How to improve English Writing Ability through English Reading?
Generally speaking, learning to write in a foreign language demands you to go through three steps, although there is not clear distinction between them. First, learning the basic vocabulary and grammar of this language. At this time, learners have not grasped the basic usage, therefore are still in the basic stage of language learning. Writing exercise usually does not exit in this period; even if it does, it mainly serves a kind of vocabulary or grammar exercise. This kind of writing practice presents very simple contents, but requires that learners should use both vocabulary and grammar correctly.
Second, learning both language and thought expression. At this time, learners have already got familiar with the basic vocabulary and grammar, and can express simple ideas in this language. Writing exercises at this stage can work for two purposes. Firstly, they can help learners further their understanding of this language. Secondly, they can help learners express certain ideas in foreign language. In the learning practice, these two aspects are actually inseparable. Many students start to keep diary in English from Junior Three; they are in fact progressing in this second stage.
Third, learning to focus on thought. When learners can deal with the vocabulary and grammar of a foreign satisfactorily, and can use the language to express rather complicated ideas, they start to enter the third stage. Here language is no longer the biggest problem; instead, how to present good contents gains top priority. What learners pay attention to is how to choose their materials well, how to organize the ideas well, etc. Some people hold that only this third stage is really writing. This may be too biased. Writers, however, have to reach the third stage in order to be successful.
If you find it difficult to write complete sentences, you are still in the first stage. At this stage, you do not have to rush to long articles, although you may have some precious profound ideas in your mind. You should make efforts in language accumulation, paying special attention to usages of common words and sentence patterns. Besides, doing translation exercise may also help you improve your ability in using the language, thus making preparation for improving your writing ability. Many exercises in our translation column are also helpful in improving your ability in writing. What's more, doing more reading exercises can also help sharpen your sensitivity towards the language.
To sum up, you may try to make efforts in these three aspects: accumulate language materials, try some translation exercises, and take up some reading exercises. As your language proficiency gradually improves, you will also gradually move into the second stage. Then you will have no trouble in producing complete sentences.
A Letter of Complaint
Dear Manager:
Much to my regret, I write this to place a complalnt against your bad delivery service of your company.
The Samsung tape recorder model number JB/4703 that I ordered from your company on Nov. 1, arrived yesterday. The serial number of the machine is 4703 -0641. I am sorry to report that the recorder has been badly damaged. There was no unusual damage to the packing case, but when I opened it, I fimnd that the lid of the recorder had been cracked and that the
front surface of the machine had been scratched.
Since there was such damage to the goods, I decided to file a complaint against the delivery service. Would you please let me know whether I should return the recorder to you for a replacement or if you have an authorized service representative here to which I should take it? I will hold on to this recorder until I hear from you.
Sincerely yours,
Jonathan Edwards
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Essentially advanced reading can not be sussessful unless some writing skills are mastered. Writing skills and advanced reading comprehension are both very closely related. After all, any language is an art rather than a science. No precise rule can be followed exctly. When you finished even all those grammer courses, you can find that the grammer books say nearly nothing about organizing a paragraph, though you may use the grammer book rules (low-level rules in fact) to write a single sentence. The sentence you wrote could be correct, but the same sentence could become not suitable when you put it in a specific context or language environment. You may learn some high-level rules from a good writing text book. If you read more, you can find that these books are so different from each other, implying a high-level rule is not as mechanical as those low ones. Do not worry so much of Chinese style in your English writing. Because of the culture difference, such a style may stimulate culture exchange, haha, only if what you write can be easily understood by the readers. In summary, writing is not so mysterious. As an advanced skill of English language relative to reading, writing requires a better and longer patience and needs new eyes and new skills that are different from mastering the reading comprehension.
Here are the 6 point that can tell you how to quickly improve your english writing skills:
1. Reading is of first importance. But now you may focus on the writing skills of the author. Try to enjoy and cherish the other's writing skills.
2. Read a good English writing textbook (do not read a rubbish book).
3. Purchase a good dictionary of synonyms and the other related reference books for writing.
4. Practice writing. But better find someone, when possible, to make a correction or comment for you (maybe you are not so lucky). Actually we are practicing writing on this English forum.
5. Do not rely on any grammer book. Grammer is useful only when your level is very low. All the authors of thick grammer books are liars in some senses. I hate them. They waste our valuable time.
6. Can you write Chinese well? If you can not, improve you Chinese writing first.
Above all are my personal oppionin and hope that will be work out.