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Good Writing Skills Are Essential to College Success by P Carol Jones

College students are expected to use writing to show in-depth knowledge. To be successful writers in college, students need strong skills in documented research writing, and they must practice editing and revision. Students are supposed to learn how to write in elementary, middle, and high school, but not all students are adequately prepared to write a well organized, logical essay. For whatever reason, in many of today’s middle and high schools, students graduate without ever being required to write a formal paper complete with footnotes or in-text citations, bibliography, and a well-organized presentation of the material. Without good writing skills, those students who go on to college will struggle to succeed academically.

In fact, Dr. David Conley, Professor of Educational Policy and Leadership in the College of Education at the University of Oregon, stated in one of his many papers on college readiness: “The ability to write well is the single academic skill most closely associated with college success…”

Often, middle and high school teachers feel pressed just to cover the required material, much less assign a documented research paper. It takes a long time to grade 80 to 130 multiple-page essays and give adequate feedback for the student. Sometimes teachers have to choose between assigning a paper and covering all the required material for a unit.

When middle or high school students are assigned a paper, they sometimes take several weeks to write it; the teacher often takes them through the process step by step. Even so, many student put off any writing until the last minute, then rush to get the assignment done, and seldom proofread or edit-unless that process is covered in class-a process that definitely will not happen in college. In college, students are often given multiple papers to write per semester in more than one class. College students must write in an academic style that requires critical thinking with ideas and supporting detail clearly expressed, all grammatically correct at the time it is turned in. Students need to learn, while still in middle and high school, to use both spell-check and grammar-check, but understand that the computer does not catch all errors (is it there, their, or they’re?). They must proofread the final document before turning it in.

One serious problem in college writing, and even in high school, is the temptation to plagiarize. Too many students are tempted by the increasing availability of papers for purchase from online sources. Students that plagiarize are cheating themselves of the learning experiences involved in developing and using his or her writing skills-skills that they will need to succeed in whatever occupation they find themselves.

Teenagers need to understand that good writing skills are essential for good communication skills and no matter what career he or she pursues, that teenager will need to write clear, error-free, well-organized business letters, resumes, job applications, memos, accountability reports, and a whole range of other possibilities. Good writing skills will make a difference in that young person’s ability to succeed in college or in the job market.

Written communication skills are still essential in life beyond school, despite our multi-media world. Follow your teenager’s progress through high school to be sure he has the skills needed to write clear, well-documented papers in college.

P. Carol Jones is the author of “Toward College Success: Is Your Teenager Ready, Willing, and Able?” Learn more about preparing your teens for college success at http://www.towardcollegesuccess.com.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Article Writing Skills – How to Write the Best Copies Possible by AJ Simon

1. Learn to type faster. If you really want to dominate the article marketing world, improving your writing skills is your best bet. To do this, set aside some time for you to practice every day. I suggest that you spend 30 minutes a day improving your existing skills as a writer. After a few weeks of doing this, you should be able to write an article in 10-15 minutes and 4 an hour. So if you want to dominate the article marketing world, I suggest you master the art.

2. Second, be consistent. The real successful writers will be very consistent with their work schedule. So, if you want to see the best results possible, set up a time during your day that you will sit down and write for a certain amount of time. Article marketing takes time to build and does not happen overnight. This is not a get rich quick scheme, this a real skill that requires real practice.

3. Keep your articles very short. Aside from typing faster and staying consistent, you must also keep your articles short and sweet. This is because people do not want to spend their time reading your content all day long. Instead, they want to get the information they are looking for as fast as possible. So, keep you content under 300 words in length and include many line breaks and paragraphs. This will make it easier on your readers’ eyes and get them to read the entire copy.

Would you like to know more about how I do it? Download your free guide “Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide” here: article writing secrets

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Article Writing Skills – The Best Ways to Improve It by Sean R Mize

Article marketing is now considered the most powerful and most cost-effective internet marketing tool. If done correctly, this can offer everything that you need to boost your sales and revenue. These include expert status, enormous traffic, better page ranking, and improved business branding. However, in order to enjoy all these benefits, you must first know how to create great articles. Having excellent article writing skills is a must. Here’s how you can develop or improve it:

1. Attend writing seminars and training programs. I’m glad to inform you that there are now several online writing seminars and training programs that you can take advantage of. Most of these are offered by those people who are recognized experts in this field. Although this may mean shelling out your precious dimes, you can be assured that these seminars will help you take your writing skills to the next level in no time at all.

2. Practice makes perfect. Here’s the truth; attending writing seminars isn’t enough to become a good article writer. You still need to put everything you’ve learned into practice. Make at least 2-3 hours per day writing articles on any topic that you can think of. It is through this that you’ll be able to identify and fix the rough edges of your writing.

