Relier Pairs A route for writing workVersion en ligne A typical route for the development of writing skills. It may involve some or all of the following steps: par María Guadalupe Diez Sánchez 1 Sort and order ideas 2 Introduce & summarize the main writing task 3 Select and reject ideas 4 Prepare final text 5 Fast-write 6 Brainstorm ideas 7 Introduce the topic 8 Focus on useful models 9 Edit 10 Get feedback 11 Prepare draft 12 Plan de text Start to plan structure of text by arranging ideas. Another student can read and make useful comments/suggestions on the content, the message, the organization, or the language. Based on feedback, students write a finished text. Get students interested through an advert, article, picture, or discussing some key issues. Make sure students know what they are expected to do, the genre (magazine article? letter? formal report? etc.), and the audience (who they are writing to and why). Preparing a draft version before the final one gives them the chance to get the reader reactions. Use notes to start shaping the text. The layout & order of paragraphs. Are there any special rules for the genre? What is worth leaving out? Whole class: use the board to collect as many ideas as possible. Small groups: speak and take notes. Students carefully go through their own text, checking if it says what they want it to, if it is clear, if its language is correct, etc. A very good way to overcome 'blank page' terror and get ideas flowing is to 'fast-write'. Help students to study sample(s) of similar written texts, focusing on content, message, organization, grammar, phrases, etc.