UNIT- 2 WRITING SKILLS

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
To understand the productive process done through exploring and transmitting ideas, thoughts
and feelings in written form that carried out grammatically and orderly text .
WHAT IS WRITING ? :
Writings allows you to communicate your message with clarity and ease. It is a form of
communication that allows students to put their feelings and ideas on paper. Written expression
can be as vivid as a work of art. There are different purposes of writing like to give information,
to entertain, to persuade, to give opinions etc. based on the targeted reader . There are different
forms of writing like summary writing, essay writing, paragraph writing, poetry writing,
journal writing etc.
LET US DISCUSS ESSAY WRITING IN DETAIL.
What is an essay?
"An essay is a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject usually in prose?
MODULE - 1
Components of a Good Essay
An essay is a piece of writing that is written to convince someone of something or to simply
inform the reader about a particular topic. In order for the reader to be convinced or adequately
informed, the essay must include several important components to make it flow in a logical
way. The main parts (or sections) to an essay are the intro, body, and conclusion. In a standard
short essay, five paragraphs can provide the reader with enough information in a short amount
of space. For a research paper or dissertation, however, it is essential that more than five
paragraphs are present in order not to overwhelm the reader with too much information in one
paragraph.
Introduction:
· Must contain an attention grabber for the reader or at least make the essay sound interesting.
May begin with a quote about the particular topic
· Ensure that the intro moves from the general to the specific in regards to the topic
· Provides the reader with a “road map “of the essay in a logical order
· At the end there should be what is called a thesis statement, arguably the most important
component of the intro
· The thesis statement states the aim of the paper and may give insight into the author’s
examples and evidence
Body:
· Includes the evidence and support of the paper in addition to the author’s ideas
· Paragraphs must include a topic sentence, which relates the discussion back to the thesis
statement
· Logical ordering of ideas: 3 types of order
1. Chronological order
order of time, good for narratives
2. Spatial order
good for descriptions of locations; top to bottom, e.g.
3. Emphatic order
least important to most important; most common for college writing
·Ensure that transition sentences are present to create a good flow to the essay
·Include substantial examples and evidence to support your argument and remember to
cite, cite, cite!
·Make sure each example is relevant to your particular topic
Conclusion:
·This section should wrap all of your arguments and points
·Should restate the main arguments in a simplified manner
·Ensure that the reader is left with something to think about, particularly if it is an argumentative
essay always remember to allow time to rewrite the first draft of your essay and, then, to
proofread it before turning it in.

MODULE -2 TYPES AND FORMATS OF ESSAYS

Effectively writing different types of essays has become critical to academic success. Essay
writing is a common school assignment, a part of standardized tests, and a requirement on
college applications. Often on tests, choosing the correct type of essay to write in response to
a writing prompt is key to getting the question right. Clearly, students can’t afford to remain
confused about types of essays. There are over a dozen types of essays, so it is easy to get
confused. However, rest assured, the number is actually more manageable. Essentially, there
are four major types of essays, with the variations making up the remainder.
FOUR TYPES OF ESSAYS:
Distinguishing between types of essays is simply a matter of determining the writer’s goal.
Does the writer want to tell about a personal experience, describe something, explain an issue,
or convince the reader to accept a certain viewpoint? The four major types of essays address
these purposes:
1. Narrative Essays: Telling a Story
In a narrative essay, the writer tells a story about a real-life experience. While telling a story
may sound easy to do, the narrative essay challenges students to think and write about
themselves. When writing a narrative essay, writers should try to involve the reader by making
the story as vivid as possible. The fact that narrative essays are usually written in the first person
helps engage the reader. “I” sentences give readers a feeling of being part of the story. A well-
crafted narrative essay will also build towards drawing a conclusion or making a personal
statement.
2. Descriptive Essays: Painting a Picture
A cousin of the narrative essay, a descriptive essay paints a picture with words. A writer might
describe a person, place, object, or even memory of special significance. However, this type of
essay is not description for description’s sake. The descriptive essay strives to communicate a
deeper meaning through the description. In a descriptive essay, the writer should show, not tell,
through the use of colorful words and sensory details. The best descriptive essays appeal to the
reader’s emotions, with a result that is highly evocative.
3. Expository Essays: Just the Facts
The expository essay is an informative piece of writing that presents a balanced analysis of a
topic. In an expository essay, the writer explains or defines a topic, using facts, statistics, and
examples. Expository writing encompasses a wide range of essay variations, such as the
comparison and contrast essay, the cause and effect essay, and the “how to” or process essay.
Because expository essays are based on facts and not personal feelings, writers don’t reveal
their emotions or write in the first person.
4.PersuasiveEssays:
While like an expository essay in its presentation of facts, the goal of the persuasive essay is to
convince the reader to accept the writer’s point of view or recommendation. The writer must
build a case using facts and logic, as well as examples, expert opinion, and sound reasoning.
The writer should present all sides of the argument, but must be able to communicate clearly
and without equivocation why a certain position is correct.

