Writing skill
- Bắt đầu Hoàng Lan
- Ngày bắt đầu
Nguyễn Diệu Hương
(dieuhautotbung)
Thành viên danh dự
Minh Hieu Dam đã viết:The EHAO, I heard about this sometimes, and just visited it. Very interesting one, can I join this Huong
u just visited it? /
should have done that long time ago [-x Neway, you are more than welcome
I will YM you detail info tonite. To lan and others, writing for EHAO is one of the best ways to improve your creative writing skills. 
Doãn Hoàng Lan
(Hoàng Lan)
New Member
Doesn't anyone care to give comments about these two pieces of writing? (
The former is my first post. Taking sis Huong's advice, I have rewritten it, trying to replace some words so that the sentences run more smoothly.
1: I’m really intimidated by the prospect of writing anything in English. I can’t translate my thoughts into words coherently and naturally. Composing a good essay seems far beyond my ability. In fact, it appears completely impossible!
I’m trying desperately to improve my writing skill but there seems hardly any progress. Are there any practical tips to hone this skill?
2: “I have never felt confident with my English writing. To me, composing a good essay is so difficult that it seems completely impossible.
Although I try hard to improve my writing skill, I haven’t made much progress. I really need some practical tips to hone this skill.”
Please tell me which you think is better. Thanks in advance :x
( The former is my first post. Taking sis Huong's advice, I have rewritten it, trying to replace some words so that the sentences run more smoothly.
1: I’m really intimidated by the prospect of writing anything in English. I can’t translate my thoughts into words coherently and naturally. Composing a good essay seems far beyond my ability. In fact, it appears completely impossible!
I’m trying desperately to improve my writing skill but there seems hardly any progress. Are there any practical tips to hone this skill?
2: “I have never felt confident with my English writing. To me, composing a good essay is so difficult that it seems completely impossible.
Although I try hard to improve my writing skill, I haven’t made much progress. I really need some practical tips to hone this skill.”
Please tell me which you think is better. Thanks in advance :x
Nguyễn Diệu Hương
(dieuhautotbung)
Thành viên danh dự
I would go for the 2nd but a picky person would even cross out the 2nd sentence in it and merge the other 2.
Hoàng Chi Mai
(lablugirl)
Thành viên danh dự
This topic is dead... Except when it's not.
Question: I am writing my essay, and so totally killing the 250-500 words limit it's not funny. Is this bad? Am I going to hell?! I just know my essay will go above the 1000 mark, and am too frazzled to care at this point (ooh, I'm rebellious). Some tips, anyone? PLEASE???
Question: I am writing my essay, and so totally killing the 250-500 words limit it's not funny. Is this bad? Am I going to hell?! I just know my essay will go above the 1000 mark, and am too frazzled to care at this point (ooh, I'm rebellious). Some tips, anyone? PLEASE???
Nguyen Khac Son
(blackmind)
New Member
Your essay will be truncated if it goes over the 500 words limit, right? Assuming that you are using the online commonapp form.
Anyway, 1000 is simply off the chart. Care to publish those precious 1000 words for the sake of humanity?:> It would be hard to offer useful tips without having a long look at it, you know . As for a generic advice, 'write another one' comes off my head first.
BTW, just realize that I dont merit to post here. Oh well... take care...
Anyway, 1000 is simply off the chart. Care to publish those precious 1000 words for the sake of humanity?:> It would be hard to offer useful tips without having a long look at it, you know .
As for a generic advice, 'write another one' comes off my head first. BTW, just realize that I dont merit to post here. Oh well... take care...
Chỉnh sửa lần cuối:
Hoàng Chi Mai
(lablugirl)
Thành viên danh dự
Hmm, actually, I found away to get around that commonapp truncating rule. See, they have this additional page for Personal Statement that holds about 1000+ words, so I should be alright. In any case, I can twiddle with spaces until it fits. Unless my essay is crap, in which case I can't be helped >_<
I can't post my essay until I have sent it in though, cuz I'm superstitious like that Though if you're offering to edit it for me, or if you know someone who might be interested in doing it, please let me know!
Write another one? My imaginary heart condition can't take such torture...
I can't post my essay until I have sent it in though, cuz I'm superstitious like that
Though if you're offering to edit it for me, or if you know someone who might be interested in doing it, please let me know!Write another one? My imaginary heart condition can't take such torture...
