Improving Writing - Tips on how to improve a piece of writing

Sep 28, 2026

Improving Writing provides practical guidance for children to enhance written expression through focused VCOP teaching: vocabulary choice with “wow words,” connective usage to link ideas, varied sentence openers, and effective punctuation. It explains noun, adjective, verb, and adverb functions, distinguishes coordinating and subordinating conjunctions, and lists connecting adverbs with typical comma usage. The resource includes parent-led activities such as mini-quizzes, synonym searches, sentence redesign, highlighting in newspapers, and punctuation challenges using a progression model.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time9 min

AccessFree to download

Vocabulary

Wow words and word classes

How can you help?

Connectives

Conjunctions: coordinating and subordinating

Connecting adverbs

How can you help?

Openers

Using varied sentence openings

How can you help?

Punctuation

Using a range of punctuation

VCOP in action

IMPROVING WRITING Tips on how to improve a piece of writing | Vocabulary | VCOP | | --- | --- | | Connectives | | | Openers | | | Punctuation | | Vocabulary (Wow words!) It is important that children begin to think carefully about the vocabulary they choose and the effect that it has on the reader. We promote the use of “WOW” words in writing. These are words that are ambitious for the children to use; they can ‘upgrade’ their nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs: Noun-A word that names a person, place or thing: The exhausted, frightened youngster trudged slowly through the thick mud. Adjective – A word used to describe a person, place or thing: The exhausted, frightened youngster trudged slowly through the thick mud. Verb-A word to describe action; what is happening in the sentence: The exhausted, frightened youngster trudged slowly through the thick mud. Adverb-A word to describe how the action is taking place: The exhausted, frightened youngster trudged slowly through the thick mud. How can you help? 􀁸 Read to, and with, your child. 􀁸 Talk about and write down interesting (wow) words in the stories you are reading at home. 􀁸 Ask your child to try using the words you have found in a sentence. 􀁸 When you use a word your child is unfamiliar with, discuss what it means with them (encourage them to use the word in a sentence) . 􀁸 Discuss with them words that you would use in different situations (e.g. formal, informal) . 􀁸 Have a mini-quiz: ‘How many words can you think of instead of ‘said’?’ or ‘went’,‘nice’,‘good’. Put each one in a sentence. 􀁸 Give your child two different words and ask them to make different a sentence from them. E.g.: ‘magical’ and ‘boy’ 􀁸 Encourage your child to look up vocabulary to find possible synonyms (a word or phrase that means the same) . Connectives Connective is the name for any word that links clauses or sentences together. There are two main groups of connectives: Conjunctions and Connecting Adverbs Conjunctions Conjunctions are words that are used to link clauses within a sentence. There are two main kinds: Co-ordinating conjunctions – link two main clauses to make compound sentences. e.g. and, but, or, so, for, nor, yet I was angry but I didn’t say anything. Subordinating conjunctions-go at the start of a subordinate clause. They work to link the subordinating clause to the main clause. e.g. when, while, before, after, since, until, if, because, although, that We were hungry when we got home. When we got home , we were hungry. (Commas are used when the subordinating clause is first) . Connecting adverbs Connecting adverbs link the ideas in two sentences together but the two sentences still remain separate. e.g. also, furthermore, moreover, however, nevertheless, on the other hand, besides, anyway, after all, for example, in other words, that is to say, first of all, finally, therefore, consequently, as a result, just then, meanwhile, later Commas are often used to mark off connecting adverbs. I was angry. However, I didn’t say anything. How can you help? 􀁸 Try to search for connectives in the stories you read at home. Use a highlighter pen to highlight connectives in old newspapers/magazines. 􀁸 Give your child a connective and ask them to use it in a sentence. 􀁸 Think about connectives that have a similar meaning. For example, which connectives could be used instead of ‘but’? (however) 􀁸 Try rearranging sentences with the connectives at the start. E.g. The little boy shivered, despite it being warm in the cave. Despite it being warm in the cave , the little boy shivered. Openers An opener is the first word or phrase used in a sentence. There are lots of different ways of opening sentences. We remind the children to use a variety of ways to start sentences: Running towards the sparkling sea, Megan couldn’t wait to jump in! Like a bottle-nose dolphin, she swam up and down, in and out of the waves. Und

FAQs

What are “wow words” and how do they help writing?

“Wow words” are ambitious vocabulary choices that upgrade nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs, making the writing more vivid and engaging for the reader.

How do connectives improve sentences and paragraphs?

Connectives link clauses or ideas. Conjunctions connect clauses within a sentence, while connecting adverbs link separate sentences and are often set off with commas.

What activities can parents do to help children practice VCOP?

Parents can read with children and discuss interesting words, run mini-quizzes to replace common words, highlight connectives and punctuation in newspapers, and ask children to rewrite or expand sentences using vocabulary, connectives, and varied openers.

Sep 28, 2026

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