B_A_ English 104

Syllabus
AECC-2 Writing Skills

i. Diary Writing
ii. Paragraph Writing
iii. Summary/Note making
iv. Formal and Informal Letter Writing
v. CV/ Resume Writing
vi. Report Writing
vii. Interview/Feature Article
viii. Notice Writing
Classroom Activity: Speaking Skills, Listening Skills, Mock Interview, Speech Making Project
Work
Suggested Projects: Sports Writing, Poetry about Women/Men, Poetry in Translation, Translating
a Poem, Telling a Story, Fantasy Writing, Chat Shows, The Menace of Dowry, A Success Story, Creative
Writing, Theatre Groups, Interviewing a Celebrity, Writing a Newspaper Article on a Current Topic, Today‘s
Youth and Youth Icons, Leadership and Politics, Examination System and Benefits of Reform, the Epics,
Communalism, Gender Discrimination, Social Activism.
Recommended Reading: 1. English Communication Skills: AECC under CBCS, HPU. Meenakshi
F. Paul and Madhumita Chakraborty. Macmillan, 2017.
Suggested Readings:
1. Fluency in English. Part I. Macmillan, 2005.
2. Fluency in English. Part II. OUP, 2006. Unit 1-15.
3. El Dorado: A Textbook of Communication Skills. Orient Blackswan, 2014. Units 1-5.
4. Interchange. Workbook III. Fourth Edition. Cambridge University Press, 2015. Units 1-8.
5. New Headway. Intermediate Student‘s Book. 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press, 2012. Units
1-6.
6. Write to be Read: Reading, Reflecting & Writing. First South Asian edition. Cambridge University
Press, 2014. Units 1-4.
7. Business English. Pearson, 2008. Units 4-6.
*****
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LESSON ONE
INTRODUCTION
Structure
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Learning Objectives
1.3 Main Body of the Lesson
1.3.1 Getting Your Written Message Across Clearly
1.3.2 Audience and Format
1.3.3 Composition and Style
1.3.4 Structure
1.3.5 Grammatical Errors
1.3.6 Proofing
1.3.7 Self Assessment Question
1.4 Summary
1.5 Glossary
1.6 Answers to Self –Check Exercise
1.7 References/Suggested Readings
1.8 Terminal Questions
1.1 Introduction
Writing is a form of communication that allows students to put their feelings and ideas on paper, to
organize their knowledge and beliefs into convincing arguments, and to convey meaning through well-constructed
text. In its most advanced form, written expression can be as vivid as a work of art. As students learn the
steps of writing, and as they build new skills upon old, writing evolves from the first simple sentences to
elaborate stories and essays. Spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and organization come together and grow together
to help the student demonstrate more advanced writing skills each year.
After this lesson students will be able to:
• Explain the four language skills.
• Correlate between listening and writing skills.
• Describe strategies for improving writing skills at various levels.
1.3.1 Getting Your Written Message Across Clearly
A colleague has just sent you an email relating to a meeting you’re having in one hour’s time. The
email is supposed to contain key information that you need to present, as part of the business case for an
important project.
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But there’s a problem: the email is so badly written that you can’t find the data you need. There are misspellings
and incomplete sentences, and the paragraphs are so long and confusing that it takes you three times more
than it should to find the information you want. As a result, you’re under-prepared for the meeting, and it
doesn’t go as well as you want it to.
Have you ever faced a situation similar to this? In today’s information overload world, it’s vital to
communicate clearly, concisely and effectively. People don’t have time to read book-length emails, and they
don’t have the patience to scour badly-constructed emails for “buried” points.
The better your writing skills are, the better the impression you’ll make on the people around you –
including your boss, your colleagues, and your clients. You never know how far these good impressions will
take you!
In this article, we’ll look at how you can improve your writing skills and avoid common mistakes.
1.3.2 Audience and Format
The first step to writing clearly is choosing the appropriate format. Do you need to send an
informal email? Write a detailed report? Create advertising copy? Or write a formal letter?
The format, as well as your audience, will define your “writing voice” – that is, how formal or relaxed
the tone should be. For instance, if you write an email to a prospective client, should it have the same tone as
an email to a friend?
Definitely not.
Start by identifying who will read your message. Is it targeted at senior managers, the entire human
resources team, or a small group of engineers? With everything you write, your readers, or recipients, should
define your tone as well as aspects of the content.
1.3.3 Composition and Style
Once you know what you’re writing, and for whom you’re writing, you actually have to start writing.
A blank, white computer screen is often intimidating. And it’s easy to get stuck because you don’t
know how to start. Try these tips for composing and styling your document:
• Start with your audience – Remember, your readers may know nothing about what you’re telling
them. What do they need to know first?
