Improving Chinese essays

[brightsky]

What is the best way to improve on writing Chinese essays? I can write simple essays, but not complex ones.

[Liuy]

write as much as you can. read other essays to get an idea of the format, and just practice, like the old saying practice makes perfect.

[TrueTears]

Before rushing into writing essays, make sure you have good vocab, build up your vocab by doing a lot of reading and memorising words. This way your vocab in essays will improve and thus improving the standard of your essays.

[Gloamglozer]

Before rushing into writing essays, make sure you have good vocab, build up your vocab by doing a lot of reading and memorising words. This way your vocab in essays will improve and thus improving the standard of your essays.

That's true.  You should also try memorising a lot of relevant idioms.  Examiners love idioms, with the only proviso that they are used correctly in the right context. 

I remember when I my vocabulary really sucked big time and I used to read thoroughly and translate each word, word for word.  If I didn't know what it meant, I would look it up and then keep a "Vocabulary Book".  In that Vocab book, I would split it up intwo three sections.  One section for the word, the next for the Pin Yin, and the final column for the English translation.

If you are going to do what I did, make sure you review the book regularly, or else it will be to no avail. 

[brightsky]

The thing is, I've been building up a lot of vocab, idioms and "cheng yu" from almost 9 - 10 years at Chinese School as well as the fact that I'm Chinese. But the problem is that I struggle to put all these together to create a cohesive and structured essay. I've been trying to read some good student writing books, and that helped a bit. Any other tips?

[darkphoenix]

The thing is, I've been building up a lot of vocab, idioms and "cheng yu" from almost 9 - 10 years at Chinese School as well as the fact that I'm Chinese. But the problem is that I struggle to put all these together to create a cohesive and structured essay. I've been trying to read some good student writing books, and that helped a bit. Any other tips?

Yeah i have a similar sort of problem, i think the best way is to read others essays, books and text and see how is it structed and stuff like sentence structure. Then when you write it, you will have an idea of how its meant to be like and you can tell if it sounds right or not after proofreading it.

[kyzoo]

I would imagine it's the same process as for an English essay - You emit what you absorb; so read good stuff. Also, you establish a phrase bank comprising examples of good expression. But I'm not pro enough at Chinese to understand what good Chinese prose is, so what I suggested wouldn't work for me =/