If your students need help concentrating, it’s time to start using effective writing techniques to help them fix the problem quickly. After all, writing requires focus and discipline, and with regular exercises, students can develop the ability to concentrate for long periods. And in this article, you will learn the eight best writing techniques to improve this essential skill.
# 1 Freewriting
Freewriting tops the list of the best writing exercises for developing concentration because it is the most effective. So, what is freewriting? In short, it’s a technique that involves writing continuously without stopping to edit your thoughts.
In such a way, it can help students develop concentration by focusing on the writing process and letting their ideas flow freely. Therefore, encourage learners to set 10 or 15 minutes per day for freewriting and do it continuously during that time without pausing to edit or revise, as was said before.
Check out the table below on basic freewriting rules and techniques you can offer your trainees for use in the classroom or at home.
Freewriting rules | Freewriting techniques |
Write quickly and continuously. Don’t overthink grammar and punctuation. That way, you get rid of the barriers that hinder creativity. | Write about a difficult situation in five minutes, and take a break. Over the next five minutes, flesh out the story in detail. If the topic still needs to be fully covered, take another approach. |
Limit your time to 10 to 30 minutes, allowing you to concentrate faster. | Rethink the meanings of familiar words and write about each one. |
Write for yourself, and don’t evaluate the thoughts that arise. | One hundred ideas exercise: over two days, write down one hundred solutions to a complex problem. |
Develop the topic until you have exhausted all ideas. | Have a written conversation: determine the topic of the conversation and compose a dialogue with an imaginary interlocutor. |
Periodically ask yourself questions in writing to look at the topic from a different angle. For example, “What if?”, “How else?”, “Why that?” etc. | Stay on topic: write about the problematic situation to the imaginary person facing it for ten minutes. Then, in the next ten minutes, do the same thing but with an enjoyable issue. |
Don’t work too hard, and write freely. But, on the other hand, don’t demand unique solutions from yourself: ideas come when you are relaxed. | Benefit from books: pick out ideas from any critical book you’ve written and develop them. |
Refrain from dwelling on a single thought. | Improve your life: write about anything that can improve the quality of your life that makes you feel good. Next, choose the items you want to uncover over the next 15-30 minutes. |
# 2 Writing Prompts
Writing prompts are a technique that can help students develop concentration and creativity in their writing. A writing prompt is a topic or idea given to the student as a starting point for writing. Such prompts can be various things, such as phrases, pictures, quotes, or questions.
Using them can be especially helpful for pupils struggling with writer’s block or experiencing difficulty developing essay ideas. In addition, by providing a starting point, writing prompts can help children overcome the initial hurdle of getting started and focus their attention on the task at hand.
There are many different ways to use prompts for writing essays in class and developing concentration. One common approach is to give a prompt at the beginning of a class or writing session and give students a certain amount of time to write.
It can be an exercise with a specific time, such as 10 or 15 minutes, or a voluntary activity where students have more time to work on their essays. Another approach is to use prompts to generate ideas for longer writing assignments, such as research papers or articles, which you will learn about in the next paragraph.
# 3 Research Papers
Writing research papers requires high concentration and discipline. Therefore, encourage students to set aside time for research and writing and break down the task into smaller, more manageable steps. Consider that learners can accomplish the assignment most effectively by developing a plan and following a schedule.
Moreover, suggest students use Write My Essays AI essay writer, which will not only be a valuable assistant for them in writing various papers but also help them to develop their writing skills and improve their concentration due to the service’s clever functionality.
# 4 Journaling
We will not dwell too much on this point, as there is nothing complicated about keeping a diary, which involves recording thoughts and experiences. The main thing is to make it a habit to regularly take the time to do this technique because, through it, students can develop their writing skills and ability to concentrate. Therefore, encourage trainees to try doing this activity daily to focus on their thoughts and experiences.
# 5 Creative Writing Exercises
Creative writing exercises (writing short stories or poems) can be fun and engaging for pupils to develop their writing and concentration skills. So if you regularly take time in your classes for creative writing and experiment with different genres and styles, your student’s success will be highly positive. You can also offer senior students the Trust My Paper writing service, where they can get help from professional writers and improve their skills.
# 6 Reflection Exercises
Reflection exercises require learners to write about their experiences, thoughts, and feelings about a particular topic or assignment. One of the key benefits of this exercise is that it helps students connect what they learn to their personal experiences and attitudes.
In addition, children can better understand the material and its implications for their lives by reflecting on their thoughts and feelings about a particular issue. Finally, it can help increase their motivation and engagement in learning.
# 7 Writing Workshops
Writing workshops are a collaborative process in which students share their creative pieces with their peers, receive feedback and suggestions for improvement, and discuss and analyze each other’s papers. The workshop format typically involves students reading their essays aloud to the group, followed by a discussion period.
During this time, other trainees offer feedback and suggestions for improving the piece, and the author can ask questions and clarify misunderstandings. Writing workshops also help pupils develop focus and concentration by providing a structured and supportive environment for writing and learning.
In addition, by participating in a collaborative and interactive process, students can develop the ability to focus on their work and engage in productive dialogue with peers. Teachers, in turn, can encourage learners to ask questions and ask for clarification on any points they don’t understand.
# 8 Writing Contests
These are competitions open to students of all ages that usually require participants to submit original papers, such as essays, short stories, or poems. It is a valuable method to help students develop writing skills, concentration, and creativity. In addition, by providing learners with opportunities to showcase their creativity, interact with other writers, and receive recognition for their work, writing contests can motivate children to focus more deeply on their writing, which can benefit their future endeavors.
The Bottom Line
Writing exercises can be a powerful tool to help students develop their ability to concentrate. By taking dedicated writing time in the classroom, allowing students to experiment with different writing techniques, and breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, you can help your trainees to develop the focus and discipline they need to succeed academically and in their future careers.