Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

02-04-2023

Organization Can Help Your Teen Write More Effective Essays

As students reach middle and high school, they are likely to have to answer more essay questions than they did when they were younger. This is in part to see how well they understand the material and how clearly they can express their thoughts in writing. It is also to prepare them for answering such questions in college and for analyzing and presenting material on the job.

An organized approach is the key to answering these questions. Share this four-step method with your teen:

Start with a "free-writing" list. This is the brainstorming step. Encourage writing down anything your teen thinks could be a part of the answer.
Set priorities. Your teen should look over the list and choose the ideas that are most important. Your teen can then number these concepts in order of importance.
Start writing. The first paragraph is usually the hardest. Your teen should make sure it mentions the most important points that answer the question. After your teen is satisfied with the first paragraph, the rest of the essay will take shape more easily.
Proofread. Your teen should double-check the main points carefully. Sometimes a word or two can make a sentence mean something students didn’t intend. Your teen should also pay close attention to details such as grammar, usage and punctuation.

Brought to you by:

Nye County Schools
Pahrump, NV

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