3. Ask for feedback. If you can’t seem to determine your weaknesses, I suggest that you let other people critique your work. Show your articles to those people who really understand the ropes of article writing. Listen to their comments and suggestions. Apply necessary adjustments the next time you tap on your keyboard.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Article Writing Skills – How to Become a More Confident Writer by Sean R Mize

When online users read articles online, they can easily figure out if the person behind the article is confident with what he’s saying and with his skills. These people will not take you seriously if they feel that you’re not even sure about what you’re doing. So, it’s important that you project confidence through your copies. Here’s how you can make that happen:

1. Hone your writing skills. Patch up the rough edges of your writing and become a more confident writer by taking advantage of relevant training programs and seminars particularly those that are being offered by those people who are considered experts in the field of online article writing. Put everything you’ve learned from these seminars into practice by writing articles as often as you can.

2. Ask for feedback. Not sure if your articles are perfect? Then, look at them from other people’s eyes. Encourage your friends and neutral third parties to read your articles and ask for feedback. Through this, you’ll easily figure out the things that you need to improve on to produce better articles the next time you tap on your keyboard.

3. Know your target audience. You’ll most likely to become a more effective writer if you know the people who’ll read your articles. Know the information that they’re looking for so you’ll know the best topics to explore. Understand their preferences so you’ll know the elements to use when writing your copies.

4. Learn from the experts. Read those articles that are very popular in the online arena. Notice the elements that were used in writing them and those things that make them stand out from the crowd. This should give you an idea as to how you can produce your very own award-winning web copies.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Article Writing Skills – 4 First Methods to Improve It by Sean R Mize

As a professional article writer, you must exert effort to continuously improve your writing skills. This is not only to get ahead of your competitors but also to make sure that you’ll be able to offer your readers exactly that they’re looking for.

Here are the first methods to improve your article writing skills:

1. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, it’s really difficult to determine our own strengths and weaknesses. That is why I recommend that you ask feedback from people who are reading your articles. Encourage your readers to voice out their opinions and comments. Ensure that you take them constructively. Through this, you’ll know the things that you need to improve on and those things that you must stop doing to improve the overall quality of your articles.

2. Read and learn. There are now a lot of expert article writers who are sharing their tips and techniques in the online arena. All you have to do is visit their website and you’ll surely be able to increase your knowledge. Know what they know and you’ll be able to follow their footsteps in no time.

3. Training and coaching programs. Invest time and money on relevant training and coaching programs that are offered by expert article writers. Choose those that compliment your skill level. These can help you become more effective and more successful writer in no time.

4. Practice makes perfect. Write as often as you can. Ensure that you apply all the things that you’ve learn from the experts. Then, show your articles to neutral third parties who can help you gauge if you’re indeed on the right track.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Article Writing Skills – 4 Exceptional Methods to Hone It by Sean R Mize

If you’re really serious about making it big in the field of article writing, it’s important that you exert conscious effort in improving your writing skills. As you know, this is one pre-requisite in order to get better on your craft. There are so many ways to become a better writer. Some of them are the following:

1. Know and understand your readers. You just have to believe me when I say that the key to become a more effective writer is getting in-depth knowledge about the people that you’re serving. If you know what they want, you will not have any problem offering them exactly what they’re looking for. As you know, this is the only way to impress them.

2. Be an expert. Your target audience will most likely to be compelled to read your articles if they know that you’re a great source of useful information. So, don’t stop learning more about your chosen niche and the topics that you’re discussing until such time that you gain an expert status.

3. Be a better writer. Make it a habit to ask people for their feedback on articles that you write. This may seem pretty simple but this could be the key to enhance your writing skills. Ask neutral third parties to send in their feedback and recommendations so you’ll know the things that you need to improve on. Then, find ways on how you can convert your weaknesses to strengths.

4. Read and learn. Good thing there are now a lot of expert articles writers who are sharing a slice of their in-depth knowledge on blogs, forums, social networking sites, and on their own websites. Read what they have to say and you might be able to obtain useful article writing tips and techniques.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Article Writing Skills – 5 Amazing Great Methods to Enhance It by Sean R Mize

Just like in any other endeavor, you’ll most likely to stay on top of the game if you continuously exert conscious effort to improve on your craft. Here’s how you can become a better article writer:

1. Get to know your target audience. Here’s the truth; you’ll become a more effective writer and you’ll be able to produce highly targeted content if you know the people that you’re writing for. So, make time to identify and understand the needs of your target readers. I suggest that you build an ongoing communication with them by simply spending time on forums and blogs that they usually visit.

