1. Breaking through English Writing Barriers
突破英文寫作困境
東海大學外文系
吳凱琳

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Writing Strategy 1: Prewriting
“Don’t think. Type. The thinking comes later.”
“The first time, you don’t think, you just write.” ~ Finding Forrester

6. Prewriting: Write before writing
Listing
Freewriting
Clustering
WH-Questions

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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?

11. 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

12. Three parts of the essay

15. Writing Exercises: Put the ideas into a logical order by filling in the outline and adding a third major idea Thesis: 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)
_______________________
1.______________________
2.______________________
B. _________________________
1. _____________________
C. _______________________
2. _____________________

16. 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

17. 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”

18. 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

19. 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

21. 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

22. 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