Question:
VERY poor writing skills What can I do?
work.it.out.
2009-03-04 18:49:23 UTC
I am a grade 12 student heading to college, and my writing skils are poor. I've had a hard time with analyzing and understanding english writing. For example, when the teacher asks, "why has the author done so and so this way?", I never have the slightest idea. When someone answers this question in class, it makes much more sense to me. I guess I never "read between the lines". =S. I even have a tough time expressing essays. I HATE point,proof, analysis, and that's what pretty much english is about! I can never write a good point and asupporting analysis for my quote. I always panic and I usually end up writing a whole bunch of bs in the end where in the end, I recieve a low mark. This is embarrassing seeing that I am in grade 12 and I need a good mark in english in order to be accepted into other colleges.
What can I do to help build up my skills? I know reading is helpful for sure, but what else?
Seven answers:
J. Milton
2009-03-04 18:55:05 UTC
Most english classes focus on literary analysis, but that's not what all writing is. I would recommend getting involved with your school newspaper. That gives you an opportunity to work on your writing skills without forcing you to use literary analysis at the same time, which is a skill you can pick up by reading (the book and then the sparknotes afterwards).
chocoroco
2009-03-05 03:02:09 UTC
honestly, i'm about to graduate college and i still have trouble with stuff like "why did the other done so and so this way" kinds of questions. keep trying your best. write a draft and ask your teacher to work with you on improving it. or have people go over your work with you when you finish and before you turn it in. brainstorm ideas with other classmates. after reading a book, discuss it with other people, preferably people in your class or those who've already read the book.



and keep writing! i think the problem isn't necessarily writing skills, but analysis, like you said. sometimes that's just not everyone's skill. i'm sure there are other things you are good at as well. however, you're right to try and improve your abilities.



i love to read and have an easy time writing, but i still hate the kinds of assignments you're talking about. so it's not completely necessary to be perfect at it to be a good writer or to be successful in life, or to get into college. so try not to stress and instead just do your best and know that that is enough. you will do better that way.



your writing here was not bad at all, and it wasn't for a professor or teacher or anyhing to read, so it wasn't necessarily even your best writing. so i think you're doing okay when it comes to being ABLE to write. it's being able to analyze and put that on paper.



i'd say just do multiple drafts when you can. if the answers other students give to questions make sense to you, then you CAN understand it. it's just that you're having a hard time coming up with it yourself. try to see how they came up with their answers. why did they decide that that was a good answer? what was it that made them think that way? then try doing what they do.



it's okay to not have the right answer in class. try joining in on the discussion, or asking good questions. maybe ask the teacher to clarify or say the question in a different way. maybe you are just not understanding what the teacher is looking for in the first place.



good luck!
cherokee12132
2009-03-05 02:59:09 UTC
read books, and just deal with it.



the good thing is once you go to college you are forced to write a ton of papers for ENG101 and 102(or composition and literature) SOOO you will have good writing skills in no time!! take care and good like!!! :)
pira shoes
2009-03-05 02:53:06 UTC
what really helped me out alot of blogging such as blogger, blogspot, facebook, xanga. and try your best to type in a proper format it doesnt seem like work tat much when youre just writing about your day or daily problems
kitty_kat4602000
2009-03-05 03:02:42 UTC
i love Wikipedia, as it gets short, easy to understand answers to any question....try using that
Aw S
2009-03-05 03:00:28 UTC
i say just keep writing i have that problem to keep tring i got better by doing that
2009-03-05 02:52:08 UTC
get a tutor and practice a lot


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
Loading...