Error Correction Activity

Aim:

To train students to check their work systematically

Target Audience:

Students

Relevance to ICFE Writing:

Whole paper

Organisation:

Pairs and whole class

Materials needed:

Worksheet; Sample Part 1 Task; Answers
  1. Tell the students they are going to check the language (not the task) in a Part 1 writing task.

  2. Distribute the Part 1 question and tell them to read it carefully.

  3. Distribute the Worksheet. Explain that six errors have been underlined. Underneath the answer is a set of categories of errors.

  4. Ask the students to work in pairs and identify the type of error in each case. They should write the correct form in the box under the answer. (Each underlined error belongs in a different category.)

  5. There are also some unidentified errors in the answer. Tell the pairs to read the answer quickly several times, each time looking for a particular category of error. They should find at least three additional errors and decide which category they belong in. They should write the correct form in the box.

  6. Check the answers with the whole class. Give out the Answer Sheet. Bring the activity to a close and point out that students should always check their work in this systematic way.