2. Always ask for feedback. Get to know the things that you need to improve on by simply asking your readers for feedback. Encourage them to send you an email should they have comments and suggestions.

3. Hire a mentor. This will speed up the process of improving your article writing skills. Hire a personal coach who is proven effective in writing great articles. This person must have proven track record and amazing teaching skills.

4. Learn from the experts. Follow the footsteps of expert article writers by simply reading and scrutinizing the articles they publish online. Get to know their writing techniques and the various elements that they’re using. Then, attend their writing seminars or coaching programs if they have any. This is the fastest way to get useful tips and valuable writing techniques.

5. Write as often as you can. Writing is something that will get easier with constant practice. So, write everyday.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Article Writing Skills – Uncover 4 Interesting Steps to Enhance It by Sean R Mize

1. Read popular articles on directories. You can learn various effective writing techniques by simply reading popular articles that are posted on reputable directories such as EzineArticles. Spend at least a couple of hours everyday reading those that were written by expert article writers. Jot down the elements that they’re usually using that make their articles stand out from the crowd. This will give you an idea as to how you should write your very own articles in order to reap the same success.

2. Read articles and other online materials about article writing. You’ll be happy to know that there are a lot of online resources that offer several effective writing tips and techniques that can help you improve your skills. Make time to read each of them particularly those that were written by people with proven track record in this field.

3. Practice every day. Write as often as you can. This is the most effective way to enhance your writing skills. It will help if you get somebody to mentor you who can help you figure out your flaws. Find ways to fix these flaws and try not to commit the same mistakes again.

4. Ask for feedback. If you don’t have the resources to hire a mentor, go ahead and get your readers to offer you their feedback. Take each one constructively. To easily encourage your readers to participate, I suggest that you offer them some takeaways. When I was starting out, I offered my readers with free short ebooks in exchange of their feedback. That helped me easily figure out the things that I needed to improve on.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

My Writing Skills by Larry D James

I want to first start this article by stating that I am a published writer, on several different sites, and have received expert status as a writer. Now having said that, I only begin writing less than 6 month ago, what does that me to you, it means you may also have the ability to write as well. I am a avid reader, and a person who loves to gain knowledge. One of the things I’ve learned through my studies is that much of the knowledge you’ve gained along the way, will come up and make itself available to you in many different ways and at many different times.

One of the keys we all need to incorporate into our lives is, to be able to push ourselves to reach places we never have, and places we never thought possible. Because as one of my mentors say, the question is not what is possible? But, what is possible for you? Since everything that you can see, was once an idea in someone’s mind, is proof that you have to see it in your mind first. A lot of us have the ability to sit down and write a one, two, or even three page article on any topic we choose, and there are others who can’t for whatever reason put together a complete sentence.

Finding your passion in a specific area, is a great way to start your writing skills. The mind set involved in that process is to spend as much time doing what you like, and surely you will be able to gain more knowledge about the very thing you will be writing about. An example would be let’s say I enjoy cooking, one of my focuses might be, the utensils so after learning all I could about those I then move to the recipes. After recipes, I may go to types of stoves, you get the idea. Believe it or not you can do that with a number of things. Let’s go to shoes, you could start with baby shoes, ladies shoes, men’s shoes, boots etc.. the list goes on and on.

My final two cents I want to leave you with is, never stop learning, because it will be the source that will sustain your growth when all else fails, and sooner or later, all else will fail, It’s called writers block. We all get it at some point, and so will you, just know it to shall pass.

Mr. Larry D James is a published ezines writer, with articles on goarticles.com 212 articles.com and over 38 video’s on more than 20 different video sites, go to http://speakwithlarry.com or http://iknowicanspeak.com to receive FREE and valuable information about: Public Speaking and Setting up your Website.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Article Writing Skills – Uncover 3 Fresh Secrets to Develop High Level Article Writing Skills by Sean R Mize

As article marketing emerged to be the most effective and most inexpensive internet marketing tool, more and more ebusiness owners are now trying their hardest to dominate this field. If you’re one of them, you better develop high level article writing skills so you can get ahead of the pack. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Read and learn. You’ll be happy to know that you can now easily get the kind of information you need (including tips and techniques) on how you can write better articles by reading relevant online resources. Right now, there are thousands of blogs, articles, forums, ebooks, and ezines that aim to help writers get better on their craft. Make time to read these and get as much relevant information and guidance as possible.

2. Surround yourself with great article writers. As they say, “tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are” If you want to become one of the best article writers in the world wide web, you must consider mingling with other people who have already excelled in this field. Through this, I am sure that you’ll be able to adopt their approaches and techniques in no time.

