Just some thoughts after the mid-term exam

Dear my students,

I’ve just finished rating your mid-term exam. I can tell that most of you worked very hard on it and that your writing skills were also improved. I also noticed some of you tried to use advanced sentence structures (ex1-1 &1-2), while others used the organization skills you learned in class. Furthermore, I am also happy to see that more linking words were used in your works. I am proud of you guys. Good job!

ooooIn addition to your great performance, however, I would like to make some suggestions here as to how you can make your writing even better. Firstly, it is important that you fully understand a topic before you start to write. If you happen to write something that is not so related to the topic, your scores can’t be good. If I want you to talk about whether or not you agree with the statement that studying overseas is the best way to learn English, you don't just talk about how an important language English is in the world and how good English can help you get a job. Secondly, it is very important for you to keep a unity in your piece and even for each paragraph. Without a unity, your writing can’t make sense (ex 2-3). Additionally, I would really suggest you use more linking words or even sentences to connect your ideas. By so doing, your sentences can be better connected and therefore become more understandable to your readers (ex 4-5). Finally, it is also crucial that your ‘ending sentence’ echoes what you said. It is good to add a final thought; yet, if you make it like a new idea coming from nowhere, your reader will get lost at the end of your article, and your rater (that is me) will take some points away (ex 6).

Anyway, I’m pleased with what you have done so far (except some of your absence) and hope to see you improve yourselves in terms of the suggestions mentioned above.

P.S. See you this Friday. Don’t be late!