E6 E - Plan, draft, check and improve

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E6 E - Plan, draft, check and improve

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E6 E - Plan, draft, check and improve

Mini-description: You write a short English text in four steps: plan → draft → check → improve. You check content, vocabulary, tense, word order and spelling. Then you write a better final version.

Level: English as a first foreign language, class 6, E-level, Baden-Württemberg.

Learning rule: Try English first → use a hint → use short German help → look at an example → check the solution.

Quick media start

Look at the picture above.

Think – pair – share:

1. What is the person doing?
2. What can you do before you start writing?
3. What can you check after your first draft?

Hint: Use these verbs: plan, write, read, check, change.

German help: Überlege zuerst auf Englisch. Wenn du Hilfe brauchst: planen, schreiben, lesen, prüfen, verändern.

Video laden

YouTube

YouTube sammelt möglicherweise persönliche Daten. Datenschutzrichtlinie

Fortfahren Ausblenden

Listening task: Watch the British Council video once. Note three words or ideas you understand. Watch it again. Which ideas can help you improve a short text?

Privacy note: You do not need an account, upload or recording for this course. If a video is blocked at school, continue with the tasks on this page.

I can

At the end, you can say:

1. I can plan a short text with useful ideas.
2. I can write a first draft without stopping for every small mistake.
3. I can check content, vocabulary, tense, word order and spelling.
4. I can improve my text with clear changes.
5. I can give simple, useful feedback to a partner.
6. I can write a short connected text with less help.

Before you start: quick check

Write one short sentence for each prompt.

1. Yesterday: What did you do after school?
2. Usually: What do you do after school?
3. Place: Where do you meet your friends?
4. Opinion: What do you like about your afternoon?

Try English first.

Hint: Start with I, My friend or We. Use one verb in each sentence.

German help: Achte nur auf eine verständliche Aussage. Noch nicht alles muss perfekt sein.

Example: Yesterday I played basketball with my friend.

The writing mission

You will write 70–90 words for a fictional class blog.

Topic: My afternoon

Your text should tell the reader:

1. what you did,
2. where you were,
3. who was with you,
4. what happened,
5. how you felt.

Use fictional names and details. Do not add private information.

Step 1: Plan

A good plan is short. Do not write full sentences yet.

Question	Notes for your plan
What?	played basketball
Where?	school playground
Who?	Sam and Noor
What happened?	ball went over the fence
Feeling?	surprised, then happy

Your turn: Make a five-line plan for your own fictional afternoon.

Hint: Use keywords, not full sentences.

German help: Stichwörter reichen. Plane zuerst den Inhalt, nicht jedes einzelne Wort.

Step 2: Draft

Now turn your plan into a first version. Keep writing. You can fix small problems later.

First draft:

Yesterday I meet Sam and Noor at the school playground. We played basketball after school. The game was fun but then our ball go over the fence. Sam asked a teacher for help. She gave the ball back to us. I was surprise. Then we played ten more minutes and I went home happy.

Do not copy this text as your own. It is a model for checking.

Notice the draft

What is already good?

1. The reader knows the place and people.
2. The events are in a clear order.
3. The text has a beginning and an ending.

What still needs work? Find at least four places you would change.

Hint: Look at meet, go and surprise. Then check spelling, time words and sentence order.

German help: Prüfe jetzt gezielt. Nicht alles gleichzeitig.

Step 3: Check

Use the 5-point check.

Check	Ask yourself	Quick symbol
Content	Did I answer the task? Is anything important missing?	C
Vocabulary	Are my words clear? Can I replace one repeated word?	V
Tense	Am I using the right time form for my story?	T
Word order	Is the sentence easy to follow?	W
Spelling	Did I check difficult words and capital letters?	S

Tip: Read your text five times. Each time, check only one point.

Check 1: Content

Read the first draft again.

Can you answer these questions?

1. Who is in the story?
2. Where are they?
3. What problem happens?
4. How does the writer feel at the end?

Mini-rule: A short text is clear when the reader can follow the important ideas.

Check 2: Vocabulary

Use words that are simple and precise.

Instead of repeating good, you can choose a word that really fits:

1. fun
2. exciting
3. useful
4. friendly
5. interesting

Do not choose a difficult word only because it sounds impressive.

Try it: Improve this sentence: The game was good.

Example: The game was exciting.

Check 3: Tense

For a finished event yesterday, simple past is useful.

Notice:

1. Yesterday I met Sam.
2. We played basketball.
3. The ball went over the fence.
4. I was surprised.

Keep the time clear. Do not change tense without a reason.

Important for this course: You do not need past progressive, past perfect, passive, reported speech or conditionals here.

Check 4: Word order

A useful pattern is:

subject + verb + object + place + time

Example: We played basketball on the playground after school.

English word order can change, but this pattern is a safe starting point for many class-6 sentences.

Try it: Put the words in a clear order:

after school / played / we / basketball / on the playground

Solution: We played basketball on the playground after school.

