Write it Right!
I love writing, and even if you think you hate it or believe you're terrible at it, I'm here to help you.
Ever since I was able to hold a pencil, I've enjoyed using words to express ideas. As a teacher, it's my privilege to guide my students through the writing process, helping you turn thoughts into texts.
What do you need to write? Whether it's an academic essay or a cover letter (a letter that you send with your CV in order to apply for a job), I can help you improve your work.
One of my most important writing tips is: Choose your words carefully.
You shouldn't write words to simply fill up a page, but at the same time, you should illustrate your ideas with relevant (adjective = suitable, useful, and fitting) details.
Imagine that you have to write an essay about a popular sport in your country. Which of the following sentences would you include?
In my country, Canada, most Canadian people really love the sport hockey, and they really love playing hockey, and love watching hockey, and they love talking about hockey, too.
The majority of Canadian people say that they enjoy hockey, whether playing it, watching it, or discussing it with their friends.
Everyone in Canada loves hockey.
The first sentence is repetitive; it uses many unnecessary words.
The last sentence is too general and gives no examples to support the controlling idea. Besides, it's probably not true that everyone in Canada loves hockey.
The second sentence has a clear main idea with relevant examples. It’s the best one.
Whatever you’re writing, you should always ask yourself:
(1) What’s my main idea?
(2) Can I include a relevant example to illustrate or support it?
Every piece of writing needs focus. Even a cover letter needs to have a controlling idea: "You should hire me for this job because I have these relevant skills and experience."
Finally, it's always useful to ask someone else to read your work. The reader doesn't need to be an expert in English or in grammar. They just need to tell you what they understood or what they didn't get. This will help you edit.
Remember: Good writing is not all about perfect grammar or fancy vocabulary; it's about communicating ideas in a clear way.
--Susan
