The POWER of Writing
We're talking about writing! Oh, what fun, right?
Hey, guys!
I really think you will find this text interesting and worth reading! Without further ado, let’s get on to it!
Writing Paper lasts 80 minutes in B2 First exam and 90 minutes in C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency. During that time you have to answer two questions – one compulsory (an essay) and one other question from the choice of three (in B2 and C1) or four (in C2).
In order to get good marks, you must be able to write accurately in English. However, you must also show that you can answer the questions in an appropriate way. You must organise your answer well and what you say must be to the point and in a suitable style.
In some ways, the Writing paper tests your reading skills as well as your writing skills. It is crucial that you read the questions carefully and that you do exactly what is asked of you.
Important!
The writing skills you practise during the exam preparation are not just useful in the exam. Planning a piece of writing, organising its content effectively and presenting ideas in the most appropriate ways are all skills which lead to better writing outside the exam room as well as inside it.
Today I want to present you with a strategy for effective writing – the POWER technique. It really is powerful! It consists of five stages and is the acronym of the five steps of the writing process:
Plan
Organise
Write
Edit
Review
Let’s see how we can make this strategy work for you.
Plan
Read all the instructions and notes very carefully, underlining all the significant points you must include in your answer.
Ask yourself:
- Who is my target reader? (This will help you choose the appropriate style.)
- Why am I writing this? (This will help you decide what to write and what would be irrelevant to mention.)
- What kind of text is this? (This helps you decide on the most appropriate format and layout.)
- What are the requirements of the task? (They are usually two or three things.)
Brainstorm ideas. Jot down all you can think of that is connected to the topic.
Time: 5-10 minutes
Organise
Analyse your notes, deciding which points to emphasise and which to omit.
Plan the layout. Think about your paragraph structure – rearrange the points in the order you intend to make them.
At this stage you should know the approximate form your layout will take before you begin to write it out fully. This is a much more effective use of time than writing your answer out once and then, as many students do in the exam, copying it out again in better handwriting. Do NOT do that!
Ask yourself:
- How many paragraphs do I need?
- What ideas should I put in which paragraph?
Time: 5 minutes
Write
Paper-based exam tips:
- Write in pen! Don’t write in pencil and don’t waste time later on rewriting your answers! You can write just parts of sentences or certain words in pencil, the ones you think you might change later on, but don’t forget to trace them in pen at the end.
- Make your handwriting as clear as possible – use a black or dark blue pen and remember that very small or careless handwriting can be very difficult for the examiners to read. You may well lose points for that. So make any alterations as neatly and clearly as you can.
General tips:
Make it clear where one paragraph ends and the next begins – either indent or leave an extra line between paragraphs.
Don’t just copy large chunks of the question – try to use your own words whenever possible – this will get you better marks. If you do need to use words that are in the question – and you certainly will sometimes – make sure you don’t make spelling mistakes with words from the task. This creates a very bad impression.
Keep referring to the task and your plan. Stick to the topic.
Ask yourself:
- Am I following my plan and focusing on the topic?
Time: 20-25 minutes
Edit
Allow at least 5 minutes for proofreading and evaluating your writing. Look for your mistakes. Check especially for those you know you often make.
Paper-based exam tip:
Write on alternate lines on the paper – this makes in easier to make corrections.
Make corrections neatly – score out once. You cannot use correction fluid.
Ask yourself:
How can I make this better?
Does each sentence make sense?
Is there a logical connection between sentences and paragraphs?
Have I used signal words?
Is my spelling accurate?
Is my grammar good?
Have I used a variety of sentence structures?
Do I need to add any articles?
Is my punctuation accurate?
Have I got all the prepositions right?
Time: 5 minutes
Review, Reflect, Rewrite
This step is crucial while preparing for the exam!
Show your essay to your tutor and get feedback from him/her. Study the notes your tutor makes. Keep a record of the typical mistakes you make.
Ask yourself:
- How can I incorporate my teacher’s suggestions in order to improve my writing skills?
- Do I need to go over some grammar points?
- Do I keep misspelling certain words?
Incorporate changes and improvements as you rewrite your essay. The best way to see what mistakes you make over and over again, and to eventually stop making them, is to rewrite your work. There is no other way.
I hope this POWER technique will help you become a better and more confident writer.
Give it a try, and let me know if you find it effective.
I can’t wait to hear from you!
Have a great day and watch out for falling space stations.
References:
Englert, Raphael, Anderson, Anthony, Fear, & Gregg, 1988
cambridgeenglish.org