Stage 3 guidelines for writing: Functions

Here is a functions objective for Stage 3 for writing:

• To develop writings skills for the following purposes:

  • Hypothesize
  • Present arguments or points of view accurately and effectively
  • Persuade
  • Summarize
  • Report
  • Present results of research
  • Express emotions

Here are some functions strategies for Stage 3 guidelines for writing:

• Analysis

  Determine which functions you need to work on.

• Practice

  Practice writing texts that call for the functions you need to develop. Choose a topic a language associate (LA) does not know very much about, and try to persuade, present results of research, or present arguments or points of view accurately and effectively. See if the LA is convinced!

• Selective attention

  Choose one function, for instance, summarize, and commit yourself to taking notes in church service each week for a month, or at some other place where there is a similar opportunity. Then have your LA look over your notes and point out ways you can improve.

Here is a functions technique for Stage 3 guidelines for writing:

The Write and Rewrite technique

Here is a functions activity for Stage 3 guidelines for writing:

Use writing at work, for education, and in everyday life. Note the purposes for writing and the ones you feel you are not yet able to use writing as effectively as you would like.

• Generic module: Stage 3 guidelines for writing: Functions
• In overview module: Stage 3: Writing modules
• In modular book: Guidelines for a Language and Culture Learning Program, by Carol J. Orwig
• In document collection: Other Resources
• In bookshelf: Language Learning

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 3.5, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 8 December 1998

© 1999 SIL International