1. How to Improve Your Writing Skills

2. Why do we write? To communicate with friends (informal writing)
To communicate formally, e.g. with a company
To make our opinions known in a newspaper (letter to the editor)
To leave messages (note)
To tell a story
To keep a personal account of events (a diary, blog etc.)
To sell or publish something in a newspaper (an advert)
To show how to do something (instructions)
To put words to music (lyrics)
To present facts or opinions (essay)

3. Why is it important to write well?
Something you write becomes a part of yourself – Learning and processing new knowledge develop your brain capacity.
Writing increases your vocabulary – To know a word means being able to use it in the correct context (passive vs. active vocabulary)
Writing improves your grammar.
Writing helps you practise your spelling – Always use a dictionary when you have the chance!

4. What do we assess? Contents - depth Imagination – variation
Idiomatic expressions
Linking words
Spelling
Grammar
Sentence structure – basic vs. use of subclauses etc.

5. How to organize your text
Depending on what kind of text you write, there are different guidelines to follow. But here are some basic rules that you are to follow in almost every case:
Title – Doesn’t have to be a full sentence.
Introduction – What is the main purpose of the text? Topic sentence!
Divide the text into paragraphs – Each new paragraph deals with a new idea.
Summarise/Conclude the text before ending it .

6. Linking words
Linking words are words you use to connect sentences or parts of sentences. By using linking words you express yourself more clearly and the reader finds it easier to understand your ideas. The more formal the text is the more linking words are required.
Here is a list of useful linking words you can use:
* Must be followed by a noun, a pronoun or an ”ing-form” verb.
Group 2 – Reason/Cause linkers (”because”, ”as”)
Since
As a result of*
In view of*
Because of*
Due to*
Owing to*
Thanks to*
Group 1 – Result linkers (”so”)
Therefore
That is why
For this/that reason
Consequently
hence

7. Group 3 – Concessive linkers (”but”)
* These are just a few examples of linking words. Ask your teacher for more!
*These linkers should be followed by a comma if they come at the beginning of a statement. Sometimes if they come in the middle of a sentence, we put commas both before and after.
Group 3 – Concessive linkers (”but”)
Though
Wheras
Even though
Yet
Although
In spite of*
While
Despite*
Whilst
Group 4 – Other linkers*
Above all
On the other hand
On the whole
At the same time
Nevertheless
Moreover
However
What is more
In fact
In addition
Still/even so
Besides
Otherwise
Apart from
On the one hand
Hardly

8. What’s more, moreover and in addition
Tip! Do not confuse:
What’s more, moreover and in addition
with
Besides
What’s more, moreover and in addition add extra information.
Example: I reckon this is the car I should buy as it’s cheap enough and not really so old. What’s more, it’s just been re-sprayed.
Besides adds another argument that is shown as being stronger than the other ones mentioned.
Example: I reckon this is the car i should buy as it’s not so old, and it’s just been re-sprayed. Besides, it’s the only one I can afford.
Note that besides can also be used as a preposition, in which case it must take an ing-form verb.
Example: Besides having the right price, what attracted me to the car was its new re-spray.

9. Try to learn as many linking words as possible
Try to learn as many linking words as possible! Use them in writing as well as speaking. This will help you improve your English instantly. The more you force yourself to write academically with advanced language, the more natural it will come to you and in the end you will not even think about it!
Have a look at the following two sentences:
She felt weak after her illness, but she turned up for the exam and managed to pass.
She felt weak after her illness; nevertheless, she turned up for the exam and managed to pass.
Which one looks more professional to you?

10. What kind of writing do you use the most?
What is important to think about when it comes to informal writing?
What is important to think about when it comes to formal writing?
No matter what kind of text you are going to write you are expected to use appropriate language for that kind of text. Let’s look into this further.

11. Informal writing Everyday language Short sentences
Slang and colloquialism may be accepted
Use contractions (isn’t, I’d, we’re etc.) and abbreviations (asap)
Be personal
Use verbs in the active form
Use informal language both when starting and ending a letter or an (Hi Karen, Love Tim)
The message must come through immediately

12. Formal writing
Use a clear structure and divide your text into paragraphs
Use linking words
Use a varied vocabulary, with complete and varied sentences
Use full forms of words (I have, we are, I would, as soon as possible etc.
Use formal words (instead of using deep use profound for instance)
Be formal and polite
Always use formal greetings and expressions to end a letter or an (Dear Mrs. Green, Sincerely yours)

13. Spelling – Why bother? Does it make sense?
Spelling is important so that a reader can process the communication as quickly and easily as possible.
What happens if you don’t spell correctly?
Have a look at the “spell checker” here ->
*Source unknown
Eye halve a spelling chequer It came with my pea sea It plainly marques four my revue Miss steaks eye kin knot sea. Eye strike a key and type a word And weight four it two say Weather eye am wrong oar write It shows me strait a weigh. As soon as a mist ache is maid It nose bee fore two long And eye can put the error rite Its rare lea ever wrong. Eye have run this poem threw it I am shore your pleased two no Its letter perfect awl the weigh My chequer tolled me sew
Does it make
sense?

14. Have fun while practising your writing skills 
Summary - Conclusion
Practise your writing a lot so that you improve your writing.
Try to use the tips in this lecture. This will force you to think a lot more about the way you write.
Have patience and remember that writing is a process. It takes time and you need to put an effort into it!
A text is never finished . It can always be polished and revised so that the reader gets more out of it and remember…
…it is not quantity that matters – it is quality!
Have fun while practising your writing skills 

15. How to Come up With Ideas for Writing
A common argument from students is ”I don’t know what to write – I have no imagination”
 Tips!
Look around yourself – what in your immediate field of vision can trigger your imagination?
Can you think of related things that have happened recently to yourself or anyone you know?
Is the given topic something that does not interest you in any way? Why?
Strategies: brainstorming or clustering!

16. SPAIN Paella Flamenco Tortilla española Barça Real Madrid Gazpacho
Food
Football
ESPEE
SPAIN
Warm climate
Siesta
Sangría

17. Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomgauld/3397589927/ (Tom Gauld)

18. WORKSHOP
Write a story about anything. Use one of the phrases below to start off your text. Try to use as many linking words as possible. In a normal situation you might not use as many in one place, but this is for practicing, so that you get used to using them.
The day I found… My great grandfather always used to say…
When she opened the refrigerator… After three years of searching ge finally…

19. Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbleith/3803599149/

20. Useful links
RMIT University, (A great page with lots of tips!)

21. List of references
Core English 2 (2009) Gustafsson, J., Hjorth, M., Kinrade, E., Bonnier Utbildning AB, Stockholm
English your way – Student’s Manual, (1996) Aldeborn, E. & Ågren L., Ekelunds Förlag AB, Solna
Revving up writing (2002) Persson, L., Liber AB, Stockholm
Pictures are taken from and licensed through Creative Commons
Photography from Anna Rothman