• Create an outline – This is especially helpful if you’re writing a longer document such as a report,
presentation, or speech. Outlines help you identify which steps to take in which order, and they help
you break the task up into manageable pieces of information.
• Use AIDA – If you’re writing something that must inspire action in the reader, follow the Attention-
Interest-Desire-Action (AIDA) formula. These four steps can help guide you through the writing
process.
• Try some empathy – For instance, if you’re writing a sales letter for prospective clients, why should
they care about your product or sales pitch? What’s the benefit for them? Remember your audience’s
needs at all times.
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• Use the Rhetorical Triangle – If you’re trying to persuade someone to do something, make sure
that you communicate why people should listen to you, pitch your message in a way that engages your
audience, and present information rationally and coherently. Our article on the Rhetorical Triangle can
help you make your case in the most effective way.
• Identify your main theme – If you’re having trouble defining the main theme of your message,
pretend that you have 15 seconds to explain your position. What do you say? This is likely to be your
main theme.
• Use simple language – Unless you’re writing a scholarly article, it’s usually best to use simple, direct
language. Don’t use long words just to impress people.
1.3.4 Structure
Your document should be as “reader friendly” as possible. Use headings, subheadings, bullet points,
and numbering whenever possible to break up the text.
After all, what’s easier to read – a page full of long paragraphs, or a page that’s broken up into short
paragraphs, with section headings and bullet points? A document that’s easy to scan will get read more often
than a document with long, dense paragraphs of text.
Headers should grab the reader’s attention. Using questions is often a good idea, especially in
advertising copy or reports, because questions help keep the reader engaged and curious.
In emails and proposals, use short, factual headings and subheadings, like the ones in this article.
Adding graphs and charts is also a smart way to break up your text. These visual aids not only keep
the reader’s eye engaged, but they can communicate important information much more quickly than text.
1.3.5 Grammatical Errors
You probably don’t need us to tell you that errors in your document will make you look unprofessional.
It’s essential to learn grammar properly, and to avoid common mistakes that your spell checker won’t find.
Here are some examples of commonly misused words:
• Affect/Effect
• “Affect” is a verb meaning to influence. (Example: The economic forecast will affect our projected
income.)
• “Effect” is a noun meaning the result or outcome. (Example: What is the effect of the proposal?)
• Then/Than
• “Then” is typically an adverb indicating a sequence in time. (Example: We went to dinner, then we
saw a movie.)
• “Than” is a conjunction used for comparison. (Example: The dinner was more expensive than the
movie.)
• Your/You’re
• “Your” is a possessive. (Example: Is that your file?)
• “You’re” is a contraction of “you are.” (Example: You’re the new manager.)
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• Note: Also watch out for other common homophones (words that sound alike but have different
spellings and meanings) – such as their/they’re/there, to/too/two, and so on.
• Its/It’s
• “Its” is a possessive. (Example: Is that its motor?)
• “It’s” is a contraction of “It is.” (Example: It’s often that heavy.) (Yes, it is this way around!)
• Company’s/Companies (and Other Possessives Versus Plurals)
• “Company’s” indicates possession. (Example: The Company’s trucks hadn’t been maintained
properly.)
• “Companies” is plural. (Example: The companies in this industry are suffering.)
1.3.6 Proofing
The enemy of good proofreading is speed. Many people rush through their documents, but this is how
you miss mistakes. Follow these guidelines to check what you’ve written:
• Proof your headers and sub-headers – People often skip these and focus on the text alone. Just
because headers are big and bold doesn’t mean they’re error free!
• Read the document out loud – This forces you to go more slowly, so that you’re more likely to
catch mistakes.
• Use your finger to follow text as you read – This is another trick that helps you slow down.
• Start at the end of your document – Proofread one sentence at a time, working your way from
the end to the beginning. This helps you focus on errors, not on content.
1.3.7 Self Assessment Question
1. A letter written in cursive script with a pen instead of being typed is
• penned
• scripted
• handwritten
2. If you’re polishing what you’ve written, you’re
• printing it
•perfecting it
• punctuating it
3. If someone writes a book about teaching languages, who are their target readers?
• language teachers
• language learners
• language writers
4. If you’re writing your resumé, you’re writing a summary of your
• employment goals
• work and life skills
• education and work history
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5. The target readers of a resumé or CV are those who _______ new staff.
• hire
• fire
• train
6. What are you looking for if you’re proofreading a written document?
• mistakes and typos
• style and flow
• plagiarism
7. If another writer has plagiarized something you’ve written, they’ve
• copied it
• dictated it
• improved it
8. What do bloggers write?
• bad logs
• website codes
• online journals
9. A writer’s formal mention of the source of information or a quote they’ve used is called
• feedback
• a citation
• note-taking
10. Dictation is an exercise that requires you to write down exactly what you
• say
• hear
• think
1.4 Summary
More than ever, it’s important to know how to communicate your point quickly and professionally.
