8 Solid Writing Tips on Tackling That School Paper
Back to school means back to homework, book reports and projects. To hear Vicktoriea Carroll, a 2013 LISA Academy North graduate, tell it, getting a jump on putting your words together can make a big difference on post-high school plans. She'd know, after receiving over $1 million in scholarsphips thanks in part to her writing skills.
“During my senior year in high school, I relied heavily on my writing and communications skills while I was writing my college application essays, applying for scholarships, communicating with admissions officers, and being interviewed by various schools. It is definitely necessary that students be able to express themselves clearly, effectively, and confidently, not only as they prepare for college, but also as they become independent adults entering the real world.”
The Scholastic company has provided books, magazines, and educational programs to schools and families for over 90 years. Scholastic supports encouraging intellectual and personal growth, beginning with literacy, the cornerstone of learning. Share these tips from Scholastic with your child the next time a big paper is assigned:
- Divide time on big projects into mini-assignments. Spend 10% brainstorming, 25% researching and taking notes, 20% making an outline, 25% writing, 15% revising and polishing.
- Make an outline.
- Write an introduction to grab the reader’s interest. Keep in mind it may need to change as work progresses.
- Give each paragraph the meaning it deserves with thorough explanation, like a mini-story within a story.
- Wrap it all up in the end. A good conclusion is related to a good introduction.
- Revision is your friend. Final tweaks can really make a project shine.
- Record sources.
- Follow through on the final details, like names on papers and no crumpled pages.
For more on Carroll and to read a creative composition from area fifth-grader Eden Bliss Wilkerson, check out the digital edition of Little Rock Family's August issue.