What is an Essay Format: Structure?

1. Title Page.
2. Abstract: comprised of 3 paragraphs, totalling about 300 words, with 100 words in
each. Paragraph 1: must include research question, thesis and outline of the essay's
importance.
3. Table of Contents (with page numbers) ...
4. Introduction. ...
5. Body.
6. Conclusion.
7. Bibliography (Works Cited)

DO’S & DON’T’S OF ESSAY WRITING:

Essay writing is an obligatory academic assignment, regardless of course of study and
institution. However, no one wants to learn from their own mistakes so knowing the most
important dos and don'ts of essay writing will help make this experience less stressful and more
productive.
Here are some do’s;
 Use formal language
 Use the full verb form instead, e.g. they are, is not, cannot Make more formal
vocabulary choices, e.g. have found, a great deal , attractive/advantageous, the
other issue/problem/notion/idea/topic etc.

 Leave out conversational phrases. Use appropriate connectors and introductory

phrases.


 Be non-personal, e.g. It should be possible for everyone to compete.

 State main ideas clearly and concisely in your own words in topic sentences and
use complete sentences and link these into logical paragraphs.

 Be objective, clear and concise.

 Check spelling, grammar and punctuation etcetera.

 Proofread and use a dictionary.

Don’t s
 Do not use slang, jargon, colloquialisms, or sexist language.
 Do not use shortened verb forms (contractions), such as they're, isn't, can't.
  Do not use common vocabulary, such as have got, a lot, nice, the other thing.
 Do not use conversational opening phrases, such as Well, you see, Yes…, Let's
move on.
 Do not use personal pronouns e.g. I, you, we (unless specifically required), i.e. do
not write We think that you should be able to compete.
 Do not use sweeping generalizations.
 Do not use bullet points or lists, unless it is in a report.

LEARNING OUTCOME:
Writing is an important medium and it is used for different purposes. Writing performs many
functions in a person’s day-to-day life. In the Indian educational system, assessing academic
abilities is closely linked with proficiency in writing. The students were able to write flexibly
by exploring their ideas, thoughts as a medium of expression as it is used for different purposes.

Sample Descriptive Essay on Favorite Food

Today, there are many delicious foods easily available. I sometime wonder how life was in the
ancient past when they did not have ease of access to food as we do today. However, though I
can find food of all kinds in our stores there are foods that stand out as my favorite.
I easily walk past the pizzas, the fluffy pasties, pies, and cream cakes. But when I sit in the
restaurant and see the words oxtail stew, with creamed spinach and potatoes I positively drool.
The Waitron places the crispy warm bread rolls beside me on a white plate. In front of me were
yellow balls of butter. Next, she placed in front of me a bowl of creamed spinach, dark green
finely cut with the white cream and steam coming from it advertising it was freshly cooked. I
inhaled the warm aroma unique to spinach. Beside it was a bowl with smooth white mashed
potato. Rich creamy smooth and firm from the butter and milk that had been beaten into it to
add to its flavor and smooth texture.
Then came the bowl full of oxtail stew. Its rich dark brown color was set off by the white bowl
it was in. The gravy was thick and rich. I could smell the aroma of beef, garlic, and herbs and
spices drifting up from it into my nose. My mouth watered in anticipation.
Now I took the silver spoon and dipped it into the bowl of potato. It smoothly penetrated the
firm fluffy white mound. I lifted the spoon and turned it over on my plate depositing a mound
of potato. I repeated this 3 times. Then using another spoon I scooped up spinach dripping
white sauce and put it on the plate beside the potato. The dark green Spinach was hot, the white
Sauce melted and it contrasted with the creamy potato. Now after a second helping of spinach
I took another larger spoon. I dipped it into the rich brown stew and stirred it. Then I scooped
up a chunky slice of oxtail. Several other pieces followed that one onto my plate, the rich brown
meat, contrasting with the dark green spinach and creamy white potato. The succulent meat
gleaming with a coating of rich gravy and the aroma of gravy, garlic spinach and potato
blending in the steam rising from my plate. I scooped up gravy from the bowl and trickled it
over the white potato catching the scent of red wine. I broke the roll and spread butter on it and
I was ready to eat.
Now the decision where to start, so I bit into the fresh crisp roll and tasted its warm soft texture
and the melting butter. By then I had decided to sample the potato with gravy and the spinach.
The potato was smooth, with a taste of butter over powered with the tangy gravy, its garlic and
hint of good red wine in it. The spinach was a good foil. Smooth with its vegetable texture and
plain white sauce it softened the taste of the gravy. Then I used my fork and removed the
succulent meat from the bone. Its soft texture, fatty feeling in the mouth, the spice wine and
garlic in the gravy made it perfect. So I sat contented at my table eating as much as I could,
and more than I should of my favorite food.