3. Practice. Practice makes perfect. So, I suggest that you write as often as possible. While you’re at it, determine the areas that you’re having difficulty with. For example, you may struggle in making your content flow smoothly or you may have problems creating killer titles. As long as you know your areas of improvement, it’ll be a lot easier for you to address them.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Article Writing Skills – 3 Amazing New Secrets to Improve Your Article Writing Skills by Sean R Mize

If you’re using articles as your lead traffic generating and product promotional tools, it’s important that you constantly find ways on how you can improve your article writing skills. This is to produce even better articles each time you tap on your keyboard. Here’s what you need to do to make this happen:

1. Practice everyday. Just like with any other endeavor, article writing will get easier through constant practice. That is why, I suggest that you make at least 1-2 hours everyday tapping on your keyboard. It would also help if you stick with topics that you’re passionate about to make the whole thing enjoyable for you.

2. Learn from the experts. Get to know the best writers in your chosen niche. Read their articles, blogs, and their website. This will help you to get an idea on what they’re doing and what elements they’re using when writing their articles. This is the first thing that you can do to follow their footsteps.

3. Solicit tips and techniques. The good thing about the internet is that you can easily mingle with other people who might know the things that you would like to know. Make time to reach out to those people who are considered expert article writers. Then, solicit tips and techniques that might help you produce better articles. Yes, this will not be easy as most people will not be happy to share their secrets for free but there are still some who would surely be happy to help you out as they were once in your shoes.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

4 Exciting Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills by Sean R Mize

Don’t you just envy those people who are not struggling putting their ideas into writing and who can create compelling articles in seconds? Well, you can become one of them if you exert conscious effort to improve your writing skills. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Read relevant online and offline resources. Read ebooks, traditional books, blogs, and ezines about article writing whenever you have the time. Reading these resources will help you expand your vocabulary and will give you an idea about various effective writing techniques and styles. It will also help your creative juices to flow abundantly.

2. Take advantage of writing trainings and seminars. As the number of aspiring writers grew exponentially, expert article writers are now offering trainings and seminars to help them out. Take advantage of these not only to improve on your craft but also to connect with other writers who can share new methods and effective writing techniques.

3. Practice makes perfect. Reading relevant resources and attending seminars are really not enough to improve your writing skills. You will still need to practice on a regular basis. It’s highly recommended that you write at least a couple of articles per day so you can easily get the hang of it. Don’t forget to ask for feedback from writing gurus so you can detect your weak points right away.

4. Be willing to learn. Writing is a field that keeps on revolving. Be open to new ideas and always listen to those people who have made a mark in this endeavor. They can surely help you succeed in this field in no time.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Article Writing Skills – 6 Ways to Write a Quality Article by AJ Simon

If you’re reading this article, chances are that you would like to fully develop your article writing skills. There couldn’t be a better time for you to use SEO articles to build traffic to your business. You see, article writing can be very lucrative when done right.

Developing writing skills will take time and practice. However, it’s well worth the time and effort you put into it. So what can you do to get your articles listed higher on the search results? Here are just a few of the best techniques out there:

1. Improve your writing skills by practicing your keyboarding skills. Believe it or not, keyboarding is really what you should be focusing on. Improve your typing speed by using the free software available for training your hands to type faster.

2. Research your topic more. Your article writing skills can be easily improved if you know your topic inside and out. Research all the information on your chosen niche and practice writing about it. In fact, knowledge is the key to your success online. Without a proper understanding of your niche topic, you’ll never develop the writing skills necessary for successful article writing.

3. Only write about the things people want to learn. Don’t wast people’s time with useless information. Write about the topics that they are interested in and make sure to include helpful tips and advice about how they can do whatever it is they want to learn.

4. Learn from the best. Find an author in your niche and analyze how they write their articles. Look for patterns in their article submissions. Surely you can improve your article writing skills if you model after what these people are doing.

5. Always be willing to change. Some people get stuck writing a certain way. They use the same language in every one of their articles. DO NOT do this. In fact, the search engines will look down upon this type of writing. Instead, make sure that you are always changing the way you write. Lets say you are writing ten articles in a certain topic and are using the dialogue angle. Make sure that you change your tone after you have written those ten articles. So, the next batch of article should have a completely different writing style. That way, the search engines will recognize your content as being unique and useful.

6. Keep your writing skills up to date by setting a time limit for writing your articles. Yes, challenge yourself. This is very important for your success as a writer. Always challenge yourself to write faster. If you are currently writing an article every hour, try to beat that time by 15 minutes. If you keep trying to improve your typing speed, pretty soon you will be writing 4-7 articles an hour. Do you see how this could help you? I sure do!

