How to improve essay writing?

[pastandpresent]

My ds yr8 told me he has done really badly at the English assessment in essay writing.

He was never a good writer, but improved over the years with practice, especially the creative writing.
He seems to struggle with summarizing which we will try to work on.

What kind of things he needs to do to improve essay writing skills? Any tips for helping him at home?
I am not a native English speaker, so I won't be much of help correcting his work, but I would at least like to guide him to right resources or techniques to improve his skills.

TIA

What was his essay about?

turns light out and leaves thread

Sorry BurningEars, I hesitated to answer your question because it could be outing if the teacher at my dc's school was a MNetter.

And @SadSecretSanta, thank you, for lovely support you gave me. You must be a great teacher.

English Language (GCSE) is very technical.
In order to know how to help him, you have to know what type of question it was and thus what they are looking for.

So, for some questions they are asking him to spot language devices used and write about what effect they have, or to discuss the structure of the text, or evaluate a statement about it.
Other questions they are comparing texts, deciding if information is true or not
Some writing is 'creative' where they have to use good language devices and a range of punctuation.
Other writing is 'for purpose' where again they have to use language to persuade or similar, using emotive language, facts, rhetorical questions etc.

English Literature (GCSE) then has them writing about characters, themes etc, or comparing poems etc.

And now I've written all this I see it is because someone bumped an old thread to advertise their website , but I'll post it anyway.

This may be off the point, but my DS (who is now at uni) really struggled with the language parts of English Lang. I made him (virtually at gun point) write precis... a paragraph into a sentence, a page into a paragraph, and practise. Then with wordcounts. It is a skill that can be learned and refined, but it forces the writer to think about what they are saying and the most economical way to say it, on paper in words. And because it denies the self-indulgence of verbiage, it simultaneously improves the writing, and forces an emphasis on precise vocabulary. I always suggest reading good journalism, where reports are ruthlessly cut to the value of the story and the information value. The rule is: deliver the facts, then opinion and comment: so what, how, when, where, how and why.

The same rules do NOT apply for English Literature, where the examiners are looking for more technical exploration of the linguistic devices used.

I worked as a writer for hire, for years, with some success, but have never ever wanted to write creatively. Could I get hired as an English teacher? Resounding no!!!

Cross-posted, with a differing view on a theme.

ANd if you will all grant me the indulgence of venting, I think the original O level definition between English Lang and English Lit is preferable. Language was designed then to achieve clarity in communication, so functional, and Literature was aimed at understanding art and emotion. The basic linguistic devices employed should have been taught earlier.

Xing Summarising isn't part of English Language GCSE. I mean, yes it is a very useful skill but it doesn't really come up in the mark schemes.

Teen I know it doesn't count in marks schemes, but it's one of the most useful skills, it focuses attention on economy in argument, and is essential in most essay-based subjects. Plus, it's valuable in later life and work.

@TeenMinusTests

Xing Summarising isn't part of English Language GCSE. I mean, yes it is a very useful skill but it doesn't really come up in the mark schemes.

Aqa paper 2 language question 2 is a summary question

Mrs Thank you. I had missed knowing that. Very helpful.

Consider an experienced GSCE English tutor who focuses on essay writing skills. Writing multiple essays each week will also hone his skills.

Encourage him to use a PEEEL structure for essays. Each paragraph should have;
Point
Examples/Evidence
Explanation
Evaluation
Link back to Q

When he has written a para, can he label PEEEL in the margin? If not, key elements missing.

Make an outline. Know what you are going to write about before you start writing:
Before you even start writing an essay, it is important to know what you want to say. The easiest way to narrow down a thesis and create a proper argument is to make a basic outline before you begin writing your essay.

Acquire a solid understanding of basic grammar, style, and punctuation:
Grammar, style, and punctuation are incredibly important if you want your research to be understood and taken seriously. Before writing an essay, make sure you have a solid understanding of basic grammar. Grammar basics include verb and subject agreement, proper article and pronoun usage, and well-formed sentence structures.

Use the right vocabulary. Know what the words you are using actually mean:
How you use language is important, especially in academic essay writing. When writing an academic essay, remember that you are trying to persuade others that you are an expert who can make an intelligent argument. Using big words just to sound smart often results in the opposite effect—it is easy to detect when someone is overcompensating in their writing. If you aren't sure of the exact meaning of a word, you risk using it incorrectly.

Understand the argument and critically analyze the evidence:
In the process of writing an academic essay, you should always have your main argument in mind. While it might be tempting to go off on a tangent about some interesting side note to your topic, doing so can make your writing less concise.

Know how to write a proper conclusion that supports your research:
One of the most overlooked areas of academic essay writing is the conclusion. Your conclusion is what ties all your research together to prove your thesis. It should not be a restatement of your introduction or a copy-and-paste of your thesis itself.

@MonikaDavison

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You are very bad indeed at writing DominicAShortt . If you are paying people to write your essays you can't be all that bright either.