Sample Narrative Essay: Format

Student Sample: Narrative Essay
My College Education
The first class I went to in college was philosophy, and it changed my life forever. Our first
assignment was to write a short response paper to the Albert Camus essay “The Myth of
Sisyphus.” I was extremely nervous about the assignment as well as college. However, through
all the confusion in philosophy class, many of my questions about life were answered.
I entered college intending to earn a degree in engineering. I always liked the way mathematics
had right and wrong answers. I understood the logic and was very good at it. So when I received
my first philosophy assignment that asked me to write my interpretation of the Camus essay, I
was instantly confused. What is the right way to do this assignment, I wondered? I was nervous
about writing an incorrect interpretation and did not want to get my first assignment wrong.
Even more troubling was that the professor refused to give us any guidelines on what he was
looking for; he gave us total freedom. He simply said, “I want to see what you come up with.”
Full of anxiety, I first set out to read Camus’s essay several times to make sure I really knew
what was it was about. I did my best to take careful notes. Yet even after I took all these notes
and knew the essay inside and out, I still did not know the right answer. What was my
interpretation? I could think of a million different ways to interpret the essay, but which one
was my professor looking for? In math class, I was used to examples and explanations of
solutions. This assignment gave me nothing; I was completely on my own to come up with my
individual interpretation.
Next, when I sat down to write, the words just did not come to me. My notes and ideas were
all present, but the words were lost. I decided to try every prewriting strategy I could find. I
brainstormed, made idea maps, and even wrote an outline. Eventually, after a lot of stress, my
ideas became more organized and the words fell on the page. I had my interpretation of “The
Myth of Sisyphus,” and I had my main reasons for interpreting the essay. I remember being
unsure of myself, wondering if what I was saying made sense, or if I was even on the right
track. Through all the uncertainty, I continued writing the best I could. I finished the conclusion
paragraph, had my spouse proofread it for errors, and turned it in the next day simply hoping
for the best.
Then, a week or two later, came judgment day. The professor gave our papers back to us with
grades and comments. I remember feeling simultaneously afraid and eager to get the paper
back in my hands. It turned out, however, that I had nothing to worry about. The professor gave
me an A on the paper, and his notes suggested that I wrote an effective essay overall. He wrote
that my reading of the essay was very original and that my thoughts were well organized. My
relief and newfound confidence upon reading his comments could not be overstated.
What I learned through this process extended well beyond how to write a college paper. I
learned to be open to new challenges. I never expected to enjoy a philosophy class and always
expected to be a math and science person. This class and assignment, however, gave me the
self-confidence, critical-thinking skills, and courage to try a new career path. I left engineering
and went on to study law and eventually became a lawyer. More important, that class and paper
helped me understand education differently. Instead of seeing college as a direct stepping stone
to a career, I learned to see college as a place to first learn and then seek a career or enhance
an existing career. By giving me the space to express my own interpretation and to argue for
my own values, my philosophy class taught me the importance of education for education’s
sake. That realization continues to pay dividends every day.
Example Expository Essay:
A Career to Make Life Worth Living
Many teenagers spend a lot of time contemplating what they want to do when they graduate
from high school. I am fortunate in that I already know; I decided to become a veterinarian
when I was two or three years old. Just like humans, animals need people to treat them with
the respect and dignity they deserve, and I want to be one of those people. Because of this, I
am doing all I can at Reavis to lay the groundwork for my success in college. Then, once I am
in college, I will study and learn about all species of animals. Finally, I will find happiness in
my career as a veterinarian because when animals need my assistance, I know that I will be
able to help them.

First, as a freshman at Reavis High School, I keep in mind my lifelong dream of becoming a
veterinarian. I have been taking my education here very seriously, because I know that a person
needs to be not only knowledgeable, but also extremely disciplined in order to become a
veterinarian. Because of this, I work hard to earn good grades, I take pride in my work, and I
have learned to manage my time properly. These skills will be particularly valuable when I
enter college.

After leaving Reavis, I must attend college because it is definitely a requirement for becoming
a veterinarian. In fact, a bachelor’s degree is necessary in order to even enter a veterinarian
program. One must also possess excellent communication, leadership, public speaking, and
organizational skills. I have put a lot of thought and consideration into college, and I have
decided that I would like to go to the University of Illinois. It is a wonderful school, and they
even have a graduate program designed for students who want to become veterinarians. Once
I have completed a veterinarian program, I will be able to pursue my dream career. This career
provides numerous benefits, the first of which is salary. The average veterinarian salary is
$60,000 a year, a salary that would definitely allow me to live a comfortable life. Secondly, it
is a rewarding job. This job would provide me with the satisfaction of knowing that I am
helping or saving an animal’s life. Finally, becoming a veterinarian would assure me a lifetime
of happiness. I know I would love going to my job every day, because I would be working
with what I love most: animals.

