Writing practice, Years 4 to 11

Good writing is rewriting.

Write it.
See what is missing.
Make it better.

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Why it matters

Better writers become better thinkers

Their words, not the AI’s
The AI never writes a word for them. The thinking stays theirs.
Clearer writing, clearer thinking
Make a point, back it up, explain it. Again and again, until it is how they think.
Ready for the exams that count
The skills GCSE English rewards, practised from Year 4.

See how it works

1Write

Your child writes an answer

On a book, a prompt for their year, or tonight's homework. In their own words.

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Your deeper question

A Christmas Carol

How does Dickens show that Scrooge is cold-hearted at the start of the novel?

At the start of the novel Scrooge is very mean. He wont let his clerk Bob Cratchit have more coal for the fire, and when his nephew wishes him a merry Christmas he says “Bah! Humbug!” Dickens says he is “solitary as an oyster”. This shows he is cold-hearted.

49 words · Saved

Hand it in

2Marked

It comes back marked, straight away

A score and a reason for every part, what would make the most difference, and a rating in words instead of a percentage.

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Expected

Your rating

This is right where your year should be. You are on track.

Use of quotation

Getting there5 / 10

“Solitary as an oyster” is a well-chosen quote. Now say what the comparison suggests about Scrooge.

The writer's methods

Next step4 / 10

Name the comparison Dickens uses and explain the effect it has on the reader.

Answering the question

Getting there6 / 10

You answer straight away, but half your answer retells events. Say what each detail shows.

And 8 more checks, from spelling to getting the book right.

3Redraft

Then they make it better

They fix it themselves and watch their rating go up. That is when writing clicks.

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Attempt 2

Make it better

Up from Expected last time

At the start of the novel Scrooge is very mean. He won’t let his clerk Bob Cratchit have more coal for the fire, and when his nephew wishes him a merry Christmas he says “Bah! Humbug!” Dickens says he is “solitary as an oyster”. This shows he is cold-hearted. An oyster is hard and shut tight, so Dickens is suggesting that Scrooge keeps everyone out and never lets any warmth escape.

Strong

Use of quotationGoing well8 / 10

The writer's methodsGoing well7 / 10

Answering the questionGoing well7 / 10

4Keep