Nguyen Khac Son
(blackmind)
New Member
I take back this statement. Just had a quick try at estimating the word count of essays printed in a book named'100 Successful College Application Essay'. 1000 is the norm there. No need to do anything then. Sadly, my old essay, which is well on its way to the trash can, does not even crack 200.
Your editing offer left me pondering quite a bit. How may reading others' essay affects the progress of composing my own remains a bizzare question. Anyway, if your essay falls on the off-beat category, then I would be willing to check it out. No useful tips guaranteed though.
Hoàng Chi Mai
(lablugirl)
Thành viên danh dự
Well, in my experience, it sometimes helps to read a good essays or ten P) while writing your own. On good days, I get really inspired by a really good piece of writing. On others, though, I tend to weep at my own incompetence, and butcher my poor 1068-word essay as a result.
P) while writing your own. On good days, I get really inspired by a really good piece of writing. On others, though, I tend to weep at my own incompetence, and butcher my poor 1068-word essay as a result.
Trần Thị Thanh Bình
(Tran Thi Thanh Binh)
New Member
Writing essays needs a lot of efforts and in my opinion,read and write everyday will help you improve your writing skill.Good luck
Hoàng Thế Đức
(Darkchocobo)
New Member
Dmn.... Why do you guys say so far away and full of shh...oh, sorry, theoritically like that ??
Try something simple like read news, read esseys, is it any good? If not, then try all the things above. IF you dont feel like your writting skill improve just by writting FOR YOURSELF, then try to ask someone check and correrct you writting, a senior maybe.
Try something simple like read news, read esseys, is it any good? If not, then try all the things above. IF you dont feel like your writting skill improve just by writting FOR YOURSELF, then try to ask someone check and correrct you writting, a senior maybe.
Nguyễn Xuân Hải
(nguyenhai)
New Member
"How do I improve my writing skill?" - a burning question, isn't it? It seems quite simple, yet sophisticated, for we all understand but are unable to give a satisfactory answer. Writing in English, or in any other language for that matter, consists of various aspects, such as vocabulary, uses of sentences and phrases, coherent of thoughts and etc. It might be impossible to have a generalized answer to cover every point, and to fit everybody. However, should we, if possible at all, even have an answer that satisfies everyone? I think it might be slightly more beneficial, if each of us finds one for him/herself. It will better serve each individual, and at the same time, build up one's own confidence. I know I have found mine.
A couple of months ago, I began to feel the need of rapidly improving my English skills, including that of writing. Certainly I asked myself the very same question - “How do I improve my writing skill”. In order to come to a conclusion, the first thing I did was to start writing immediately. I wrote just about anything I could think of, from jokes to serious criticism, from diary to stories; I even attempted to write a novel. That was how I discovered my weaknesses.
As I wrote, I encountered three major problems: lack of descriptive words, such as adjectives and adverbs, repetitive use of language, and unnatural and/or inappropriate expressions. I then tackled these three problems separately but simultaneously.
The first one was (still is) probably the hardest one for me to resolve. I have known no other effective way than trying to memorize whatever adjectives and adverbs I can find around, and to take notes of interesting and meaningful words I see when reading. This, of course, results in several stacks of index cards on my table and a notebook full of words I carry with me - but like I said, I have not another way.
The second problem, more than one might think, includes the repetition of words or phrases in a single writing, repetition in different writings by one person, and even worse, the repetition of conventional languages that are used by other people. My way of avoiding this problem is to use a thesaurus extensively: to check a new word, an old word, or even a sequence of words. For example, I checked the word "cogent", which was unknown for me at first, to find a synonym "compelling". I now looked up "compelling" to discover "convictive", "convincing"... so on and so forth. Furthermore, by reading more and more news, books, and criticisms, I also learn to avoid worn-out ready-made terminology and phraseology, such as "inevitable" when writing about Marxism and Communism, "melting-pot" when writing about international cultures, or "Achilles' heel" when writing about someone's weaknesses. These sorts of words simply show one's idleness or insufficient creativity, which should be omitted at all costs.
Finally, the problem of unnatural and/or inappropriate expressions remains for discussion. I however do not have any particularly good tip in this situation. Seemingly, it doesn't matter how much one tries, this problem will come up in one form or another, sooner or later. The best way to eliminate it as much as possible is to read more. I personally suggest jokes and novels, for these two contains more information about the language than one might initially think.