Many people spend a lot of time writing and reading, so the better you are at this form of communication, the
more successful you’re likely to be.
Identify your audience before you start creating your document. And if you feel that there’s too
much information to include, create an outline to help organize your thoughts. Learning grammatical and
stylistic techniques will also help you write more clearly; and be sure to proof the final document. Like most
things, the more you write, the better you’re going to be!
1.5 Glossary
authentic reading (noun): written materials that are not designed specifically for learners (eg, news
articles)
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background knowledge (noun): information that you already know about a topic
blog (noun/verb): weblog; an online journal that you post to regularly
brainstorm (verb): to think of (and note) many ideas and examples before writing a piece
checklist (noun): a list of reminders that you can check off when reviewing your completed work
citation (noun): formal mention of the original source where you found information or a quote
dictation (noun): an exercise that requires you to write exactly what you hear
feedback (noun): response from the reader about your work
flow (noun): how smoothly your writing moves along for the reader
forum (noun): an online discussion board
handwrite (verb): to write in cursive (a style in which letters join together)
narrative (noun): a written account of events
narrow down (verb): to reduce a general topic to something more specific
non-fiction (noun): stories or information based on truth or facts
note-take (verb): to write down small bits of important information as your read or listen
persuasive (adjective): causing a person to believe in something
plagiarism (noun): the copying of another person’s work or art
polish (verb): to make something as perfect as possible
prompt, writing prompt (noun): something such as an image, quote, or sound that can inspire a
writer to compose a piece of text
proofread (verb): to read over one’s writing to check for mistakes or typos
punctuation (noun): marks used in sentences to clarify meaning (eg, period, comma)
resumé, CV (noun): a formal document that provides details about your education and employment
background
sequence (noun): a particular order
standardized test (noun): an examination that has a set format, such as TOEIC
stream of consciousness (noun): a style of writing in which you write whatever comes to your
mind
target reader (noun): the type of audience you are writing for (eg, teens, doctors, teachers)
transitional phrase (noun): words that connect one written section or idea to another
voice (noun): the author’s personal writing style
writing challenge (noun): a monthly writing practice task
Some General Tips for Improving your Writing
• Only use words that you understand. Don’t be tempted to use long or complicated words because
they sound more intellectual or impressive. If you aren’t 100% sure of the meaning use a simpler
word that you feel familiar with.
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• Write short sentences and short paragraphs. It’s easy for a reader to lose their train of thought when
they are faced with dense text.
• Read your writing out loud to yourself. This will help you locate any mistakes or anything which
sounds complicated or unclear.
• Take the time to read through your writing. This is best done a few days after you have finished
writing, or if you need to send something as soon as possible wait five minutes and come back to it.
When proofreading try focusing on individual words rather than sentences to spot errors.
• It can be helpful to look at your writing on another medium, for example if it is written on the
computer try printing it out to look for errors on paper. Or, try reading from the last paragraph up to
the top. This is will disrupt your expectations of seeing what you have already written and make you
more likely to notice errors.
• Don’t be afraid of writing clearly and plainly. Try to phrase things as directly as possible and focus on
exactly what you are trying to communicate rather than on trying to make it sound wordy. Try and
imagine what you would like to read.
• Don’t include jargon or very technical terms unless you are completely sure that everyone who will
read them will understand them.
• Ask for help. Even experienced writers need editors to get the best out of their writing. If you have
something really important to write, get a friend or helpful colleague to check through it.
1. handwritten
2. perfecting it
3. language teachers
4. education and work history
5. hire
6. mistakes and typos
7. copied it
8. online journals
9. a citation
10. hear
https://www.englishclub.com/
https://www.skillsyouneed.com/
1. What is the importance of choosing the appropriate format?
2. What are various tips for composing and styling your document?
*****
8
LESSON TWO
DIARY WRITING
Structure
2.0 Introduction
2.2.0 Tips on How to Write a Diary
2.2.0.1 Be Honest
2.2.0.2 Be Detailed
2.2.0.3 Spell Check
2.2.0.4 Dates
2.2.0.5 Giving your entry a title
2.2.0.6 Write short entries
2.2.0.7 Don’t worry if you can’t add to it every day
2.2.0.8 Diary Writing Sample
2.3 Some Diary Tips
2.4 Self Assessment Questions
2.5 Summary
2.6 Glossary
2.0 Introduction
A diary is where you keep personal musings about your life, the people in it and the things you care
about. Your diary is a safe place where you can be honest and candid about your thoughts, feelings and
opinions. Diaries are for the eyes of their owners and no one else. Your diary is for you and by you. Reflect,
create, dream. Do whatever you want with your words. Someone who keeps a diary is known as a diarist.
