Writing is a learning tool that has proved to be effective in improving student achievement in different subjects. This is largely because writing helps students to process what they are learning at a deeper level. It allows them to put their thoughts down on paper, which encourages them to evaluate and weigh each idea critically. In the process, students make stronger connections with the ideas, which also consolidate what they are learning in their long-term memory. Consequently, it becomes easy to retrieve this information whenever needed such as during a test. In a nutshell, writing enhances the development of higher-order thinking, cognitive abilities, and communication skills crucial to students’ performance. However, writing can be daunting for students. So, how can you make writing easy to improve on your school achievement? Here are some strategies.
1. Keep it simple
It can be easy to think that the more complex and fancy words you use will make you sound smarter. While that is true to some extent, using difficult words can work against your writing skills. You might be needed to first confirm the meaning before handing in your work, which wastes time. Moreover, if you are writing to improve your learning, there is no need to focus on writing complex words unless they are at the top of your mind. Focus on using simple words as they tend to come to mind naturally. In addition, try your best to keep your sentences and paragraphs shorter. Besides simplifying your work, it makes the work easy for the person checking your work as well.
2. Write often
Writing skills become stale when not exercised in a while. When you write often, it gets easier with time. You will find that words come easily when you are used to the craft. With time, you become more efficient and faster in your writing. That aside, writing more and more allows you to interact with what you are learning. You raise the engagement level with the course material higher, increasing the retention abilities while at it. Make it a routine to write every day especially in your study time. To make it easier, read the topic that you are studying carefully to find information that can help you think through ideas. After reading, write about what you have learned or what you think about what you have just read.
3. Read widely
Reading extensively allows you to learn many things that can help you improve your writing skills. For starters, reading enhances your critical thinking skills. As you read a book, it is almost natural to start assessing it on how good it is in terms of grammar, flow, and more. When writing your own piece, it becomes easy to bring the same thoughtfulness that you have for other books to your work. Reading also exposes you to different styles of writing, which makes it easy to niche down to your own style. In addition, reading expands your vocabulary and improves your grammar. The more you read, the better you become at writing grammatically correct pieces with an impressive vocabulary.
4. Use low-stake writing
Low-stake writing involves writing short informal notes without quite minding the structure and grammar. The good thing about this kind of writing is that it encourages you to explore ideas better rather than waste time focusing on grammar and structure. By exploring ideas more, your critical thinking skills develop. Low-stake writing can come in handy for you during lectures. Rather than sitting and listening to what the lecturer is teaching, you can use low-stake writing to write ideas that come to mind. This helps you to actively process the information as you hear it. Moreover, when the brain processes information actively, distinctive memories formation is stimulated, which leads to better retention of the information.
5. Consult an expert
Besides being a great learning tool, learning is important in so many ways. To begin with, writing enhances your creativity and imagination. It also expands your knowledge and level of confidence. In addition, writing helps improve your communication skills. For these reasons, it is important to pay attention to your writing skills so that you can keep improving. Moreover, as you become mindful of your writing skills, the same reflects in other areas of your life. One of the ways you can check whether your writing skills are correct is to consult someone who is conversant with what you are writing. For instance, if you are writing a scientific paper, you can consult with a freelance science writer to help you in writing your paper.
Conclusion
Writing impacts student achievement positively as it helps develop skills such as higher-order thinking and critical thinking. It also enhances information retention, which is critical in the life of a student. Be sure not to take writing for granted or as a waste of time when revising. In addition, pay attention to your writing skills and implement the above tips to make it easier for you.