Definitions of Writing The Nature of Writing
d Teacher then reads the whole paragraph one more at normal speed so
students can check their writing. e
Scoring of students’ written work can utilize a number of rubrics for assigning points. Usually spelling and punctuation errors are not
considered as severe as grammatical errors. Brown 2007: 399-400
2 Intensive, or controlled
The participants, in this category, are controlled and do not have much creativity. In controlled writing, participants simply alter certain grammar and
structure such as changing the present tense verbs to past tense verbs. In guided writing, trainer guides the participants to write something. The trainer guides
them with some questions. Another term in this category is a dicto-comp. Here, trainer reads a text two or three times and the participants rewrite the text. Trainer
also gives some key words to give the participants cues. 3
Self-writing Self-writing is when the writing is with only the self in mind as an
audience. The example of self-writing is dialog journal. Participants record their thoughts, feelings, and reactions and the trainer reads and responds to them.
4 Display writing
Display writing is usually writing within the school curricular context. There is an element of display in short-answer exercises, essay examinations, and
research reports. The participants should master the display writing techniques.
5 Real writing
Real writing is about providing genuine communication between the participants and the audiences. The participants deliver some messages to the
audiences who are in need of those messages. There are some subcategories of real writing. They are as follows.
a Academic
Trainer can have The Language Experience Approach to give the participants opportunities to convey genuine information to each other,
content-based instruction to encourage the exchange of useful information, Group problem-solving activities to support the participants to complete their
writing with genuinely sought and conveyed information, and peer-editing work to give opportunity to exchange new information with each other and
with the trainer. b
Vocationaltechnical It is when real writing takes place in classes of participants studying English
for advancement in their occupation. c
Personal It is when the informal writing can take place in virtually ESL classes.
Informal writing includes diaries, letters, postcards, notes and personal messages.