I hope this will help you to improve your article writing skills in the future.

To your writing success!

AJ Simon

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Developing Writing Skills by Stephen J Michaels

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

~ George Bernard Shaw

For many, the word “communication” is the act of relaying a message to others. However, if those words remain unheard or cannot be understood by the listener the speaker has simply been talking. That there are so many self-help sources offering suggestions on Developing communication skills is evidence the art remains mysterious.

The dictionary defines communication as the exchange of information between people. According to Paul Meyer, “Communication – the human connection – is the key to personal and career success.” Therefore, learning communication skills determines success in all endeavours. Here are a few of the most basic fundamentals on communication skills.

Voltaire once said, “If you wish to converse with me, define your terms.” When trying to convey your thoughts to someone else it will be to your advantage to organize your thoughts into a coherent message before you start talking. Stay on point and do not dilute your message with the water of unnecessary words.

When communication involves conflict, where passion may be persuasive, unchecked emotions can be perceived as offensive. Separate your emotion from the discussion and while focusing only upon the message you are trying to convey, calmly encourage the other person to do the same. Asking specific questions will demonstrate sincere interest in hearing their perspective and make them more open to hearing yours.

One of the best ways to learn communication skills is to actually shut up occasionally and hear what the other person is saying. According to an ancient Argentine proverb, “Who speaks, sows; who listens, reaps.” In other words, during the course of communicating your thoughts to someone else remember to stop and listen with equal enthusiasm when they speak.

In the words of Heinrich Heine, “Talking and eloquence are not the same. To speak and to speak well are two things.” Be articulate. Speak to, not below or above them and give the same honor to their position which you strive to attract to your own.

Don’t lie to win your case. In his inaugural address, President John Kennedy said, “Sincerity is always subject to proof.” If in the course of discussion you are asked a question to which you do not know the answer see this as an obstacle but an opportunity to learn how to develop your communication skills further. Be brave and admit you do not know and offer to find out. Not only will you gain the person’s respect by your willingness to learn on their behalf will inspire trust in what you say afterward.

President Kennedy also said, “If we are strong, our strength will speak for itself. If we are weak, words will be of no help.” Therefore, the biggest secret in communication skills starts with understanding that when a tree falls and no one hears it the sound it makes is meaningless.

Stephen Michaels is a teacher and author on the subject of communication and interpersonal skills. Click on the links to learn more about how to develop communication skills and written communication

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Home-School Writing: The Five Most Important Writing Skills by Daniel Yordy

In teaching your home-schooled teenager how to write well, what are the most important writing skills they need to learn? Different writers would likely produce different lists of skills, but here are five that I consider at least among the most important for effective writing.

1. Change weak verbs to action; omit useless words.

Although maybe not as important as my second on this list, I place action writing first because good writing begins with action writing. Action writing is simply the use of interesting action verbs as often as possible (at least half the time) without weak infinitives, weak participles, or weak linking verb/helping verb constructions.

Here’s what I mean by a weak verb construction: “He may be going to get to go to the store.” This weak verb construction includes a weak helping verb, a linking verb, a weak participle, and two weak infinitives. Yet I see this stuff regularly in student writing.

Interesting single action verbs in past tense include: “He catapulted out of bed.” “Her face convinced me of my success.” “The crow cawed its intentions.”

2. Take your reader with you.

This skill includes many elements of good writing, but without it, your reader will stop reading – the ultimate failure of poor writing. This skill begins with focusing on the readers, being certain the tone and wording is appropriate to them. It includes using transition signals and defining terms so that your reader understands everything you say.

Taking your reader with you even includes skills 1, 3, and 4, that is, making the flow of thoughts interesting and thought-provoking. Finally, be sure that your readers are satisfied upon completion, that they finish your paper with some added benefit to their lives, whether by giving them curious information, or laughter, or some serious consideration, or just the joy of a beautiful world or the sorrow of some deep grief.

3. Develop elements of surprise and suspense in any form of writing.

Ideas are problems waiting to be solved. They are difficulties to conquer, snares to escape, or treasures to win. Good writing begins with a series of fascinating or entertaining or important ideas. It then weaves those ideas into a fabric like a web that captures readers. They read because they must know the answer to the questions you have raised.

One of my favorite opening lines of any book I have read is John Grisham’s The Partner: “They found him.” Those look like plain and dull words, but placed together as the opening lines – oh, the questions they raise. Who are they? Who is he? Why are they looking for him? What did he take? What will they do to him now that they have found him? And that’s only for starters. With an opening like that, repeated several times in the first couple of pages, I am hooked. I must know what happens next.