The word diary comes from the Latin diarium (“daily allowance,” from dies ”day”). The
word journal comes from the same root (diurnus ”of the day”) through Old French jurnal
(modern French for day is jour).
The earliest use of the word refers to a book in which a daily record was written was in Ben
Jonson’s comedy Volpone in 1605.
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Why does one write a diary entry in the first place? Why does anyone write a diary at all? Well, the
answer is simple – to express oneself. Let us learn more about diary entry.
2.2.0 Tips on How to Write a Diary
We all remember hiding that little locked book under our mattress or in our sock drawer as a preteen,
but now we are older and this is a new age. The 2019 diary should be different than that one you had in your
youth. It is an older journal or diary for your own use. Even though your diary may never been seen by
anyone there are still some tips and tricks to keeping a diary, especially an online one.
Writing a diary is easy. There a no hard rules you have to follow, and you simple write whatever comes to
your mind as you write. But, over the years we have experienced what kind of diaries that engages its
owners, and makes them a helpful and interesting asset in their lives. Here we will try to give a short guide on
what topics a diary entry might contain. That said, remember THERE ARE NO RULES.
If you are somebody who keeps a written diary about your recent life and the changes that have
occurred, then you may be acutely aware of just how difficult it can be at times to actually make a quality
diary post. It can take a considerable amount of time, and you don’t want to write a load of nonsense that you
aren’t even sure fits the purposes of a diary!
A diary is purely your thoughts and feelings on any subject that takes your fancy. Remember, though,
that in time you will be looking back on these writings and you may want to share them with others, so making
sure they make sense and can actually be read by others is very important!
Taking that little bit of extra time to really record your thoughts and to dissect your thoughts properly
can make a significant difference to the outcome of your writing. If you are struggling to come up with
quality, unique insights that actually relate to how you feel and see the world, then try out these tips below.
2.2.0.1 Be Honest
When you are writing a diary entry, give the full story of your opinions, thoughts and fears. Really
open up and let your feelings pour onto the page - holding back helps nobody.
2.2.0.2 Be Detailed
Think of it like a book - is it better when the description goes on and on and on? Or is it better when
you are left to your own imagination? Picking the most insignificant details and adding them in is very
important as you don’t want to leave any stone unturned when trying to turn your diary from the ramblings of
an angry individual to the structures theories and arguments of a modern member of society, do you?
2.2.0.3 Spell Check
If you are writing this then you need to go through for entries to find poor grammar, punctuation and
spelling. Even the most diligent of minds will mess up every now and then, so look out for any little errors that
crop up as you are writing each and every entry no matter how small or irrelevant.
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2.2.0.4 Dates
It’s a good idea to always include the date when you wrote the entry. Note: this is not the same as the
date for the event or experience your are writing about. If you write about something that happened some
days ago, you can either back-date the entire entry, or include the date inside the text itself.
2.2.0.5 Giving your entry a title
It’s easier to scan through your notes later, if you include a short and descriptive subject for your daily
entries. If not, It will just look like a “pile of notes”, hard to navigate in.
2.2.0.6 Write short entries
Most people start out by writing long diary entries, even many pages, containing thousands of
characters. Our experience is that the most successive diaries are made up of short notes. It’s not even
required to write in it every day. Once or twice a week, is enough for some people. The avg. length of a diary
entry is 450 characters long.:
2.2.0.7 Don’t worry if you can’t add to it every day
You are not committed to write in your diary every day only because you have a diary. Add to it
whenever you feel, skip a day, skip a week, it does not matter. Whats important is that you do add to it from
time to time. But the more often, the more fun afterwards.
2.2.0.8 Diary Writing Sample
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
9 pm
Today our class teacher took us to a zoo. I was quite excited about the trip because I love animals.
However, it turned out to be one of the saddest experiences of my life.
We saw many birds and animals in the zoo. Alas! They didn’t look happy in their cages. There were
colourful parrots and lovebirds. They looked sad in their small enclosures. I am sure they miss the blue skies.
The plight of the lion, tiger and leopard was not much better either. They were kept inside tiny cages. They
are well-fed and they also receive medical attention whenever they show signs of illness. Yet, they looked
tired and unhealthy. I guess that is a result of their sedentary life. They get absolutely no opportunities to walk
or run. They pace their small cages up and down looking restive and angry.
I am not saying that zoos are bad. They do protect many endangered species. Still it hurts me to see
wild animals caged for our entertainment. I know I can’t do anything for them but I can’t help feeling bad for
them. I don’t think I will visit a zoo again.