Video laden

YouTube

YouTube sammelt möglicherweise persönliche Daten. Datenschutzrichtlinie

Fortfahren Ausblenden

Optional listening: The video gives more examples of English word order. You do not need to understand every word. Listen for examples with a subject and a verb.

Check 5: Spelling

Check words that are easy to mix up.

1. because
2. friend
3. school
4. surprised
5. yesterday

Useful strategy: cover the word, say it quietly, write it, then compare.

Understandable English is the goal. Clear speech and writing matter more than sounding like a native speaker.

Step 4: Improve

Change only what makes the text clearer or more correct.

Improved version:

Yesterday I met Sam and Noor at the school playground. We played basketball after school. The game was exciting, but then our ball went over the fence. Sam asked a teacher for help, and she gave the ball back to us. I was surprised. Then we played for ten more minutes. I went home tired but happy.

Notice: The basic story is the same. The improved text is clearer because some verbs, words and sentence links are better.

From draft to final text

Use this mini-workflow:

1. Plan: five useful notes.
2. Draft: write the whole text.
3. Check: C – V – T – W – S.
4. Improve: make clear changes.
5. Read again: does it sound like your text?

Vocabulary in context

Word	Meaning in this course	Example
plan	decide what you want to say	I plan five ideas.
draft	a first version	My draft is not perfect yet.
check	look for problems	I check my verbs.
improve	make something better	I improve two sentences.
content	the ideas and information	My content answers the task.
word order	the order of words in a sentence	I check the word order.
spelling	writing words with the right letters	I check the spelling of because.

Use it: Tell a partner which check helps you most and why.

Pronunciation

Say these words slowly, then in a short sentence:

1. plan – one syllable
2. draft – one syllable
3. check – one syllable
4. improve – stress the second syllable
5. spelling – stress the first syllable

Speak for meaning: Your goal is to be understandable. Different accents are normal.

Mini speaking task: Say: First I plan. Then I draft. Next I check. Finally I improve.

Recording is optional. If you record, keep it private unless your teacher gives a safe school method and you choose to share it.

Read and understand

Read this short fictional text.

Leo's afternoon

Yesterday Leo stayed at school for the science club. He worked with Amina and Jay. They built a small paper bridge and tested it with coins. At first, the bridge fell down. The group changed the shape and tried again. This time it held twelve coins. Leo took notes for the group. He was proud because their second idea worked better.

Try English first:

1. Why did Leo stay at school?
2. What did the group build?
3. What problem did they have?
4. What did they change?
5. How did Leo feel?

Hint: Look for school activity, object, problem, change and feeling.

German help: Suche nicht nach einer Wort-für-Wort-Übersetzung. Finde die fünf Informationen direkt im Text.

Solution: He stayed for the science club. They built a paper bridge. It fell down. They changed its shape. Leo felt proud.

Speak

Work with a partner.

Student A tells a 30-second story about a fictional afternoon. Student B listens and asks one question. Then change roles.

Useful questions:

1. Where were you?
2. Who was with you?
3. What happened next?
4. How did you feel?

Challenge: Retell your partner's story in three sentences.

Short writing output

Write 70–90 words about a fictional afternoon.

You may use this structure, but you do not have to:

1. Start: Yesterday ...
2. People and place: I was with ... at ...
3. Main event: First ... Then ...
4. Small problem or surprise: But ...
5. Ending: In the end ... I felt ...

Then use the C – V – T – W – S check and improve at least three places.

Mediation: German to English

A fictional school note says:

Die Schreibaufgabe ist am Freitag fällig. Schreibe 70–90 Wörter. Nutze erfundene Namen. Lade keine privaten Fotos oder Sprachaufnahmen hoch.

Your English-speaking partner asks: What do I need to know?

Explain the important information in simple English. Do not translate every word.

Hint: Say deadline, length, fictional names and no private uploads.

Example solution: The writing task is due on Friday. Write 70–90 words and use fictional names. Do not upload private photos or recordings.

Feedback

Give useful feedback, not just good or bad.

Use this pattern:

Two clear strengths + one next step

Example:

1. Your story is easy to follow.
2. Your ending is clear.
3. Next step: Check the past tense of two verbs.

Feedback rule: Comment on the text, not on the person.

AI and writing

This course does not require an external AI tool.

If AI is allowed in another school task:

1. write your own draft first,
2. do not enter personal data,
3. check every suggestion,
4. reject changes you do not understand,
5. write the final version in your own words.

AI feedback can be wrong. You stay responsible for your text.

Use again

Take your improved text and make one new version for a different reader.

Choose one:

1. a message to a classmate,
2. a short class-blog post,
3. a 45-second spoken retelling.

Keep the same events, but change the opening or ending to fit the reader.

Can-do check

Rate yourself: Yes / almost / not yet.

I can ...	Yes / almost / not yet
plan five useful ideas
write a first draft
check content
check vocabulary
keep the tense clear
check word order
check spelling
improve my text
give useful feedback

If you choose almost or not yet, repeat one matching task before you move on.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What should you do first when you write a short text? (Make a short plan) (!Check every spelling) (!Record your voice) (!Translate every sentence)

What is a draft? (A first version of a text) (!A list of difficult words) (!A finished test result) (!A speaking recording)

What does the C in the check stand for? (Content) (!Conversation) (!Culture) (!Correction mark)

Which sentence uses a clear simple past form? (Yesterday I met Sam.) (!Yesterday I meet Sam.) (!Yesterday I meeting Sam.) (!Yesterday I meets Sam.)