All good writing includes surprise and suspense – the very thing that takes a reader forward.

4. Add sensory details to personalize and make vivid.

To make an idea interesting is to make it real to the five senses of your reader. Your reader must see and hear, taste, smell, or touch the elements of your topic. Your reader must know – and like – the characters in your story or the topics of your essay. Sensory details, imagery, dialogue, description, the right words in the right way, figurative language, all work together to make the picture you are presenting real to the reader.

Listen, these things apply even in an essay on chemical reactions in chemistry class. If your professor is fascinated by the picture you present and forgets that he’s “grading” an assignment, you’ve won.

5. Revise, revise, and revise.

Effective writers – writers who are read – re-write and re-write many times. The best approach to re-writing, of course, is to find someone else, someone with a critical eye and a tough skin, to read and mark and criticize what you have written. Bear into that criticism. Change what is recommended. Alter your approach. Try it again. Revising and editing your work are half of the writing process.

If you lay out these five skills of effective writing for your teenagers, they will have a broad, but specific view of how to tackle the process of learning to write well.

Daniel Yordy is Your Editor at The Writing Conservatory. He has taught writing to students – and learned writing – for almost 30 years. His effective writing course has been hammered out inside of junior high, high school, and college classrooms.

Maybe you have a student homeschooling high school and you want to know that they can write effectively both in entering college and for life. Or maybe you want to learn to write (and teach writing) well. Check out http://www.thewritingconservatory.com/WritingCourse/index.php?page=IsetA Help yourself freely to anything you see.

Copyright 2012 by The Writing Conservatory. Freely use without changes, including links.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Article Writing Skills – Tips on How to Get Better and Better on Your Craft by Sean R Mize

Just the other day, I was talking to a friend who’s also into article marketing and he told me that there’s so much that he needs to do in order to perfect the art of writing amazing web articles. He’s more than happy to take that extra mile because he’s certain that article marketing will take his ebusiness very far. I just wished there are a lot of people like him who’s genuinely interested in improving his writing skills. If you’re just like him, you’ll benefit from the tips I offered him. These are the following:

1. Read, read, and read. Make time to read several articles on a daily basis. I suggest that you focus your attention on those that were written by popular, very successful writers. While you’re at it, observe and identify the techniques that they’re using. Then, ask yourself; what makes their articles stand out from the crowd? What makes their articles interesting to read?
2. Learn from the experts. Aside from reading the articles of these people, you can also learn from them by taking advantage of their coaching or training programs. I know a lot of successful writers who are imparting their knowledge through these programs. Although you will need to spend your money on these, you can be assured that you’ll benefit from their experience and expertise.
3. Write everyday. It’s not enough that you read articles and join relevant training programs. In order to hone your skills, you need to write as often as possible. This is the best thing that you can do to easily get the hang of it. While in the process of writing your articles, I suggest that you pay attention on those areas that you’re having difficulty with. Are you having trouble tying your ideas together? Do some of your articles sound like glued sentences that do not make any sense? Are you having a hard time keeping your content concise and to the point? Do you tend to move away from your main topic? It’s best if you know your weaknesses. The only thing that you need to do then is to figure out on how you can fix them ASAP.
4. Ask for feedback. Looking at your articles through the eyes of other people can be beneficial. You see, there are times that you can’t just see your flaws because of personal bias. So, get people to read your articles and encourage them to critique your work. Did they find your articles good enough? Are there things they wished you could have done better?
5. Read how-to and tips list articles. Everyday, more and more successful article writers are sharing their in-depth knowledge by writing articles that contain relevant, useful tips and techniques. Ensure that you do not miss them. Try them one by one and see which ones really work for you.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Strengthening Your Resume Writing Skills – Objective Statement by Denise Rutledge

A recent client had a resume I wrote reviewed by a competitor. He asked for my response to the critique. I had to admit that the critique included some very good points worth my paying attention to. I had opened the resume with an objective statement wasting, as the critique said, some very valuable real estate.

Value of an Objective Statement

This was the first item targeted. The critique questioned whether it should even be included. “In today’s highly competitive job market, starting your resume with an Objective statement is a very weak marketing tactic.”

I still feel that opening with an objective statement doesn’t have to be a weak marketing tactic. In fact, most resume services recommend it as essential.

Focus of an Objective Statement

At the same time, I recognized that they had a valid point when they addressed the statement itself. “Recent college graduate seeking work in natural resources and environmental services.”

This statement told the employer what my client was looking for. This was a weak marketing tactic, and I deserved to be called on it! As a resume writer, I needed to show what my client had to offer the potential employer.

