Helping Children with Their Writing

Sometimes, parents may feel intimidated about helping their children with their writing, especially if English is not the parents' first language. Even if English is not your first language, you can offer some help.

Here I list factors in writing that you and your children can check. I encourage you to point out at least one positive thing before pointing out something that needs to be improved. With positive feedback, they will more likely continue to work at their writing and listen to constructive criticism. Also, start with the biggest changes first: content, then style, then grammar, then formatting. If you are not comfortable with style or grammar, you can still help with content. Within each category, focus on one thing at a time.

Content

1. Topic and assignment requirements: Does the paper address the right topic? Does the content match the requirements for the scope, length, sources, etc.?

2. Audience: Does the paper properly address the target audience? Does it explain too much? too little? Does it use unfamiliar terms? Do the arguments start with assumptions the audience would not share?

3. Logical progression: Are any steps skipped in the logical progression of ideas? Are transition words used?

4. Organization: Does the paper include an introduction, body, and conclusion? Does the introduction include a thesis and other required elements? Are arguments for the thesis kept in the body? Does each paragraph have a distinct point? Does the conclusion include the appropriate elements?

5. Narratives: Are the characters, setting, and plot well developed and described?

Style

1. Efficiency: What words can be cut without loss of meaning?

2. Variety: Are words repeated? Do sentences vary in length and type (simple, compound, complex, compound-complex)?

3. Energy: Are word choices precise? Do they have the right connotation? Are action verbs preferred to stative?

4. Formality: Is the right level of formality used?

5. Devices: Are appropriate rhetorical or literary devices used?

6. Sound: Does it sound good when read aloud?

Grammar and Mechanics

Your teacher and your state's standards can guide you about what students are expected to be able to know according to grade level.

1. Subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement

2. Complete sentences vs. fragments and run-ons

3. Dangling and misplaced modifiers

4. Parallelism

5. Verb tense consistency

6. Confusing word pairs

4. Punctuation

5. Capitalization

5. Spelling

Formatting

1. Headers

2. Font type and size

3. Line spacing and paragraph indentation

4. Citations and works cited page