind that they gave us away their map and told my two cousins where these are located. It didnt take long to realize that my brother was also one of these evil lord that would take pleasure in foring me to ride it together. My strengths were too weak to resist against these three people. The time that it took find "Superman" was short, but as for me, it seemed like an hour.

I cannot recall how exactly i was scared, but rather i remember how sad i was at that moment. I started to symphatize my destiny, for that i was known with these two people for a long time and i happily agreed to come the amusement park with them. When they told me that they are actually scared too, it only made the situation worse.

No matter how i plead to them, there was no escaped. Then, the time came and i nervously checked my seatbelt. At that point, i almost gave up my life. However, with my surprise i found it that it was actually fun.

This recent experience makes me to agree with Sophocles, for he was the one that said "The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves." This statement is definitely true because neither my two cousins nor my brother made me worry. I was really making things that would make me suffer. Therefore and again, I have no doubt about the statement that the worst sorrows are those for which we are responsible.

everzinny · 02-26-2005, 01:30 PM

um i'm sorry i think i have overacted posting my essay LOL
just ignore this

balac · 02-26-2005, 01:37 PM

u can try and every night write what have u done during the day in a form of essay

chanman · 02-26-2005, 04:33 PM

what if i write SAT essays MUCH LIKe the AP Lang essays?

Would the help/be very good?

aignam · 02-26-2005, 04:38 PM

Not necessarily---creativity generally weakens one's SAT Writing score.