Freewriting

Successful Freewriting


Freewriting is probably one of the best-known prewriting or brainstorming techniques. It works well when you have some thoughts on a topic, but can't decide how to develop it into an essay. Freewriting also functions as a development tool. It turns isolated ideas into a potential essay. People use this technique and often surprise themselves by coming up with an idea they didn't realize they had.

Specifically, freewriting means spending a predetermined amount of time writing nonstop and focusing on one specific topic. This technique may also be referred to as 'flow writing,' because it works on the flow, or momentum, that comes when you stay with your writing. The key is to not stop writing. Ignore your grammar, spelling, or whether your ideas make sense. It is purely about improving the speed of your writing.

1.) Resist the temptation to look back at what you have written.

2.) If you can't stay on topic, keep writing anything to maintain the flow.

3.) Don't censor yourself; remember, no one will see it so write everything.

4.) Follow your ideas regardless of where they lead you.

5.) When finished, highlight the most interesting and strongest ideas.

Try the process again after you've focused your topic; more ideas may be generated.

Sending an email

One of the easiest ways to practice English is with a penpal via email. But what about the format of a message? What if you want to send an email message to a company? How should you write it?

If you are familiar with the person you are writing to you are able to get away with being informal. On the other hand, if you do not know the person you need to be more formal. Take a look at the following sample email.


Date: Mon, 23 Oct 1995 12:33:24 –0500
From: Sara Chang
To: All Employees
Subject: New phone installations this weekend


**ATTENTION**

We will be getting a new phone system installed in the office on Saturday, October 29. To help with the installation, you are asked to do the following things by
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, at 5 PM.

1. Please remove all your belongings and papers from your desk.

2. Please be sure to delete all of your voice mail messages from the system.

If you have any questions or need help complying with these requests, please
call me at extension 555. Thanks for your cooperation!

Sara
Sara Chang
Ext. 555
schang@company.com

Describing a Picture

How can we describe this picture?

Begin your description with the kind of animal it is. You can then go on to physical characteristics and actions.


I see a green and black fly. It has big red eyes and is sitting on a white table.

Analyzing Tone

The following is a sample business letter:

[date]
Mr. John R. Michaels
Skyline Technologies
P.O. Box 423
Richmond, British Columbia
V6X1A7



Dear Mr. Michaels:

Congratulations! Your account at Blair's Computer Wholesale has been approved. We are
proud to have you as a customer. John, as you probably know, Blair's Computer Wholesale is a 12-year-old company, with 71 stores in nine provinces. We supply a complete line of computer products to our customers, including servers, desktops, notebooks, software, accessories, and individual hardware componentd. As a leader in this industry, we strive to provide the best possible customer service.

Our goal is to be the supplier you consider first whenever you have computer needs. Customer satisfaction is our number-one priority.

Your approved credit line is $7,200, with a monthly billing cycle. Monthly statements are mailed on the first working day of every month. Service charges will be added on past-due balances that are not paid by the twenty-fifth of the month.

We at Blair's Computer Wholesale are looking forward to serving you and developing a long and prosperous relationship. The local manager is Tina Wang. Her telephone number is 778-555-7281.


Yours truly,
Jack Blair
Credit Department



Analysis:

Tone


The tone of a letter can get a positive or negative reaction from a reader. You should set the tone of a letter at the beginning and maintain it throughout. The tone of any business letter should be courteous and friendly, and written as if you were talking directly with the reader. You don’t want to get too technical. Write in language that the reader can understand

The tone should also help to show that someone with a personality, rather than a computer, is writing the letter. If the reader believes that you are actually concerned about how they are affected, a positive response is much more likely.

Consider the sample Letter above. The letter sets a tone emphasizing efficiency and a personal touch right from the beginning by addressing both the writer’s past involvement with the customer and what the customer needs. The writer comes directly to the point and discusses the credit proposal for his customer’s company.

In the first paragraph, the writer establishes the tone of the letter:

We are proud to have you as a customer. In the second paragraph, he addresses the customer by their first name, maintaining a personal, courteous tone. Not only does Jack express positive feelings about his customer, he also suggests that the tone of the entire letter will remain one of positive feelings.

The sample letter is written with a positive tone directed toward its reader, which is maintained from start to finish. By convincing the reader that he is receiving a fair proposal from someone in a position to help them, then the letter will likely be successful.

the use of details

Consider the following response:



summer vacation is wonderful holiday to techers.

first, we can go traveling abroad to seesight seeing. when we go to other country, we'll learn more things than we learned in Korea using text books.

