How to improve in english/What is english study?

[m@tty]

At the moment I cannot write good essays.
I am in year 11, so it does not yet have a great effect on anything.
I am hoping to start early(now) improving my writing style and all round English skills.
What should I do now?
and
What should I do next year?

Thankyou everybody

[EvangelionZeta]

Write essays.  Lots and lots of essays.

Read lots of essays.  Lots and lots of essays.

Read books.  Lots and lots of books.

Get your essays marked.  Lots and lots of marking.

That's basically it.  Read internet stuff too if you want, provided it's "intelligent".

[m@tty]

So actually doing it is the way?
Rather than reading technique read/write the real thing?

Read internet stuff too if you want, provided it's "intelligent".

Thats why I'm here of course.

[shinny]

Find out what context your school is doing and start finding resources related to it. It's VERY time consuming. I also recommend you to master language analysis now since you'll be learning that this year any way. It's something you'll want to nail down ASAP in year 12 so that you can spend more time on the other two sections, so you might as well try now if you think you're ready.

[Toothpaste]

You could also leech notes/sample essays off current students now so that you have a pile of stuff ready to go for next year. Sample essays might help you get the "feel" of how you should be writing to get those marks.

So actually doing it is the way?
Rather than reading technique read/write the real thing?

Don't forget to bug (it's their job to help you) your teacher/tutor for feedback on your essays. Find out what you're doing wrong early so you can fix it and improve.

By feedback I mean constructive criticism like "here is what you did wrong, <explain>, here is what you should do and work on it", not "A+++ wow good essay here's a sticker". We all know the latter is just a teacher's way to get rid of you so they can go and have a cuppa.

[polky]

Read.

A wide variety of things, of course.  Newspapers, magazines, essays, novels.  This helps to expand your vocabulary and also introduces you to new writing styles/ideas and will basically improve your general writing/English skills.