In summary, when I graduate from Reavis, I plan to go to college to become a veterinarian. I

love animals and I want to do anything that I can to help them. I know I am only a freshman,
but I also know that I am growing up quickly. As Ferris Bueller quotes, “Life moves pretty
fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!”

Sample Persuasive Essay

Why Students Should Eat Breakfast Every Day
A lot of people, especially young people, go through the day without having breakfast. Many
people believe that it is not necessary, or they say that they don’t have time for that, and begin
their day with no meal. I believe that everyone should eat breakfast before going to their
activities. The purpose of this paper is to show the importance of breakfast, especially for
students.
The first reason why you should eat breakfast before going to school is for your health. When
you skip breakfast and go to school, you are looking for a disease because it’s not healthy to
have an empty stomach all day long. It’s very important to have a meal and not let your stomach
work empty. All you are going to get is gastritis and a lot of problems with your health if you
don’t eat breakfast.
Another reason for eating breakfast is because you need food for to do well in your classes.
You body and your brain are not going to function as good as they could because you have no
energy and no strength. When you try to learn something and have nothing in your stomach,
you are going to have a lot of trouble succeeding. A lot of people think that they should not eat
because they are going to feel tired, but that’s not true. Breakfast is not a very big meal, and on
the contrary, you’re going to feel tired if you don’t have breakfast because you have spent the
entire previous night without food
The last reason to have breakfast every day is because you can avoid diseases if you eat some
breakfast in the morning. If you don’t eat, you are going to get sick, and these diseases will
have a stronger effect on you because you’re going to get sick easier than people who have
breakfast every day. You have to realize that breakfast is the most important meal of the day,
and you cannot skip it without consequences for your health, your school and your defense
mechanism. It is better to wake up earlier and have a good breakfast that run to school without
eating anything. It is time for you to do something for your health, and eating breakfast is the
better way to start your day.
Persuasive Essay Outline
Use this format in creating your Persuasive essay. Follow the directions directly.
Persuasive Essay Outline explanation
 Structure of a five paragraph persuasive essay
o Introduction (3-5 sentences)
 Hook: Grab the reader’s attention with a quote, scenario, question,
vivid description, etc. Must be related to your topic. (1-2 sentences)
 Thesis statement: Simply and clearly state your position on the issue(1
sentence )
 Three arguments. Choose three arguments you can use to convince
your reader of your position. Briefly state these arguments here. (1-3
sentences)
o Paragraph 2 (5-8 sentences)
 Go back to paragraph one and find your first argument. Then write a
paragraph about it.
 Use specific examples to support your argument
 Write a transition sentence.
o Paragraph 3 (5-8 sentences)
 Go back to paragraph one and find your second argument. Write a
paragraph about it .
 Use specific examples to support your argument. You should
authoritative websites to give facts, statistics, supporting quotations,
studies, research, etc.
 Write a transition sentence.
o Paragraph 4 (5-8 sentences)
 Go back to paragraph one and find your third argument. Write a
paragraph about it.
 Use specific examples to support your argument
 Write a transition sentence.
o Conclusion (3-5 sentences)
 Summarize—restate your thesis statement and three arguments in
different words
 Make a closing statement. Tie your closing statement back to your
opening hook.
Outline Persuasive Essay
 Directions: Use the outline form below to organize your persuasive essay. Choose
your topic and three arguments to support your opinion. Section I is for your
 introduction. Section II is for the body (one paragraph for each argument). Section III
is for your conclusion.
Topic________________________________________________________________
___ I. Introduction
a. Hook_______________________________________________________
b. Thesis statement______________________________________________
c. Argument #1_________________________________________________
d. Argument #2_________________________________________________
e. Argument #3_________________________________________________
II. Body Paragraph #1
a. Argument #1_________________________________________________
b. Example #1____________________________________________
c. Example #2____________________________________________
d. Example #3____________________________________________
e. Transition_____________________________________________
Body Paragraph #2
a. Argument #2_________________________________________________
b. Example #1____________________________________________
c. Example #2____________________________________________
d. Example #3____________________________________________
e. Transition_____________________________________________
Body Paragraph #3
a. Argument #3_________________________________________________
b. Example #1____________________________________________
c. Example #2____________________________________________
d. Example #3____________________________________________
e. Transition_____________________________________________
III. Conclusion
a. Restate thesis (different words)__________________________________
b. Restate arguments (different words)___ ____________________________
c. Clincher (tie it all together)______________________________________