Checking your writing with CUPS
21.03.23
It’s so easy to run out of time in a writing exam.✍️
I teach children ‘emergency endings’ for story writing – just in case!👊
But reading through writing is vital - even if you allow just a few minutes. ⏰ So, you can use CUPS for all types of exam writing. It helps you remember the key things to check.☕️
And the list isn’t long. CUPS is a mnemonic for Capitalisation + Understanding + Punctuation + Spelling.
☕️ Capitalisation
Check for proper nouns.
Example: Bob Cratchit / London / New York City / Asda
☕️ Understanding
Check for missing words and sense.
Example: I ran away beast = I ran away FROM THE beast.
☕️ Punctuation
Check for all missing punctuation. Common errors are comma splices (incorrect comma use between independent clauses) or missing full stops.
☕️ Spelling
It’s not usually the complex words that children get wrong (and for Year 5, a plausible attempt to spell a tricky word is often acceptable) - it’s the incorrect use of homophones when under pressure. Example:
· your / you’re
· there / they’re / their
· it’s / its
Happy checking!
Anna