With all the above being said, I now highly recommend a book that I have found extremely helpful. It is "A Collection of Essays" by George Orwell (who is also the author of 1984 - a book of totalitarianism). This book has helped me with all three of the problems, for George Orwell is considerably a world-class essayist. His rich vocabulary gives me the feeling of being at every place he describes and smelling everything he smells, yet his simple use of language makes me feel I can do the same thing too. For an easy comparison, his manipulations of words can probably be said by Nguyen Tuan: "I just play with the words."
In one of his essays, "Politics and the English Language", he specifically makes comments on the way people write, "how-to" and "what-not" when writing. Toward the end, he summarizes his opinion in six straightforward rules, which I quote below:
1. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do
3. If it is possible to cut a wort out, always cut it out
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous
For any more comments or information regarding this book, one can feel free and contact me at anytime.
This is my story and my way of improving the writing skill. It can not be rapid, I have realized, but again, it is my way. I have shared here the experience I've gone through myself, and I hope it will be of help for someone. In any case, my stand point is that: Find an Answer for Yourself. You can "start writing", "look for weaknesses", and "tackle them separately but simultaneously". And the final note: keep writing! Huong is right - "writing for EHAO is one of the best ways to improve your creative writing skills." Do it!
Good luck to everybody,
-nxh
A couple of months ago, I began to feel the need of rapidly improving my English skills, including that of writing. Certainly I asked myself the very same question - “How do I improve my writing skill”. In order to come to a conclusion, the first thing I did was to start writing immediately. I wrote just about anything I could think of, from jokes to serious criticism, from diary to stories; I even attempted to write a novel. That was how I discovered my weaknesses.
As I wrote, I encountered three major problems: lack of descriptive words, such as adjectives and adverbs, repetitive use of language, and unnatural and/or inappropriate expressions. I then tackled these three problems separately but simultaneously.
The first one was (still is) probably the hardest one for me to resolve. I have known no other effective way than trying to memorize whatever adjectives and adverbs I can find around, and to take notes of interesting and meaningful words I see when reading. This, of course, results in several stacks of index cards on my table and a notebook full of words I carry with me - but like I said, I have not another way.
The second problem, more than one might think, includes the repetition of words or phrases in a single writing, repetition in different writings by one person, and even worse, the repetition of conventional languages that are used by other people. My way of avoiding this problem is to use a thesaurus extensively: to check a new word, an old word, or even a sequence of words. For example, I checked the word "cogent", which was unknown for me at first, to find a synonym "compelling". I now looked up "compelling" to discover "convictive", "convincing"... so on and so forth. Furthermore, by reading more and more news, books, and criticisms, I also learn to avoid worn-out ready-made terminology and phraseology, such as "inevitable" when writing about Marxism and Communism, "melting-pot" when writing about international cultures, or "Achilles' heel" when writing about someone's weaknesses. These sorts of words simply show one's idleness or insufficient creativity, which should be omitted at all costs.
Finally, the problem of unnatural and/or inappropriate expressions remains for discussion. I however do not have any particularly good tip in this situation. Seemingly, it doesn't matter how much one tries, this problem will come up in one form or another, sooner or later. The best way to eliminate it as much as possible is to read more. I personally suggest jokes and novels, for these two contains more information about the language than one might initially think.
With all the above being said, I now highly recommend a book that I have found extremely helpful. It is "A Collection of Essays" by George Orwell (who is also the author of 1984 - a book of totalitarianism). This book has helped me with all three of the problems, for George Orwell is considerably a world-class essayist. His rich vocabulary gives me the feeling of being at every place he describes and smelling everything he smells, yet his simple use of language makes me feel I can do the same thing too. For an easy comparison, his manipulations of words can probably be said by Nguyen Tuan: "I just play with the words."
In one of his essays, "Politics and the English Language", he specifically makes comments on the way people write, "how-to" and "what-not" when writing. Toward the end, he summarizes his opinion in six straightforward rules, which I quote below:
1. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do
3. If it is possible to cut a wort out, always cut it out
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous
For any more comments or information regarding this book, one can feel free and contact me at anytime.
This is my story and my way of improving the writing skill. It can not be rapid, I have realized, but again, it is my way. I have shared here the experience I've gone through myself, and I hope it will be of help for someone. In any case, my stand point is that: Find an Answer for Yourself. You can "start writing", "look for weaknesses", and "tackle them separately but simultaneously". And the final note: keep writing! Huong is right - "writing for EHAO is one of the best ways to improve your creative writing skills." Do it!
Good luck to everybody,
-nxh