So how does one teach the fundamentals of writing? In most cases, instructors avoid bombarding the student with grammatical rules. The goal is to make the student kick-start with the writing process. For primary levels, it begins with a fun sentence construction activity by letting them complete a sentence by supplying a noun, verb, or adjective. For example, “Swimming and skating ___ my hobbies.” This teaches them how to supply the right form of the verb in conjunction with subject-verb agreement, which is an area that many students regardless of their level are having trouble with. Singular and plural nouns are introduced early on as well.

Ready for the paragraphs?

Given that the student now has a good understanding of the basic rules in grammar and word formation, constructing paragraphs becomes his next goal. As a student understands that sentences are what make up a block of writing known as a paragraph, a tutor can guide a student in creating a simple block paragraph all the way to constructing more advanced ideas. Consider this paragraph written by a beginner student:

I like oranges. They are full of vitamin C. I drink orange juice in the morning. My mom told me to drink orange juice every day. She said it will help me fight colds. She said it will also make me healthier. I also like apples. But I don’t like most vegetables.

This simple paragraph delivers a clear message that the student likes oranges and apples but not vegetables. There isn’t much variety in sentence structure, as all the sentences are short. As it fulfills the objectives of paragraph writing, a good writing tutor can help the student on how to vary sentence structures and word choices as the student progresses.

As the student gets comfortable with paragraph writing, he can advance to tackling the essay. Basic essay writing introduces the student to the longer writing form. This is where he learns how to construct arguments through a set of paragraphs that follow the standard introduction, body, and conclusion model. A student may choose to tackle storytelling, and, in both cases, the tutor makes sure the student has a systematic narrative that adheres to sequence and style. The tutor then provides constructive feedback to point the student’s areas for improvement. Topics or themes at this point are confined to what the student knows like pets, vacations, family, or friends.

Writing is a skill that must be sustained. By the time the student steps into Middle School Essay Writing, he is expected to learn advanced methods like researching to back up his claims. A tutor may well introduce the student to the ethics of the craft as well, such as the importance of giving credits to cited information.

Grammar and mechanics will be reinforced throughout the writing stages. As the tutor points out the rules of usage, the student begins to understand the role of words and punctuation in making a sound sentence structure. Grammar and mechanics are best learned when a student sees how they are applied in actual practice.