Good writers are made, not born

OK, here’s the promised posting on composition skills.

There are three main components to competent writing. The first is automatic mastery of the mechanical skills - spelling, punctuation, and grammar - as explained in this article from our archives. The second is automatic mastery of the conventions of written language, such as the grammar and basic structure of sentences and paragraphs, along with ways to vary them in interesting ways - as explained in this article from our archives. (The resources recommended in this article can be found at web-sites other than the ones listed: all of the EPS materials are available here; and the Instructional Fair materials are available here.) The third is the ability to put oneself in the readers’ shoes, providing clear information and sufficient background knowledge, as explained in this article from our archives. 

All three components can be, and should be, taught in schools. 

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