English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)?

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:59:11 GMT

iLoveChubby — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:59:11 GMT

slmkhoo:
What's the total time given for writing a compo? I can't remember. I would think that 10-15 mins for branstorming and outlining, whether in point form or mind mapping, should be sufficient.

My P3 DS's compo test is 50 mins, not sure abt upper pri.

Besides the model compo books in the market, perhaps can also explore compositions written by students themselves.. the writing style may be closer/familiar to the kids. So far, i only know TAS, The Write Place, Creative Horizons sell compo books written by their students, not sure abt other centres.
Some pri schools also published their own essay books but not selling outside.

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:27:49 GMT

sharonkhoo — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:27:49 GMT

Sun_2010:
ngl2010:
[quote=\"vinegar\"]i just chanced upon this from one of books:

1) spend 5min to brainstorm for ideas
2) Take 10min to write down the main points
3) Take 10min to draw a story mapping or outline
And 25 minutes to write the whole compo? I am panicking now. I don't think my son can do it.... Sigh... Must :nunchuk: now

Hmm.. wondering , isnt step3 an enhanced version of Step2
Why do both?

IMHO, 25min to write and check is too much of a rush if one wants to develop a story and finish it off nicely.[/quote]What's the total time given for writing a compo? I can't remember. I would think that 10-15 mins for branstorming and outlining, whether in point form or mind mapping, should be sufficient.

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:25:43 GMT

sharonkhoo — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:25:43 GMT

ngl2010:
slmkhoo:
[quote=\"vinegar\"]how did u come out the idea of using the \"hill\"?? r u teacher? very creative.

Can't remember. I know my kids' teacher in Pr school also used something like this, but it had 5 stages which I thought a bit unnecessary when they are just starting. No, I'm not a teacher and never wanted to be, but we have lived overseas a lot and I've had to homeschool a bit.

Is the hill balanced on each side? Or steeper on one side than the other? For example, quickly introduce the body but slowly release the tension/resolution?[/quote]The basic model is balanced, but once the child is experienced, there are many ways to vary the basic model. A skilful writer can begin at the end or middle, for example, have a sudden ending etc. But in reality, given the time and word constraints of exams, it's better not to be too adventurous. Also, remember that doing well in exam writing is not a good indicator of whether a child is a good writer, or vice versa. There are many styles and purposes of writing, and doing well or badly in school exams is neither here nor there (unless there are problems with grammar and vocabulary or logical thought). Besides practising for exams, it would be good to encourage many different kinds of writing even if they are not school requirements.

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:08:51 GMT

Sun_2010 — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:08:51 GMT

ngl2010:
vinegar:
i just chanced upon this from one of books:

1) spend 5min to brainstorm for ideas
2) Take 10min to write down the main points
3) Take 10min to draw a story mapping or outline
And 25 minutes to write the whole compo? I am panicking now. I don't think my son can do it.... Sigh... Must :nunchuk: now

Hmm.. wondering , isnt step3 an enhanced version of Step2
Why do both?

IMHO, 25min to write and check is too much of a rush if one wants to develop a story and finish it off nicely.

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:44:40 GMT

ngl2010 — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:44:40 GMT

vinegar:
i just chanced upon this from one of books:

1) spend 5min to brainstorm for ideas
2) Take 10min to write down the main points
3) Take 10min to draw a story mapping or outline

And 25 minutes to write the whole compo? I am panicking now. I don't think my son can do it.... Sigh... Must :nunchuk: now

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:34:36 GMT

vinegar — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:34:36 GMT

i just chanced upon this from one of books:

1) spend 5min to brainstorm for ideas
2) Take 10min to write down the main points
3) Take 10min to draw a story mapping or outline

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 01:19:20 GMT

ngl2010 — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 01:19:20 GMT

slmkhoo:
vinegar:
how did u come out the idea of using the \"hill\"?? r u teacher? very creative.

Can't remember. I know my kids' teacher in Pr school also used something like this, but it had 5 stages which I thought a bit unnecessary when they are just starting. No, I'm not a teacher and never wanted to be, but we have lived overseas a lot and I've had to homeschool a bit.

