Chapter 1

(Introduction to Writing Skills)

 Presenting By

Ferdaush Hasan Sunny

BA (Hons) TESOL, MA in ELT,JU
CELTA, University of Cambridge, UK
MPhil Fellow ( ELT, Södertörn University, Sweden)
Lecturer in English
Uttara Anwara Model University College
 Writing

• Writing skills are specifics abilities which help writers put their
thoughts into words in a meaningful form and to mentally interact
with the message.
• Writing is the activities of composing book, stories, poems and
articles etc.
• Writing is a medium of human communication that involves the
representation of a language with written symbols. Writing
systems are not themselves human languages,they are means of
rendering a language into a form that can be reconstructed by
other humans separated by time and space.
 Stages

Writing is the activities of composing books, stories, poem, articles etc.

And the process of writing is the several stages which a writer has to
follow. There are mainly 5 stages. They are:
1. Pre-writing
2. Drafting
3. Revision
4. Editing
5. Publishing
The main stages in writing are Drafting, Editing and Publishing.
 Pre-writing

Pre-writing tasks review and build students knowledge of relevant

vocabulary, relevant grammar points and, most importantly,
students' background knowledge, since that is what really generates
thoughtful and interesting written work. Pre-writing tasks are a
crucial element of successful writing instruction. Pre-writing
includes: thinking, taking notes, talking to others, brainstorming,
outlining and gathering information.
 Drafting

Drafting occurs when you put your ideas into sentences and
paragraphs. Here you concentrate upon explaining and supporting
your ideas fully. Here you also begin to connect your ideas.
Regardless of how much thinking and planning you do, the process
of putting your ideas in words changes them; often the very words
you select evoke additional ideas or implications. Drafting is the
pieces of writing a plan, letter, report, story, poem etc. It is you
telling yourself what you know and think about the topic.
 Revision

Revision is the key to effective documents. Here you think more

deeply about your readers needs and expectations. The document
becomes reader-centered. How much support will each idea need to
convince your readers? Which terms should be defined for these
particular readers? Is your organization effective? Do readers need
to know X before they can understand Y? At this stage you also
refine your prose, making each sentence as concise and accurate as
possible. Make connections between ideas explicit and clear
 Editing

Editing is the process of preparing a book or an article for printing

by deciding what to include and what to exclude. In editing it check
for such things as grammar, mechanics, and spelling. The last thing
you should do before printing your document is to spell check it.
Don’t edit your writing until the other steps in the writing process
are complete.
 Publishing

Publishing is the last stage where writers submit their work to the
publisher. Make sure your written document should be completed
before giving to the publisher. However, each writer’s goal is to
publish his work and reach to the readers.
 Writing Style

The style in writing can be defined as the way a writer writes. It is

the technique that an individual author uses in his writing. It varies
from author to author, and depends upon one’s syntax, word choice,
and tone. It can also be described as a “voice” that readers listen to
when they read the work of a writer. There are four main types of
writing: Expository, Descriptive, Persuasive, and Narrative. Each
of these writing styles is used for a specific purpose. There are two
types of basic use of writing style:
1. Formal Writing
2. Informal Writing
 Formal Writing

The word formal means official. So we can say that formal writing
refers to official writing. Formal writing is serious.
Use Formal Writing When:
Writing professionally (reaching out to a client or prospect)
Academic writings (essays, research papers, etc.)
Job applications (resume writing, CVs, and cover letters)
Reaching out to someone you do not know.
 Informal Writing
Informal Writing refers to casual or friendly writing. It is generally refers
in order to communication with friends and intimate ones. Informal
writing consists of short sentences and is used in more personal settings,
such as writing a letter to a friend or writing a diary entry. It is much
more relaxed than formal writing.
Use Informal Writing When:
 Writing to a friend
 Sharing a story or writing a personal blog
 Writing creatively
 Instructed to do so (if in school)
 Writing dialogue and conversations
 Writing an outline
 Formal Writing vs Informal Writing
Formal Informal
• Long and complex sentences: Sentences tend • Can use first person, second or third: You can use
to be compound and contain commas to link any type of pronouns, including “I”
two ideas or use transitions like “Furthermore” • Can use slang: The use of everyday language and
and “To exemplify,” slang terms can be used, such as “It was cool
• Does not use contractions: Would use “cannot” that…”
instead of “can’t” • Active voice: Sentences tend to be written with a
subject acting on the verb, such as “We chilled the
• Objective: Does not offer personal opinions drinks and went out to the sea” instead of “The
• Doesn’t use colloquial language: You won’t see drinks were chilled…”
any slang or common everyday vocabulary • Personal emotional tone can be detected: Since
• Diverse vocabulary words: Vocabulary is of a the writing is personal, it can include feelings and
higher level the sharing of emotions
• Contraction and abbreviation: It’s okay to use
• Use of words that are subject-specific: For
“can’t” instead of “cannot” or “it’s” instead of “it
example, if you are writing about biology, is”
you’d use words like “epithelial cells” instead
of “skin cells” • Empathy: You can put yourself in the shoes of your
audience and address their problems directly. This
• Use of third person: Does not use first person shows the author as coming from a place of
pronouns like “I” or “me” understanding their situation.
 Re-Point
An article is a piece of writing on a particular subject in a newspaper or
magazine.
A thesis is a long piece of writing about a particular subject that somebody
does as part of an advanced university degree such as MA, MSc or PhD.
Academic writing refers to such writing that related to education, especially at
college or university level.
Cohesion in writing means a close relationship based on grammar or meaning
between the parts of a sentence or a large piece of writing.
Editing is the process of preparing a book or an article for printing by deciding
what to include and what to exclude.
Theme is the subject or main idea in a talk, piece of writing or work of art.
Tone is the general feeling or attitude expressed in a piece of writing. The
manner in which a writer approaches this theme is the tone.
 Re-Point
• Format is the size, shape, design in which something such as letter,
paragraph, report, press release etc is produced.
• Bibliography is a list of all the books and articles which a writer uses in
preparing a piece of writing.
• Skimming is reading something quickly to find the main facts or ideas in
it.
• Scanning is the process of reading something quickly but Carefully to
find
• Citation is a word or piece of writing taken from a written work.
 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own,