Here are the facts I knew: He had worked his way through college, so he had many developed skills to offer. He had overcome many of the difficulties caused by dyslexia.

The objective statement would have been a much stronger marketing tool if it had been worded this way. “Recent environmental services graduate. Excited about prospect opening offers to transfer learning and experience into opportunity to grow your company’s recognition as a leader in this industry.”

When a client is just entering the market, it can be a strength to admit he/she is excited about learning and doesn’t think he/she already knows it all. That can be refreshing. It could be the thing that makes the resume stand out (especially if the company is looking for young blood). Without a little research into the company culture, it can be difficult to know which angle is the best.

Often, after you have prepared a resume for a client, they will find the resume isn’t producing the results they had hoped for. A poorly written objective statement could be the cause.

Learn from my learning process. Make sure you client realizes that the resume objective statement does need to be tweaked each time he/she submits a resume. It has to fit the employer and the job opening.

I’m very thankful that my client sent me the critique. It showed me some weaknesses in my resume writing skills. The process wasn’t comfortable, I’ll admit. Yet, strengthening my resume writing skills as a professional was worth the discomfort.

Denise Rutledge provides ghostwriting, SEO article, website content, eBook and resume services through http://writingasaghost.com.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Honing Your Writing Skills For SEO by Una Page

With the current situation in the SEO field it is not easy for website owners to constantly come up with the fresh and interesting content for both their sites and SE marketing purposes. It is rather difficult to sustain the interest of your site visitors and consistently produce quality content that will keep them returning to your website for more. Focusing on the specific and narrow target audience only makes things even more difficult. You, as a content author will need to come up with appropriate and winning writing style that will be captivating and pleasing to your readers, not to mention the dilemma what content to feature on your website.

For website owners who are just starting their online career, outsourcing content creation is often not an option. Besides the cost factor, there are other difficulties related to this method of content production, such as finding the appropriate company to outsource to and the time and money it will take you until you find one.

Investing your time to hone your own writing skills can pay out very well in the long run. With time you will gain experience and ease to write fresh content about a wide array of subjects, to overcome writer’s block, to constantly generate new ideas for your content and many more. It is all the matter of time and will. If you really want to achieve something, the energy you invest into making it happen will make all the difference.

SEO writing is not at all that difficult, whether it is about writing the content you intend to publish on your website, or about writing the articles for publishing on article directories. You will learn how to properly position long tail keywords you are competing for, in an unobtrusive manner, and how to continuously write high quality, relevant content.

The most difficult part will be learning to write in a manner that will captivate your readers. When it comes to your site, it is not enough to frequently publish fresh content. That content needs to be well written and to target exactly the group of users you want to attract and make them interested for what you have to offer. Once you make your visitors used to finding quality and informative content on your website, they will keep coming back for more. Therefore, learning how to employ the right blend of content will be the most difficult, but at the same time the most rewarding skill in your writing endeavor.

Submit your articles to a Free Article Directory and get published within 24 hours!

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

How to Improve Your Writing Skills by K Rajasekharan

Writing is an art – a creative art. It is not just a mere craft of constructing grammatically correct sentences with proper spelling and punctuation, but much more than that. Writing skill has two parts – one is its craft and the other is its creative part. The first can be learned or improved easily. The latter, however, can be refined as it is more related to ones inbuilt abilities.

When you start writing an article or essay you should set an objective for which you want to write the article. The objective can be for informing, persuading, explaining or entertaining. The objective will define the contours or whereabouts of your writing. Any writing is normally meant for someone else to read. It is not for self satisfaction alone, even if self satisfaction is an underlying passion. So keep those readers in mind while writing an article.

Every piece of writing is an embodiment of ideas arranged logically or sequentially and meant for communication between the author and the readers. Getting the right idea or a set of ideas to write on is the first step in writing a piece. Choose an idea that will be of interest to the readers whom you intend to address. Then think of as many things as possible about the idea in different perspectives or view points. Relax your mind to get every shades of the idea in focus. Focus your thinking on the subject broadly and deeply. Let your mind explore all aspects of the topic. Look at the topic from different angles. When you think about so many aspects, it is quite natural that confusion may creep into your thinking making you incapable to think clearly. This occurs not because of your inability but because you think about it in many ways simultaneously. Let all those thoughts come in without any sequencing. Organizing those thoughts in logical sequence is the right solution of this problem. Write down the ideas in a sequential manner as a list or within circles as a mind map and then organize them according to the interrelationship and the purpose and object of the essay.