Is the hill balanced on each side? Or steeper on one side than the other? For example, quickly introduce the body but slowly release the tension/resolution?

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:32:46 GMT

sharonkhoo — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:32:46 GMT

vinegar:
how did u come out the idea of using the \"hill\"?? r u teacher? very creative.

Can't remember. I know my kids' teacher in Pr school also used something like this, but it had 5 stages which I thought a bit unnecessary when they are just starting. No, I'm not a teacher and never wanted to be, but we have lived overseas a lot and I've had to homeschool a bit.

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:42:08 GMT

vinegar — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:42:08 GMT

slmkhoo:
I taught my kids to think of a compo as mainly 3 parts - beginning, middle, end (very obvious!). For the basic model, the main excitement should come in the middle, and based on the picture or topic, I ask my kids to first think about how they want that to be. After that, they can think about the 2 ends, ask themselves the 4WH questions etc. It may help to draw a 'hill' on a piece of paper with the main excitement at the top of the hill - he can jot some notes there, and the jot more notes at the 2 sides for the 2 ends. There are other ways to organise a compo, but start with this basic model first.

For practice, get him to do the planning orally with you first, with you writing the notes for him to show him how to do it. Get him to do each one quickly - at most 3 mins for each. For each picture, help him plan several different possible stories. If you do this regularly, he should get the hang of it. And, for fun, let him do a few with crazy or silly story lines too, even if they can't be used for boring school compos. It makes the process more fun!

how did u come out the idea of using the \"hill\"?? r u teacher? very creative.

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:39:55 GMT

vinegar — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:39:55 GMT

Skyed:
Encourage your kid to read more books.

i did,but he doesn't hv the patience to finish the whole book.He likes Ellie Belly books,i bot all the series for him.

He is still very playful. After spending half a day in school,another half a day on CCA or tuition,and all the endless homework,really seems no time to read.Even hv time,i've to allocate some time for him to relax,let him watch some TV n play....

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:53:39 GMT

Skyed — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:53:39 GMT

Encourage your kid to read more books.

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:12:28 GMT

vinegar — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:12:28 GMT

slmkhoo:
I taught my kids to think of a compo as mainly 3 parts - beginning, middle, end (very obvious!). For the basic model, the main excitement should come in the middle, and based on the picture or topic, I ask my kids to first think about how they want that to be. After that, they can think about the 2 ends, ask themselves the 4WH questions etc. It may help to draw a 'hill' on a piece of paper with the main excitement at the top of the hill - he can jot some notes there, and the jot more notes at the 2 sides for the 2 ends. There are other ways to organise a compo, but start with this basic model first.

For practice, get him to do the planning orally with you first, with you writing the notes for him to show him how to do it. Get him to do each one quickly - at most 3 mins for each. For each picture, help him plan several different possible stories. If you do this regularly, he should get the hang of it. And, for fun, let him do a few with crazy or silly story lines too, even if they can't be used for boring school compos. It makes the process more fun!

Draw a hill, good great idea!! Yes, u r right, i shld make it more interesting
:thankyou:

Reply to English Compo Writing=any quick way to start(plan)? on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:30:23 GMT

sharonkhoo — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:30:23 GMT

I taught my kids to think of a compo as mainly 3 parts - beginning, middle, end (very obvious!). For the basic model, the main excitement should come in the middle, and based on the picture or topic, I ask my kids to first think about how they want that to be. After that, they can think about the 2 ends, ask themselves the 4WH questions etc. It may help to draw a ‘hill’ on a piece of paper with the main excitement at the top of the hill - he can jot some notes there, and the jot more notes at the 2 sides for the 2 ends. There are other ways to organise a compo, but start with this basic model first.

For practice, get him to do the planning orally with you first, with you writing the notes for him to show him how to do it. Get him to do each one quickly - at most 3 mins for each. For each picture, help him plan several different possible stories. If you do this regularly, he should get the hang of it. And, for fun, let him do a few with crazy or silly story lines too, even if they can’t be used for boring school compos. It makes the process more fun!