with or without their consent, by incorporating it into your work
without full acknowledgement. All published and unpublished
material, whether in manuscript, printed or electronic form, is
covered under this definition. Plagiarism may be intentional or
reckless, or unintentional. Under the regulations for examinations,
intentional or reckless plagiarism is a disciplinary offence. A writer
can easily avoid plagiarism if he fellows the ways mentioned below:
 Plagiarism
 Don't just copy: In your writing, describe other people's ideas or results (using references) and their importance to
your argument, rather than simply copying what you've read. Avoid using cut and paste options in electronic
material as this encourages you to simply copy what you've read word for word.
 Use a range of sources: Don't just limit yourself to using one source when writing your assignments. Discussing ideas
from a range of sources shows that you have read widely and that you are able to formulate your own views based
on your reading. Remember, important sources can be available in print and electronic format.
 Develop your own style: You should develop your own style of writing during your time at University. Try to be
concise and clear. Using the words of another author will stand out from the rest of your work and may alert
lecturers to possible plagiarism.
 Keep good quality notes: If you are making notes from your sources, remember to put direct quotations in quotation
marks and always keep a note of your sources. This will help to ensure that you do not accidentally plagiarise. It
also makes collating your references much easier when writing your assignments. You can keep track of your
references using a tool such as Endnote Web.
 Use quotation marks: If you do want to quote a short extract from another author's words exactly, make sure you
enclose these words in quotation marks to indicate that it is a direct quote. Direct quotes should be used sparingly
and shouldn't include large amounts of text. They should be used where you are identifying an key idea or
highlighting the place where you found the particular idea you are using. Don't forget if you are using someone else's
ideas in your work you need to show this by referencing it.
 APA Style

• APA format is one of several different writing formats used for

publications, papers, essays, and books today. This particular style
is established by the American Psychological Association, and used
by professionals in psychology and many other sciences. So, what
does this have to do with you? APA style is also one of the most
common styles taught at and used by colleges and high schools.
 The Basics of APA Style
General Structure: An APA-style publication should begin with a title page followed by an abstract, the main body, references,
footnotes, graphics, then appendices.
Title Page: Your title page counts as page one. It should have the title at the very center, followed on the next line by your name,
and then with your school or organization name under that. After this basic information, you may want to include an optional author
note, which is any important note about the project or author.
Running Head: APA style uses a running head. This is a smaller version of the title of your paper, and it runs throughout your paper
at the top of each page. It should be less than 50 spaces, and starts on the top left side of every page.
Abstract: Your abstract is page two. Center the word 'Abstract' below your running head, and then compose a summary of about 150
to 250 words that describes the most important points of your research and paper.
Main Body Structure: The beginning of your body is page three. Format your paper with one-inch margins all the way around. The
left-side margin should be flush, except for the beginning of each paragraph, which should be indented five to seven spaces. Type in
a 12-pt. type with a common font, such as Times New Roman. Every part of your paper should be double-spaced. Page numbers
should appear at the top right. The full title of your paper should appear again at the beginning of the main body.
References: References generally come immediately after the main body of the work.
Footnotes: If you use footnotes to compose explanations or asides, these should be listed after the References page. They begin a
new page, with the title 'Footnotes' centered at the top. The footnotes are arranged by number and each new footnote number is
indented on a new line.
Graphics: Graphics and other supporting documentation come next, with separate, new pages for each: tables, figures, and
appendices (in that order). The pages should be labeled and centered at the top.
 MLA Style

• The abbreviation MLA stand for Modern Language Association. This

format was created for literature and language academics to
format their papers and assignments uniformly. MLA has also been
adopted by other disciplines besides language and literature. MLA
formatting style is a consistent method for writing papers and
assignments in an easily readable way.
 Basic Formatting Style
MLA format was created in late 1800s by college teachers who wanted to inspire the
learning of modern languages in America at a time when classical languages were
declining. Since its creation, MLA has undergone various revisions to evolve with the
present-day style of writing. The MLA format has some unique formatting basics that
identify it.
Use 8.5 x 11-inch paper
Use 12 point font in Times New Roman or Arial.
Begin each paragraph with a one-half inch indentation, and double space all
sentences.
Set margins at the top, bottom, and side to one inch.
Put full stops at the end of every sentence, and, as is customary, begin every
sentence with a capital letter.
Binding: For hard copy assignments, it is preferable that individuals take
instructions from their professors, but the commonly acceptable MLA binding
involves using staples and paper binders at the top-left corner of the paper.
“ Life is like a camera. Just focus on what’s
important, capture the good times, develop
from the negatives, and if things don’t work
out, just take another shot. Live as if you
were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were
to live forever.
@ Mahatma Gandhi
”
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