Stage 2 guidelines for writing: Appropriate varieties

Here are some objectives for learning appropriate varieties for writing in Stage 2:

To practice formal and informal registers in writing letters

• To practice formal style for reports, term papers, and essays

Here are some strategies for learning appropriate varieties for writing in Stage 2:

Analysis Look in your Text Portfolio for examples of letters, reports, term papers, and essays. If you do not have them, find some and study them specifically to notice the register and degree of formality used in them. Practice Draft a copy of a formal report (or other type of writing from the above list) and edit it several times, checking for consistency in style. Ask a language associate (LA) to check it. Edit your copy. Make mental notes of the differences between formal style and informal style. Selective attention Find out the specifics of headings on business letters, or work on the style of how a term paper is readied for presentation. Auditory representation Make an oral read-through of your letter or paper with an LA. Have the LA make corrections as necessary. Listen to the flow and style necessary for such a formal setting.

Here are some techniques for learning appropriate varieties for writing in Stage 2:

• The Text Portfolio technique
• The Write and Rewrite technique

Here are some activities for for learning appropriate varieties for writing in Stage 2:

Look for books in the target language on how to write business and personal letters, how to write essays, and so forth These are things older school children in the community need to learn to do. Often their school books can help you.

• Use writing for everyday tasks. Ask educated mother-tongue speakers to correct you and to give you feedback.

• Generic module: Stage 2 guidelines for writing: Appropriate variet...
• In overview module: Stage 2: 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