Suresh
2.3 Some Diary Tips
a. Any habit will be difficult to start and maintain if it’s hard to do. You have to start it and keep up with
it. You have to find a way to write that works for you, that is your style. You should use what works
for you. If you like where you’re writing then you will enjoy it more and be more motivated to write
in your diary.
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b. When you’re writing in your journal, it’s important to just write whatever you feel like, without
worrying about who might be reading. Simply writing 100% honestly about your feelings or your
ideas can help you work through them. This diary is for you. It is to help you remember. It is for you
to share if you want to. It is yours and you should be able to write as you see fit.
c. Keeping a daily journal is, obviously, one of those habits that require daily effort. Starting and keeping
a daily habit can be very difficult, especially these days when so much in our lives is chaotic and
unstructured. Try to schedule a time each day to sit down and write. It takes time to develop a habit
so stick with it.
d. If you have missed a few days in your journal, don’t worry - and certainly don’t give up! Just fill in
the gaps as best you can as soon as you can. Even a short diary entry is better than nothing, and the
longer a day stays empty, the harder it is to remember what happened. If you don’t have time to go
into great detail, even making a simple bullet pointed list can help recall what happened when you
have the time to elaborate on the day.
e. While writing in a diary can be good for your mental health today, the greater value comes after
you’ve been writing for a while and you can look back on what you’ve written earlier. Journal
entries are like a letter to your future self, and reading back on your past is a great way to get
perspective on your life. Writing in your diary can help you recall when momentous occasions
happened. You might not realize how important they were until later on. By writing about these
events in your diary, you can recall it in great detail whenever you want to remember it.
2.4 Self Assessment Question
In which format would you write about the following: Driving a car for the first time:
A. Poster
B. Headline
C. Dairy Entry
D. Advertisement
2.5 Summary
In the words of Franz Kafka: “One advantage in keeping a diary is that you become aware with
reassuring clarity of the changes which you constantly suffer . . . In the diary you find proof that in situations
which today would seem unbearable, you lived, looked around and wrote observations, that this right hand
moved then as it does today, when we may be wiser because we are able to look back upon our former
condition, and for that reason have got to admit the courage of our earlier striving in which we persisted even
in sheer ignorance.”
2.6 Glossary
Diary: a book in which one keeps a daily record of events and experiences.
Journal: newspaper or magazine that deals with a particular subject or professional activity.
Periodical: a magazine or newspaper published at regular intervals.
Memoir: a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge.
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2.7 Answer to Self –Check Exercise
Answer: c
https://www.toppr.com/
https://penzu.com/
https://www.writediary.com/
http://perfectyourenglish.com/
https://targetstudy.com/
The Diaries of Franz Kafka, edited by Max Brod. Secker and Warburg, 1948
1. What is the format for diary writing?
2. Why do people write diaries?
*****
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LESSON THREE
PARAGRAPH WRITING
Structure
3.0 Introduction
3.2.1 Basic Paragraph Structure: How to Layout a Paragraph
3.2.2 Supporting Sentences
3.2.3 Concluding Sentence
3.2.4 Other Features of Paragraphs
a. Unity, Coherence
b. Adequate Development
c. Transitions
3.2.5 How long is a Paragraph?
3.3 Self Assessment Question
3.4 Summary
3.5 Glossary
3.6 Answer to Self –Check Exercise
3.0 Introduction
A paragraph is a subdivision of a written composition that consists of one or more sentences, deals
with one point or gives the words of one speaker, and begins on a new usually indented line. A paragraph is
a unit of writing in a larger body of work. A paragraph expresses a particular topic or theme.
A paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized and coherent, and are all related to a single
topic. Almost every piece of writing you do that is longer than a few sentences should be organized into
paragraphs. This is because paragraphs show a reader where the subdivisions of an essay begin and end, and
thus help the reader see the organization of the essay and grasp its main points.
Paragraphs can contain many different kinds of information. A paragraph could contain a series of
brief examples or a single long illustration of a general point. It might describe a place, character, or process;
narrate a series of events; compare or contrast two or more things; classify items into categories; or describe
causes and effects. Regardless of the kind of information they contain, all paragraphs share certain
characteristics. One of the most important of these is a topic sentence. A paragraph is a group of sentence in
which a single topic is developed.
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This lesson will help you know how paragraphs are written, how to develop a paragraph, and how to
completely and clearly express one’s ideas.
3.2.1 Basic Paragraph Structure: How to Layout a Paragraph
In non-fiction writing, a body paragraph is any paragraph that comes between the introduction and
the conclusion.