Second, we will take a rest to be refresh in order to work again with a new energy.

Third, we have our own time to enjoy my dream. sometimes we can meet my friends without having any barriers.

finally, summer vacation is perfect season for my leisure time



At first glance, it may seem poor, but this is not the case. The structure is clearly defined, and while using very little detail, what is given is fairly clear and to the point. This is something that will lead to a higher overall TOEFL iBT score. Clear writing means you will be understood.

What can we do to improve it?

1.) expand on the details
- remember: TOEFL iBT independent essays should be around 300 words.

2.) how can I expand on the details?
- we can go traveling abroad to seesight seeing.
- what can you see?
- here is somewhere you can talk about the interesting things you could see in the foreign
country you chose to visit.

- Second, we will take a rest to be refresh in order to work again with a new energy.
- How are you going to be refreshed?
- here is where you can talk about relieving stress
- people will be able to get there mind off of their work
- what could happen if we did not refresh ourselves and just worked nonstop?

- Third, we have our own time to enjoy my dream. sometimes we can meet my friends without having
any barriers.
- What is your dream/hobbies?
- why can you not normally do this?
- what barriers are you referring to?
- different time schedules?
- how often do you normally get to see your friends?


By expanding on the initial response this way, our TOEFL iBT writing score will be significantly higher.



Good luck with your studies,
ESL Study Guide

Expanding on an idea

Topic: Do you like sports?

Response:
I think that sport is a very helthy stuff to do. First of all is that sport burn your fat u dont have to be a faty and get calls.


Where do we begin to build on this?

go back to the question
- did we fully answer it?
- is our answer properly addressing the question?

In looking at the previous two points, we should quickly realize that it is something we can improve. Do you like sports? What kind of question is this? A writing prompt like this is asking for an opinion and we will need to give some supporting reasons to go with it. Again, go back to our basic structure. The following is an outline of how we could structure our answer, expanding on the given writing sample.

Introduction
- Hook: Is there a sport you play? find interesting?
- Opinion: Yes, I like sports
- reasons: avoid becoming fat, avoid insults

body paragraph 1
- topic sentence: Playing sports ensures people will (be skinnier/be healthy/avoid becoming fat)
- supporting detail: how do sports help you avoid becoming fat?
- burn it off
- advantages of exercise
- convert fat to muscle

body paragraph 2
- topic sentence: Playing sports ensures people will (avoid getting insulted/not be called names)
- supporting detail: why will people not be called names?
- develop muscle
- increased physical strength
- what about an example: martial arts
- not afraid to defend oneself

conclusion
- summarize your point of view



At this point we have a complete outline and can fill it in by discussing our points (making the essay). When using an example to expand on an idea, use something you are familiar with. One last point, while fatty may seem informal, the use of well placed idioms in an essay can go a long way towards showing improved or higher writing abilities.


Good luck with your studies,
ESL Study Guide

Where to begin?

Many times visitors to the site will submit things like the following in the free-writing exercises.

topic: homeless

response:
I have a lot of things to said. but i dont know speak english very well. That's too hard for me. i was very upset because i want to saying, writting something but i cant do it.


While there is obvious grammatical problems. The first and foremost thing is always addressing the topic.

What did you want to say about homelessness?
- That it is a big problem?
- That it is a minor problem?
- How to eliminate it?
- How certain things are contributing to it?


From there, brainstorm on the topic to find 2 or 3 supporting points to help you develop your argument.

If you wish to write on how it is a big problem, then you may choose reasons to support that.

- affects many people
- insufficient retraining programs (government programs to help people find jobs)
- less government funding to combat it (things such as housing projects for low income families)


If those are our three reasons we then need to expand on them in our body paragraphs. Remember the basic structure of an essay.


Introduction
- introduce the topic
- give your point of view

body paragraph 1
- introduce supporting reason
- supporting details

body paragraph 2
- introduce supporting reason
- supporting details

body paragraph 3
- introduce supporting reason
- supporting details

conclusion
- summarize your point of view



You do NOT need to write a perfect essay immediately. Learning any skill takes times and anyone learning English should take this into account. You will need regular practice and if possible, someone to give you some feedback. As always, don't get discouraged, everyone has to start somewhere.



Good luck with your studies,
ESL Study Guide