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The lesson

WRITING WELL:
A GREAT way to improve your writing is to learn from professional writers. The comments below suggest ways you can use some of the techniques used by the author of this piece in your own writing.
IMPROVE YOUR WRITING
STUDENTS often ask me how they can improve their writing. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question.

The only way to become a better writer is to practice diligently, striving to improve each piece of writing you do.
Ideally, your work should be evaluated by someone familiar with the qualities of a good piece of writing.
Ask him to tell you how your piece can be improved and then rewrite it, keeping his suggestions in mind.
Each time you do a new piece of writing, focus on one or two areas in which you are weak and try to improve in them.
THE ARGUMENTATIVE essay
TODAY, I would like to focus on the type of writing you will frequently be asked to do in school: The argumentative essay.
In my experience, the greatest weakness students have with this type of essay is inadequate content.
By content, I don't mean simply facts. Most students give enough information about the topic. What they often fail to do is argue clearly and logically.
Facts should be used to support what you say at appropriate points, so they form part of your argument.
When you write an argumentative essay, make sure each sentence you write follows logically from the one preceding it. As you write, your argument will take shape.
Often, the process of expressing your ideas will help to clarify your thinking on the subject.
Strive to communicate your understanding of the topic clearly to your reader. Argue your view forcefully, but consider the merits of opposing views as well.
Read today's piece carefully and see how each sentence follows logically from the one preceding. Note also how each piece of information supports the argument being made.
Students often find it difficult to achieve a balanced approach that still takes a clear stand. The author of this piece does this very skilfully.
There are many forthright statements of a position on issues, but also statements conceding merit in opposing views.
CONCISENESS
ONE of the reasons the argument in this piece is so clear and convincing is there are no unnecessary words to distract the reader from the argument.
Every word contributes to the case being put forward.
In only 565 words - the length of a typical General Paper essay - the writer conveys a sophisticated argument, loaded with relevant information.
A technique the writer uses to say a lot in a little space is to use expressions that pack a lot of meaning in a few words. Below are some examples of these expressions:
leap-frog potential (paragraph 1)hand-wringing debate (paragraph 2)ring-fence (paragraph 2)nay-sayers (paragraph 4)dramatise (paragr

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