A good body paragraph will have the following:
What is a topic sentence? A topic sentence is the first sentence of the body paragraph. Simply put,
the topic sentence introduces the topic of the paragraph. A good topic sentence will be broad enough to allow
for explication but narrow enough that it does not require a paragraph that is too long.
3.2.2 Supporting Sentences
What is a supporting sentence? The supporting sentences of a paragraph are the sentences
between the topic sentence and the concluding sentence. The supporting sentences “support” the topic
sentence. That is, they explain and elaborate the point of the paragraph.
3.2.3 Concluding Sentence
What is a concluding sentence? The concluding sentence is the last sentence in the paragraph. It
should succinctly end the paragraph and transition to the next paragraph, if appropriate.
3.2.4 Other Features of Paragraphs
A good paragraph contains many elements. Here are just a few of them.
a. Unity, Coherence
As mentioned above, the ideas in a paragraph should logically fit together. Furthermore, they should
flow from one idea to the next.
A paragraph should be organized in a way that it builds appropriately. This could be by sequence of
ideas or events. Additionally, transitions should be used from one sentence to the next that connect the ideas
and concepts.
b. Adequate Development
In order for a paragraph to be considered “adequate” or “sufficient,” the paragraph should be well-
developed. The reader should not be left wanting more information.
Similarly, the paragraph should include enough evidence to support its topic sentence.
c. Transitions
Good paragraphs have transitions between preceding and proceeding paragraphs. These transitions
are logical and verbal.
One paragraph should logically flow to the next. The ideas in a body of work should be organized so
each paragraph transitions well to the next. It should not be choppy.
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Additionally, verbal transitions within and between paragraphs should help the reader move seamlessly
through the piece of writing.
3.2.5 How long is a Paragraph?
There is no set length to a paragraph. Some paragraphs are only one sentence in length. However, a
short paragraph like that should be left only to the expert writer—or a specific style of writing. You wouldn’t
find a single-sentence paragraph in a research paper or academic journal.
Paragraphs need to be long enough to express any given idea (long enough to thoroughly explain the
topic sentence).
The overall topic of the writing and content will determine the length of a paragraph. Unfortunately,
there is no single number of sentences to a good paragraph.
A general rule of thumb is to begin with a topic sentence; develop that topic well with evidence,
examples, and explanations; and conclude the paragraph appropriately.
Q1 Read the following passage and answer the questions at the end.
And yet it is one of the simplest ideas that anyone ever had. Here I want to persuade you
how evolution explains the beginning of life on earth. Darwin uncovered the theory of evolution and the
method of natural selection. The idea of evolution is probably one of the most important ideas that anyone has
ever had. Today, thanks to Darwin, we know why life is the way it is. We can predict how life will be in the
future. We can even postulate about the life on other planets. How amazing is that! Now answer the following
questions:
Q 1. What is the topic of the paragraph?
A) The idea of evolution is simple.
B) Evolution is important.
C) It tells us about the origin of life.
D) By evolution, we can make predictions.
Q 2. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
The constitution of India is very well written. It not only defines the need for fundamental human
rights but also ensures that we do not abuse these laws. The access to justice is one such law but in the
present political scenario, this right like other such rights has been hidden from the marginalized section of the
society. As a result, we can say that for such classes of the society, there is no such thing as a constitution.
The above paragraph says what about the Indian constitution?
A. It is very well written.
B. Could be better.
C. It ensures everyone has basic rights.
D. The marginalized sections of the society don’t enjoy the rights guaranteed by the constitution.
16
3.4 Summary
In summary, a paragraph is:
• a unit of writing
• used in non-fiction and fictional prose
• a part of writing that expresses a certain topic
3.5 Glossary
Transition: the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.
Coherence: the quality of being logical and consistent.
Q1 Answer: The answer is C.
Q2 Answer: D is the correct option.
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/
https://www.merriam-webster.com/
https://writingexplained.org/
https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/
1. How to layout a Paragraph?
2. Write a paragraph arguing your opinion on a controversial topic. Make sure to use factual information
to support your opinion, and conclude with why you feel the way that you do.
*****
17
LESSON FOUR
SUMMARY/NOTE-MAKING
Structure
4.0 Introduction
4.2Main Body of the Lesson
4.2.1 Usage of Summary
4.2.2 Techniques for Summarization
4.2.3 Important Points to Remember for Making Summary
4.4 Summary
4.5 Glossary
4.6 Answers to Self –check Exercise
4.0 Introduction
Summarizing involves analyzing information, identifying the essential elements, and communicating
these elements in a personal and meaningful way. Note-taking is the process of organizing and writing
pieces of information that can be used later. Summarizing and taking notes are important activities throughout
the inquiry process. Students modify, substitute, delete, and select pieces of information. Involve students in
categorizing and prioritizing information.