Which sentence has clear basic word order? (We played basketball after school.) (!Played we basketball after school.) (!Basketball we after school played.) (!After school basketball played we.)

What is a useful vocabulary check? (Replace a repeated word when a clearer word fits.) (!Use the longest word you know.) (!Translate every word from German.) (!Add difficult words to every sentence.)

What should you check in spelling? (Difficult words and capital letters) (!Only the first word) (!Only names) (!Only short words)

What is useful feedback? (Name two strengths and one next step.) (!Say only good.) (!Rewrite the whole text for your partner.) (!Judge the writer as a person.)

What should you do with AI suggestions? (Check them and keep only changes you understand.) (!Copy all suggestions.) (!Upload private data first.) (!Let AI write the final text for you.)

What is the goal of the final read-through? (Check that the text is clear and still sounds like your text.) (!Make every sentence longer.) (!Add a new tense.) (!Change every word.)

Memory

Plan	ideas before writing
Draft	first version
Content	important information
Word order	position of words in a sentence
Spelling	correct letters in words
Improve	make the text better

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Writing step
Plan	collect ideas
Draft	write the first version
Check	look for problems
Improve	change useful parts
Final read	read the whole text again

Kreuzworträtsel

draft	What do you call the first version of a text?
content	What word means the ideas and information in a text?
spelling	What do you check when you look at the letters in a word?
improve	What verb means make something better?
feedback	What do you call useful comments about a text?
sentence	What do you call a group of words that expresses a complete idea?

Lückentext

Vervollständige den Text.

Before I write, I make a short . My first complete version is a . I check whether my ideas answer the task; this is the check. I also check my and choose clear words. For a story about yesterday, I keep the clear. I check the so that my sentences are easy to follow. Finally, I check the of difficult words. Then I useful parts and read the whole text again.

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

1. Five-word plan: Make a five-line plan for a fictional afternoon. Use keywords only.
2. Sentence builder: Write five clear sentences from your plan. Use a subject and a verb in every sentence.
3. Word upgrade: Find three repeated words in a short draft and replace only the ones that become clearer.
4. Spelling detective: Choose five words you often misspell, practise them and create one sentence with each word.

Standard

1. First draft: Write 70–90 words without stopping to correct every small mistake. Check it only after the draft is complete.
2. Partner feedback: Exchange fictional texts in class and give two strengths and one next step.
3. Retell it: Retell your own text in about 45 seconds without reading every sentence.
4. School message: Turn a short German school note into a clear English message with only the important information.

Schwer

1. Revision challenge: Improve one draft twice. In version 2 focus on clarity; in version 3 focus on vocabulary and linking.
2. Change the reader: Rewrite the same event once for a friend and once for a class blog. Explain two changes you made.
3. Editor role: Create your own C–V–T–W–S checklist with one example for each point and test it on a fictional text.
4. Mini presentation: Present your writing process in English for one minute and explain which check helped you most.

Lernkontrolle

1. From notes to text: You get five keywords. Turn them into a connected 70–90-word story. Explain one decision you made while planning.
2. Choose useful changes: Compare a draft and an improved version. Identify three changes and explain how each one helps the reader.
3. Repair a text: Reorder five mixed-up sentences and explain the basic word-order pattern you used.
4. Use feedback: Read two short partner comments. Decide which comment is more useful for revision and explain why.
5. New reader: Change a short class-blog text into a message to a friend. Keep the facts but adapt wording and opening.
6. Independent revision: Revise your own fictional text with C–V–T–W–S and mark the three changes that improved it most.

Lernnachweis

For a learning record, show that you can:

1. make a short plan before writing,
2. write a connected 70–90-word text,
3. keep the time reference clear,
4. use understandable vocabulary,
5. use clear basic word order,
6. check spelling,
7. revise at least three useful places,
8. explain one revision choice,
9. use feedback without copying another person's text,
10. keep personal data out of school practice texts.

A strong learning record includes plan + first draft + check marks + improved final text + short reflection.

OERs zum Thema

Der Wikipedia-Artikel zum Schreibprozess zeigt, dass Schreiben nicht nur aus dem Formulieren besteht, sondern auch Planung und Überarbeitung einschließt.

Freie Bilder in diesem aiMOOC: Die eingebundenen Dateien stammen aus Wikimedia Commons. Die jeweilige Dateiseite nennt Lizenz und Urheber.

Verknüpfte Lernbereiche

Englisch schreiben Schreibprozess Simple Past Wortschatz Englisch Englischer Satzbau Rechtschreibung Englisch Peer-Feedback Sprachmittlung Sprechen Englisch

Folgekurs

Next: E6 E - Write for a reader – plan and adapt a short text for a classmate, a blog or a short presentation.