Composition Writing Tips

Dear 4F,
It was a fruitful afternoon of supplementary today learning more about composition tips. Some 20 of us came for supplementary and discussed through what and how to improve in preparation of the comong compostion exam. Well, for those who have missed it due to some reason or other, here's the notes! Since you couldn't make it, you'll have to print them out. =)

Preparation:
1. Get enough rest the night before, and make sure you know how to spell words that are commonly mis-spelt.
2. Read through your English notebook, as well as your composition file.
3. Go through all errors previously made and try spelling or writing them (especially for tenses) correctly this time round.
4. Look out for words that have been underlined with a tick. Those phrases are well-written and it would be good to use in composition if the situation allows.
5. Be adventurous in writing, and try to think of an ending that people do not usually write.
6. Describe feelings of people, as well as appearance of characters.
7. Check through tenses.
8. Check through spelling.
9. Do not write too much dialogue in the composition. At the most, write about 2-3 of them.
10. Write at least 3 paragraphs, including introduction, complication, resolution and coda.
11. Avoid long sentences.
12. Keep word length to approximately 160-200.
13. Use specific words if possible, try not to use words that are too general.

Writing a story:
Once an incident is chosen, you should keep three rules in mind.
1. Remember to involve readers (which are the composition markers) in the story. It is much more interesting to actually recreate an incident for readers than to simply tell about it.
2. Find a generalization which the story supports. This is the only way the writer's personal experience will take on meaning for readers
3. Remember that although the main component of a narrative is the story, details must be carefully selected to support, explain, and enhance the story.
Stories are generally written in the first person that is, using "I." However, third person ("he," "she," or "it") can also be used.
Stories rely on concrete, sensory details to convey their point. These details should create a unified, forceful effect, a dominant impression
Stories should include these story conventions: a plot, including setting and characters; a climax; and an ending.

Some conjunctions to use in replacement of common words:

To show addition
· and · in addition · besides · furthermore · moreover · what's more · too · not only ... but also · both ... and · not so obvious · as well as · another

To show time
· now · since · after this · at length · thereafter · already · at length · after a few hours · in the end · afterwards · then · later · previously · formerly · at an earlier time · at the same time · simultaneously · meanwhile · in the meantime · and then

To show sequence
· first, second, etc. · next · former · latter · final · last

To emphasize
· obviously · in fact · as a matter of fact · indeed · what's more · even without this · especially · truly · really · certainly · moreover · in truth · above all

To compare
· similarly · likewise · in like manner · parallel with · in the same category · comparable to · equally important

To contrast
· on the other hand · on the contrary · conversely · by contrast · from another point of view · more important · but · yet · and yet · however · still · after all · for all that · although this is true · while this is true · in spite of · though· even though· nonetheless · nevertheless · notwithstanding · in spite of this

To include
· namely · especially · specifically · in detail · including · in particular · to list · to enumerate

To repeat
· to repeat · in brief · in short · as I have said · as I have noted · in other words · once more · again · yet again · that is

To give examples
· for instance · for example · to demonstrate · to illustrate · as an illustration · a case in point · another case

To show purpose
· to · in order to · so that · for the purpose of · with this in mind · with this in view

To conclude
· to conclude · in conclusion · thus · finally · last · to end

To infer
· hence · so · therefore · consequently · as a result · for this reason · this being the case · it follows that ...

To summarize
· in brief · in summary · on the whole · to sum up · in other words · briefly · in short · in conclusion

To exclude
· with this exception · all except · all but · except for this · not that · but not · neither ... nor

To show condition
· if · whether

To show alternatives
· or · either ... or · whether ...or not

To concede
· no doubt · admitting · to be sure · certainly · indeed · granted · true · in any case · in any event

To refute
· no · hardly · on the contrary · never

To mark
· with respect to · as for ... · concerning · in point of reference

To link
· in general · to resume · in particular · to continue · to return · along with

To paint a picture
· imagine this scene · to illustrate my point · let's examine this idea closely

In ending, here is a checklist whenever you write a piece of composition:
Checklist for composition:

Have you checked for…

 Correct tenses?

 Three-finger spacing for paragraphing?

 Capital letters for the start of each sentence?

 Correct punctuation?

 Correct spelling?

 Appropriate expressions?

 No Singlish?

 A concluding paragraph?

 Any way you can make your story more unusual or interesting?