English Writing ——Introduction

Chen Dongmei

Centre of Curriculum Studies in Basic Education

E-mail:cocs2@scnu.edu.cnTel: 13480256722

Why is writing unpopular? “Communication is more important than writi

ng.” “Writing is boring.” “Practicing writing is a waste of time.”

Discussion Who likes writing?

Why? Who doesn’t like writing?

Why not? Why are you studying writing? Why do you think practicing or improving

your English writing might be useful?

Writing and communication

Most international communication is written

Written communication provides less context than spoken communication so must be more accurate and more descriptive

Writing is not boring

Writing gives you a chance to be creative

Writing gives you a chance to express your opinions and encounter the opinions of others

The benefits of writing

Learn to think clearly about new subjects Develop good habits of thought Develop good language habits

Writing is the hardest of the language skills Practicing writing is slow practice

What is English Writing?

Slow trainingIf you want to perform any skill well and consistently, Train the skills slow over and over again.

“but I need speed!” You can practice fast, but first master the skill. Performing a strike fast but sloppy, for example, is a

great way to injure yourself. If you always practice fast, you are less likely to perceive

when you are doing things wrong and self-correct.

That’s just not true. You will still be able to move fast, and your movements will be more effective.

Imagine throwing 100,000 sloppy but fast punches at a training partner that just attacks you constantly as fast as he can.

You may never learn to throw an effective punch, and you will probably be very frustrated.

Will slow training hinder fast movement ？

Now Imagine throwing 10,000 perfect slow punches at a partner who attacks you slowly.

You have time to perceive the attack, adjust appropriately, and make sure you hit the target with a proper weapon.

Which one of these scenarios would make you a better fighter?

For learning ——For learning —— slow training is best. slow training is best. Medium speed is then used for prMedium speed is then used for pr

actice.actice.

Writing is Slow Practice Spoken language disappears Written language stays on the page Use writing practice to observe your

Good habits Bad Habits

Use writing practice to transform theoretical knowledge into… …practical knowledge: good habits

What will we learn in this course?—— Topics Unit 1 Friendship Is Gold Unit 2 Love Makes the World Go around Unit 3 Let’s Go in for Sports Unit 4 Internet Makes the World Smaller Unit 5 Everyone Needs Food Unit 6 Self-Confidence Makes You Powerful Unit 7 Christmas is round the Corner (Revision) Unit 8 To Fly My Dreams Unit 9 Job Hunting Unit 10 Cooperation Contributes to Success Unit 11 Honesty, an Important Part of Our Character Unit 12 Learn to Enjoy Your Free Time Unit 13 Why I Want to Teach Unit 14 English, a Gate to the World (Revision)

What will we learn in this course?—— Knowledge about Writing

Manuscript Form (include punctuation) Figures of Speech Sentence Paragraph The whole composition

Types of Writing Practical Writing

My thoughts on English writing

1. The ideas of your articles can only come from your daily accumulation of extensive reading and your thinking;

2. Good articles come from your arduous practice; 3. The teacher’s role is to stimulate your interests

in writing; 4. The teacher’s task is to teach you some

techniques on writing and design suitable writing tasks for you to practice;

5. The teacher will not correct your compositions word by word, but judge them as a whole.

6. You can know how to write good articles not through your teacher’s correcting the grammar mistakes in your exercises, but through your daily practice.

7. you will have to do many exercises for this subject.

How to learn?

Reading and comprehension summing-up the knowledge points Learn from the Sample Practicing Error Correcting

Discussion

Practice

Elements your final marks depend on

1. Your attendance and classroom performance account for 10%;

2. Your accomplishment of the assignments accounts for 20%;

3. Your final examination mark accounts for 70%.

Some Requirements 1. Attend my lectures regularly; 2. Be active in class; 3. Finish my assignments in time; 4. Try to read good articles as many as possibl

e; 5.Sum up what you have learn from different u

nit; 6.Always being ready to learn from each other; 7.Prepare one exercise book.