teach English

Writing With an Engine

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Here is a writing style tip that helps ESL students write well.

This style tip is about engines and comes from Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer.

WRITING STORIES WITH QUESTIONS

Part 1

An engine is a source of energy that keeps something moving. In writing, the engine is a question which the reader finds interesting. Because the reader wants to know the answer, he or she will keep reading to the end.

What are some common questions that give stories an engine?

  • Who did it?
  • Guilty or not guilty?
  • Who will win the race?
  • Which man will she marry?
  • Will the hero escape or die?

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Writing Style Tips

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Teaching ESL students how to write English stories and essays with style can be a challenge. What is style, anyway?

LEARN WRITING STYLE

Here are a few examples of how to write English with style. These come from Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer. This style tip encourages writers to use four numbers to improve their style.

One

A single idea in a short sentence can make a great impact. For example:

  • I have a dream.
  • Just do it.
  • “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

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Write a Summary

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Summarize a Story

Here is a lesson that teaches students how to write a one paragraph summary. In a previous lesson (click here), I showed you how to write a summary with a template called FACT.

In this lesson, use the same style to write a summary about the story in another video.

FACT Summary Writing

In this lesson, you will write a one paragraph summary with the FACT structure.

  • Focus on the main idea.
  • Analyze by describing the main pieces of the story.
  • Conclude means tell us the ending.
  • Tighten your writing by editing grammar errors, deleting extra words and creating paragraph unity.

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