Common Errors In

Writing
5B Zoom Diagnostic 24 April 11am
Content Errors
Insufficient Development of THEME

sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfilment of

one's hopes or expectations Oxford Dictionary

What caused it?

How did your character: Feel? Think? React?
Conflict?
How was the disappointment resolved or worsened?
Insufficient Development: An Example
• Your first paragraph is about waking up, having breakfast and going to
school
• Your next paragraph is about interacting with your friends in class and
waiting for your results with anticipation.
• Your third paragraph is about receiving your results and you mention
your disappointment.
• Your fourth or final paragraph is about returning home and being
reprimanded by your parents.
Sufficient Development: An Example
• Your first paragraph: Starting with a dialogue - you receive your results and are shocked and
horrified. Use the key words of the theme here.
• Your second paragraph: You document how hard you prepared for the test/assignment/project
and your expectations for success.
• Your third paragraph: You develop your reaction, feelings, and thoughts as you hold the
disappointing results, as well as the resolution in your heart to resolve it. (this is your climax –
include internal conflict – overcoming disappointment)
• Your fourth or final paragraph: You document how you go about preparing yourself better or
rectifying the mistake of your previous test/assignment/project.
• You end with a coda or moral or lesson learnt from the experience and repeat the key words of
the theme.
Too Many Pictures Chosen

Focus on ONE
Too Many Pictures: An Example
• You receive your results in school and are disappointed.
• You then return home and realise that your family has forgotten to prepare for your birthday.
• Bored at home with nothing to do, you then try to go out with your friends for a soccer game
and none of them can make it.
• You end the day in disappointment

Trying to link all three pictures results in a poorly linked story with too many different settings
and characters. There is no depth or development to the story because you are trying to do too
many things within a limited time of 50 minutes for your writing task. Instead, focus on ONLY
ONE picture and use it as the climax of your story.
Language Errors
Tenses
• All narratives and personal recounts occur in the PAST.
• You should therefore use the following tenses ONLY:
• Simple past tense: He waited patiently at the concourse for his friends. (not wait)
• Past continuous tense: Alex was pedaling his bicycle furiously around the track. (not is pedaling)
• Past perfect tense: By the time I arrived, he had finished his lunch. (not has finished)
• Modals in Past Form: James would not enter the house. (not will not enter)
• Check to see that you have not used: is, are, am, has, have, will, shall, may in your
writing unless…… you are writing in dialogue or internal thoughts (which can be in
the present tense)
• “I am going to faint from the heat!” Mr Pang exclaimed piteously.
• This is the final straw! I though to myself.
Tone
• You are writing and NOT speaking
• Use formal and complete words and sentences: no acronyms or
contractions (ROTFL, PSLE, Can’t, Won’t, He’d) You may use the
apostrophe only for possessives (Adam’s, Jane’s, the teacher’s).
• Avoid colloquial expressions like “He is legit”, “That was lit”, “I catch
no ball” or “I was arrowed to do this”.
• You are telling and story, not speaking directly to the reader. Avoid
using too much dialogue or internal thoughts in your narrative.
Time Management
• You only have 50 minutes to plan and develop your composition
• Use the first 5 minutes to define the keywords of the theme and choose one picture
(maximum two) to focus on.
• Link the theme to the climax of your story and the picture(s) you have chosen
• Construct a rough story mountain if it helps with your structure – each section can be one paragraph
• Begin writing and pace yourself – do not stop for spelling or vocabulary, those can be
corrected later – work up a momentum in your writing first. Write for 35 minutes
• Spend the last 10 minutes checking for errors, Adding, Removing, Moving or
Substituting your vocabulary or sentences for the best fit and detail.
• Do NOT restart midway through your writing – make the best of what you have written.