Write in Cursive
Is it required that you write in cursive for a class, but you have trouble writing cursive properly? With this article, you'll automatically write in flowing cursive strokes in no time at all. You'll write faster, more efficiently, and be on the road to calligraphy.
Contents
Steps
Sample Alphabets and Practice Page
Doc:Lowercase Cursive Alphabet,Uppercase Cursive Alphabet,Handwriting Practice Page
The Writing
- Study the letters of the cursive alphabet. Look at how the letters curve. There is a certain "standard" for each letter, lowercase and uppercase. You can find the pattern for each letter in any classroom, handwriting textbook, or online.
- Practice. Practice writing the letters separately and alone, before you write them in context. There are hundreds of worksheets and interactive sites online that will aid you in your task, all coaching you on the same swirly lines and strokes.
- Write the letters of the alphabet, in order. Begin with A and go all the way through to Z, using both uppercase and lowercase letters. Do it again, connecting the letters together once you've gotten the hang of the individuals.
- Try a few sentences. Practice writing small sentences before moving on to larger ones. Keep it exciting with song lyrics or things you hear people say. Also, it's not a bad idea to nail down your name.
The Habits
- Slow down. Don't pressure yourself. Cursive is a habit and habits take time to develop. Write a sentence down. Stop. Then write the same sentence, but slower. Which one is better?
- Slowing down allows you to make smoother transitions between your letters. When you practice slowly, you'll be able to lay the groundwork to going on autopilot for when you can go faster.
- Keep the same angle and position. As you find cursive easier and easier, you'll see some letters that aren't as pretty as the others. This is because the angle and position of your hand is changing.
- Choose an angle and stick with it. If you're not getting the results you want, start another writing sample, consciously holding your pen in a different position. Experiment with a few until you know what the ideal position for you is.
- Find your rhythm. There all always days when your hand seems to flow across the page and days when it seems like you have to force it. Try this little trick to literally find your rhythm:
- Get a squeaky pen. This will often be a marker or felt tipped pen. Listen to your upstrokes and downstrokes. Do they sound the same? Make it so they do.
- What's more, find your rhythm. Your letters do not have to match the wallpaper of many 3rd grade classrooms. As long as your letters connect, you're writing in cursive. Find what's easiest for you.
- Practice more frequently. Try to write a paragraph or so each day. But remember, practice makes habit--not perfect. So practice good habits.
- If your own motivation isn't enough, take a look at this: In a recent study, The College Board found that, for the essay part of the SAT, the students who wrote in cursive scored slightly higher than those who used print. They attribute it to the speed and efficiency of cursive that allows for greater focus on the content of the tests.
- Be patient. You've been printing literally every day for years. Changing this daily (heck, hourly) habit will take a lot of conscious effort. Relax. It will come.
- If your hand gets tired, stop. You'll just end up getting more frustrated and anxious. Take a break and get back to it later.
Tips
- Instead of writing out the whole alphabet, simply write "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." It uses all the letters in the alphabet and is a lot more fun than writing Aa, Bb, Cc, etc.
- Try to relax while writing, it will make it feel more natural.
- If you have a journal or diary, try practice writing cursive in it. You can also practice while you are taking notes in class!
- Go on the Internet and look at cursive writing and try to copy them until you can do it nicely. But it doesn't have to be perfect!
- You can also buy a nursery supplement from the markets as they contain dotted lines which will help you learn the proper angles and the accurate gaps between the loops you make and never feel ashamed when you use them.They will help you learn the proper beautiful and accurate cursive writing.
- Get a book and look at other peoples' cursive and try to copy. You may find a style you like better than the standard.
- Find a friend or mentor who knows how to write in cursive. Ask him or her to go over the specifics of how each letter is formed; for example, where the stroke begins and ends, as well as certain rules (like connecting from Bs and Os).
Things You'll Need
- Paper or a dry erase board
- A pen, dry erase marker, or pencil
- A supplement of cursive writing.
Related Articles
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- Improve Your Handwriting
- Copy Someone's Handwriting
- Read Old Handwriting
- Make Letters of the English Alphabet
- Teach a Child to Write in Cursive
