Breaking through English Writing Barriers

突破英文寫作困境

東海大學外文系

吳凱琳

English Writing Barriers

Have you even found yourself Staring at the computer screen/paper for more than

10 minutes Writing for 5 minutes and then stopping for more

than 5 minutes Having a lot of ideas but not knowing where to start Getting stuck in Chinese-English translation Getting lost in writing: no clear focus and

organization

English Writing Barriers in

getting started:

--the hardest part is the beginning

--no idea expressing ideas in English

--lack of vocabulary

--direct translation from Chinese into English

organizing ideas logically

Causes of Writing Barriers

Improper writing attitudes Writing is a “natural talent.”

Writing is a skill that can be learned.

Writing is a product.

Writing is a process

Lack of writing strategies Lack of input

Writing Strategy 1: Prewriting

“Don’t think. Type. The thinking comes later.”“The first time, you don’t think, you just write.” ~ Finding Forrester

Prewriting: Write before writing

Listing Freewriting Clustering WH-Questions

Prewriting technique: listing

List as many words, phrases about the topic

Don’t worry about spelling or grammar

Write down whatever comes to mind

Don’t stop to make correction

Exercises: Work with a partner and make a list of writing difficulties you encounter

no voc.

no idea

Translating from Chinese into English

Get stuck

Messy sentence structure

Disorganized essay structure

Boring writing topics

Writing academic papers

Prewriting technique: freewriting

Free your mind Start writing whatever

comes to mind Don’t stop to correct

spelling or grammar Keep writing for at least

20 minutes

Topic: benefit of aerobic exercise

What are the benefit of taking aerobic class? My classmate take the class because she would like to lose weight. Another takes for health, physical health and fitness.

加強心肺功能 How can it strengthen the function of heart and lungs? I don’t know, but a lot of studies show this kind of effects.

Prewriting technique: clustering

Start with the topic in the center of the page

Link ideas about the topic with circles and lines

Provide a mental picture of the ideas

Benefits of aerobic class

Prewriting technique: WH-Questions

Asking a reporter’s questions Who was there? What happened? Where did it happen? When did it happen? Why did it happen? How did it happen?

Writing Strategy 2: Outlining

Make a plan for writing: unity and coherence Select the most important points Provide details, examples Use a linear structure: Writing an essay in

three parts

Three parts of the essay

Writing Exercises: Put the ideas into a logical order by filling in the outline and adding a third major ideaThesis: Joining an aerobics class has many benefits.

Make new friends Reduce mental stress Social benefits Strengthens heart Improves self-images Mental benefits Tones muscles Meeting interesting instructors

(Langan’s College Writing Skills with Reading, p, 28)

A. _______________________

1.______________________

2.______________________

B. _________________________

1. _____________________

2.______________________

C. _______________________

1. _____________________

2. _____________________

I. Thesis: Joining an aerobics class has many benefits.

II. Physical benefits

1. Tones muscles

2. Strengthens heart

III. Mental benefits

1. Reduce mental stress

2. Improves self-images

IV. Social benefits

1. Meeting interesting instructors

2. Make new friends

IV. Conclusion

Writing Strategy 3: Keeping a journal

Use a pocket-size notebook or loose-leaf paper Write about what you read Write about what you saw, heard, thought, felt Make writing a part of your life: writing regularly Generate and develop ideas Exercises

1. Read an English news article about the earthquake in Sichuan and write what you think

2. Write about what you heard from the speech, “Breaking Through English Writing Barriers”

Writing Strategy 4: Reading to Write

Reading strategies Close reading of professional essays Underline main ideas Look at the title and the introduction. Look for the thesis statement Look for the important points that support the thesis Ask how the writer develops/organizes idea Learn the dictions used by the writer

Writing Strategy 4: Reading to Write

Writing strategies while reading Take notes and ask questions while reading Summarize the article Record reactions Draw picture, maps, diagrams

Other Strategies

Talk about the writing topic with a friend Read about the writing topic Physical exercises help you think clearly Start at a place you have a lot to write about

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Suggestions

Pre-writing: Write before writing Start writing and keep writing (Peter Elbow) Make an outline before writing the first draft Read and write and think and write Keeping a dairy/journal in English Think in Ink