Summaries
• Benefit the reader because they offer a concise, general version of the original information.
• Prove that students have understood the general point of a text.
• Enables students to better comprehend the material.
Note Taking
• Provides a written record for review
• Forces students to pay attention (as long as it is not copying notes)
• Requires organization which involves active effort from the student
• Requires condensing and rephrasing which aid understanding
This lesson is about why we make notes, how to make effective notes from lectures and reading, and
describes a variety of note-making techniques.
18
Suppose a teacher is teaching a very important lesson and giving away all related concepts. Will it be
possible for you to note down each and every word that the teacher has said? No! So, we know we can make
small notes for it. Interestingly, you can also make a summary from those notes to get the central idea. You
make a summary in your own words for better understanding. In this section, we will study how to summarize
a note or a passage in the best way with the help of note making examples.
A summary is a record which a writer writes in his or her words. It gives the main points of the
passage, note or a conversation. A summary is a brief collection of all the important points. It is a short
version of a long essay. A summary must have all the points from the passage or from the notes. This is
among the note making examples.
4.2.1 Usage of Summary
• It is a good way of improving the ability to read. Writing summaries helps the writer to focus on
understanding the whole.
• It has a great importance in academic terms
• Writing summary has an important role in the professional era
Good Summaries as Note Making Examples
• A good summary has an objective of the whole passage
• It should not have irrelevant content
• It may contain the main idea of each of the paragraphs
• A good summary may use the keywords from the original text but not the metaphor
• You must express a good summary in your own words
Steps for Summarizing
1. The very first step for making a summary is to have a reading skill
2. Underline or mark the main sentences of the passage
3. After collecting the main points, check for the appropriateness of the ideas for making the summary
4. Prepare the first draft of the summary. Use can omit or add any piece of information.
5. Limit the written summary
4.2.2 Techniques for Summarization
There are three important techniques for making a summary. They are-
1. Selection
2. Rejection
3. Substitution
Selection
For making a summary, it is very important to select the main idea, keywords and the special terms
in the source. They help in getting the idea and making the summary.
19
Rejection
It is a process of removing unwanted and not so important sentences while making summaries as
note making examples.
Substitution
It is a process in which new sentences get to add up instead of the previous one. Also, several
sentences are combined to form one sentence. It reduces the length of the summary.
4.2.3 Important Points to Remember for Making Summary
While making a summary it is very important to keep a few things in mind. Some of them are
• Carefully select the theme of the passage
• Read with who, what, when, where, why, and how questions in mind
• Do not rewrite the original text
• Leave no scope for confusion
• Include all the main ideas
• Do not include any unnecessary or repetitive sentences
• Do not make any assumptions
• The length of the summary must not exceed 25 percent of the original text
• Do not change the original source
• Do not include quotations, metaphors, and other figures of speech
• Logically link each section
• Prefer short, simple and clear sentences
• Try to cover maximum points
• Reach a conclusion if required
Write a solved note with abbreviations and summary. Look carefully. The first element is “Title.”
Under the title is “Notes.” Look at the numbering. There are three sub-levels, each against 1, 2, 3, A, B, C
and I, II, III list-styles.
4.4 Summary
In summary let us look at a practical exercise which involves note taking and summarizing:
Title – Lost Spring
Notes
1. Seemapuri
1. Once a wilderness
2. Now stinking lanes
3. Dest. of Banglas.
4. No address but food
20
5. Rag-picking
1. The only prof.
2. A means of surv. for elders
3. Treasure hunt for children
4. Wear no slippers, Poverty
6. Saheb-e-Alam
1. An RP, teen.
2. Wears shoes
3. Welcomes edu.
4. Ready to change prof.
2. Firozabad
1. Bangle-Making
1. Traditional prof.
2. Stigma of Rel.
3. Fooled by middle-men, polt. & poli.
4. No daring
2. Mukesh
1. Wants to become mech.
2. Determined
3. Challenging
3. Savita
1. Suhag – Irony
2. Victim of super..
3. Believes trads.
4. Wears bangs., makes bangs., no light
Keys to Abbreviation
• Dest – Destination
• Banglas – Bangladesis
• Prof – Profession
• Surv – Survival
• Emp – Employee
Summary
Seemapuri and Firozabad are two backward towns of India. People in Seemapuri generally did rag
picking while those in Firozabad were bangle-makers. Superstitions, religions, politicians, rich merchants,
middlemen and even policemen force these people, young and old, remain in their traditional profession. It is
a relief to see that the new generation of men and women like Mukesh and Saheb are ready to change their
profession for better future.
21
4.5 Glossary
Substitution: It is a process in which new sentences get to add up instead of the previous one. Also,
several sentences are combined to form one sentence. It reduces the length of the summary.