When you set your pen to paper for writing, there will be writers stumbling block. Overcoming this block is the hardest part in writing. The best way to overcome this block is to build up your desire or passion to write. When your desire to write is so intense, you can overcome the inertia on starting to write. When you overcome the block and start writing, don’t think about the grammatical correctness of your sentence or even sequence of your writing. Allow your ides to flow out into sentences, though not correct, proper or sequential. You can refine it later.

When you finish a sketchy draft with an overview of all ideas that you want to put in the article, read your writing from the start to the end – reading loudly is better – and do some macro editing to fill the gaps in ideas to improve the grammar rather than correcting the sentences grammatically or structurally The first draft is probably the worst draft and you need to rewrite the draft several times to make it better. The crux of writing better is rewriting as many times as possible.

Remember some editing tips while rewriting. Linking up one sentence with the other using connecting words (like because, hence, as, therefore etc) can make a piece of writing logically and sequentially better. The connecting words work as a logical sequencing mechanism. Connectors add or emphasis an idea (besides, in addition etc.), or contrast two ideas (though, however etc.) or show cause effect (because, therefore etc) in any piece of writing. But over use of connectors can make a paragraph poor in style, as well. Remember that every paragraph should be coherent with sequential sentences that altogether make a holistic piece. The ideas should flow one another logically and move smoothly to yet another. Poor coherence will defy the readers understanding of the concepts. Sentences and paragraphs should be designed cohesively in a way ideas flow smoothly without the readers having any problem in following them logically. While writing a piece, use rhetorical strategies to engage the readers. Correct grammar and punctuation are, as well, important.

After a few redrafting to make it better every time, ask a friend or someone else to read your passage and commend on it. Based on the suggestion, redraft it for a few more times. If you do not have someone else in your acquaintance to read, you may read your draft critically deposing as a reader. Then incorporate your critical ideas as inputs in redrafting.

When you are satisfied with your draft in ideas and sequencing, start the micro editing for grammar, punctuation and further styling. Then keep your near final draft closed for a few days without looking at it and then re-read it after a few days break to see the writing with a fresh mind. Then reedit the article with microscopic details and take a final version for publication. The final draft would be far different from the earlier drafts.

In short effective writing depends on rhythm and flow of ideas / sentences, organization of material into paragraphs and arrangement of paragraph into a coherent piece. The best way to build your writing skill is nothing but practice. Practice, Practice, Practice, you will become a better writer.

K Rajasekharan
Kerala Institute of Local Administration
Thrissur, India
Website http://decwatch.org

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Improve Your Writing Skills Today by Nelson Berry

There are a lot of reasons why you should learn how to write-at least, know the basics. For one, you’re going to need if you’re studying or working. Just think about the countless reports and studies you need to create. If you know how to write, moreover, you can actually go on a part-time job online. There are many business owners who are looking for people who can create marketing materials for them.

They say that some are born with the gift of gab, but the truth is it still requires a lot of dedication and practice to become an excellent writer. Here are some tips on how to improve your writing skills:

1. Read.

A lot of writers were inspired by the reading materials they have grown to love. For example, Anne Rice was greatly influenced by Great Expectations of Charles Dickens. By reading, you can also get plenty of inspiration, and inspiration usually makes it so much easier for you to write something.

So stack your house with a lot of books, journals, and magazines. Go online and read just about anything.

2. Scribble.

You really don’t need to have a complete and definite thought before you can consider writing. You can scribble anything that comes into your mind. Picture talking to yourself. What do you want to say? A good technique is to keep a journal close to you at all times. Should you have some thought, write them down immediately.

3. Get a mentor.

You can definitely learn a lot of good stuff from the experts. Majority of them have their own blogs now, so all you have to do is to subscribe. Nevertheless, it doesn’t hurt to shoot them an e-mail and ask if they can be your mentor. They can provide you with materials to write and critique your work.

4. Be more confident about it.

You may already have the knack for writing, but you’re afraid to develop it because you aren’t too sure if you’re worthy of the talent. Perhaps you’re just suffering from a very low self-esteem.

You can use subliminal messages for your problem. Subliminal messages can help you change your current mind-set. You can utilize them to fill your mind with more positive and encouraging thoughts. Whenever you’re apprehensive, you can say the following subliminal messages:

I have the talent to write.
If I will just be persistent, I can definitely improve my writing skills.
I am open to criticisms, but they don’t have to affect me.
I am confident of what I can do.

5. Try to get yourself published.

You can submit your literary work to several magazines and websites. Now you really cannot expect your work to get accepted all the time. Needless to say, that should not deter you. The purpose of doing so is to help you get used to the idea of publishing. Many would also explain the cause of rejection, and you can use the feedback to better your writing skills.

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