Some Tips For Writing Compositions

There are more to a good piece of writing than using good phrases. A piece of writing full of ‘good phrases’ with no interesting content will not ‘score’ well. Some students have a tendency to ‘overuse’ such phrases or use them inappropriately.

An excellent piece of work needs to have clear and appealing ideas and is supported with vivid details. The introduction must be effective and has the ability to arouse the interest of the reader. Some examples are : use of sounds, dialogues or flashbacks.

An example of a flashback:

Sitting in my cold, dark cell, I reflected and mourned on my dark, shadowy past….

Characters must be interesting and well-described. The use of relevant dialogues and description of appearance can bring life to the characters.

Example:

The pharmacist recoiled in terror and let out a blood-curdling scream.

Of course, interesting phrases must be used. Try to make the phrases specific and vary their usage. So instead of car, use phrases such as a red BMW. Use vivid verbs – such as scurried off instead of ran.

Pay attention to the sentence structure. Vary the length. Strike a balance between long and short sentences. Sometimes a short sentence can have a great effect on the reader.

Example:

There was no sign of the policeman; it was as quiet as a graveyard. I panted and gasped for air. There was a sense of triumphant feeling in me. I had escaped.

Try a different way of starting a sentence instead of using nouns or pronouns.

Example:

Grabbing a knife from a kitchen, I made my way out.

Shocked at the appearance of the stranger, the children fell silent.

Use good linking words and connectors well. eg Just then, without hesitation

Start and end well. A good ending will leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Example:

Murder. I had killed someone; taken away someone’s life. I crumpled my face with tears. Then I ran. I ran.

Last, but not least,there must not be too many mistakes in spelling, punctuation and grammar.