Writing Rockstars Blog 

Giving feedback on your kids’ writing can be a tricky business. It’s hard to be objective and firm, but doing so consistently is key to their writing skills training.

Below is a list of the feedback or writing tips I give to my Essay Rock Star students most often. Often the comments are couched in friendly banter to soften the message, but I NEVER take no for an answer on these items in the list.

If you ever struggle for words when giving your kids writing feedback, use some of mine!

Top Ten Writing Tips for Kids:

1. Complete sentences always require a subject and a verb.

2. Use a comma and a conjunction when connecting two independent clauses.

3. Eliminate repetitive words and phrases within a single sentence.

4. Structure your essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

5. Make sure every paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting details, and a wrap up sentence.

6. Supporting details have to directly connect to the topic sentence of the paragraph. If you go off on a tangent, create a separate paragraph.

7. Make sure you weave the theme or thesis of your essay into each paragraph. Every paragraph must have a clear connection to the thesis.

8. A topic that’s not too broad + what you’re going to prove + a hint of how you're going to prove it = an excellent thesis statement!

9. Make your paper as perfect and error - free as possible. This is a reflection of your work ethic. Take every opportunity to make a positive impression on others who read your writing, particularly adults who will be evaluating you.

And for the feedback I most often give to my students…

10. Read your writing aloud before you give it to the teacher. This will catch errors and awkward wording that’s usually overlooked when you read your work silently. Take the time to do it. It’s worth the trouble!

If your kids are beginning to use information from outside sources when writing, please be sure to grab a copy of our new free ebook on plagiarism. Plagiarism is a big problem in writing. Many people don't know everything that's considered plagiarism, and it’s easy to avoid if you know how to do so correctly.

Download your copy here: http://www.writingrockstars.com/plagiarism.

Thanks!