Rejection: It is a process of removing unwanted and not so important sentences while making
summaries as note making examples.
Title : Note-making Tips
Notes
1. Reading
1. Read twice
1. Be lost in R
2. UL imp words
2. Planning
1. Divide by theme
2. Divide by imp
3. Divide by Time
3. Writing
1. Sub levels
1. Max 3 sub levels
2. Word limits
1. Max 5 words/line
3. Keys to Abbr
1. Abbrte only long words
2. Min 5
4. Summary
1. Max 50 words
Keys to Abbreviation
1. R – Reading
2. UL – Underline
3. imp – Important
4. Abbr – Abbreviations
5. Abbrte – Abbreviate
https://www.eduscapes.com/
22
https://library.leeds.ac.uk/
http://www.illinoisliteracyinaction.org/
https://englishmelon.com
Marian Barry. Developing Summary and Note-taking Skills without Answers
Cambridge University Press, 2018
1. What are various techniques for summarization?
2. What is note-making?
*****
23
LESSON FIVE
FORMAL AND INFORMAL LETTER WRITING
Structure
5.0 Introduction
5.2.1 Difference between a formal and informal letter
5.2.2 Characteristics of Formal Letters
5.2.3 Characteristics of Informal Letters
5.4 Summary
5.5 Glossary
5.0 Introduction
Letters are a form of verbal and written communication, which contains information or message,
send by one party to another, to convey the message. It is sent by one party to another, to provide certain
important information. There are two types of letters, i.e. formal letters and informal letters. The formal
letter is written for business or professional purposes with a specific objective in mind. It uses simple language,
that can be easy to read and interpret.
On the contrary, informal letters are written to friends and relative for personal communication
and uses a casual or an emotional tone. The article excerpt presents you all the important differences between
formal and informal letters in a detailed manner.
Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
• identify the elements of a letter
• apply the elements to compose a formal and informal letter
24
5.2.1 Difference between a formal and informal letter
BASIS FOR
FORMAL LETTER INFORMAL LETTER
COMPARISON
Meaning A formal letter is a letter, written in A letter written in an friendly

formal language, in the stipulated manner, to someone you are
format, for official purpose. familiar with, is called informal
letter.
Objective Professional Communication Personal Communication
Format Written in prescribed format only. No prescribed format.
Written in First person - Business letters, third First, second or third person.
person - others.
Written to Business, college/institute, Friends, family, acquaintances etc.

employer, organizations, etc.
Voice Passive Active
Sentences Long and complex Short and simple
Size Concise Large or concise
Contractions and Avoided Used

Abbreviations
5.2.2 Characteristics of Formal Letters

A formal letter is any letter written in the professional language, with a prescribed format for a
formal purpose, i.e. it can be a recommendation letter, enquiry letter, complaint letter, cover letter and so on.
All business letters are formal, but vice versa is not possible. Such letters are used for a variety of reasons
like a formal invitation, proposal, reference, making a complaint or inquiry, applying for a job. While writing a
formal letter one should keep in mind the following things:
• It should be in specified format.
• It should avoid the use of unnecessary words.
• It should be straight to the point.
25
• It should be relevant and objective.
• It should be complex and thorough.
• It should be polite, even if it is a complaint letter.
• It should be free from any mistakes, i.e. grammatical or spelling.
There are three types of formal letters, i.e. business letters, letters for outlining civic problems and
job applications.
5.2.3 Characteristics of Informal Letters
An informal letter is a letter written to someone; we know fairly well. The letter can be used for
some reasons like conveying message, news, giving advice, congratulate recipient, request information, asking
questions, etc. It is a personal letter, written to whom you are familiar with, like friends, siblings, parents or
any other closed one. There is no specific format prescribed for writing this letter.
While writing an informal letter, one can afford to be friendly, and make use personal or emotional
tone. Slang or colloquial terms, codes, abbreviations, etc. can also be used at the time of writing it, depending
on the familiarity with the recipient.
1. What is Salutation or Greeting?
2. What is Subject Heading?
5.4 Summary
Before start writing letter, first of all, you should identify, who is your recipient? If you are having a
professional relationship with the recipient, then you should go for a formal letter, whereas if the recipient is
someone very close to you or you know the recipient well, then the informal letter is the right choice for you.
5.5 Glossary
Formal: being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
Informal: having a relaxed, friendly, or unofficial style, manner, or nature.
“an informal atmosphere”
1. The writer uses appropriate words for the receiver according to his/her relation. The salutation comes
just below the address of the recipient. Its first and last word should be written with a capital letter. A
comma (,) may be put after the salutation.
2. Mention the heading of the subject below the salutation in the middle. The subject should be mentioned
briefly. This helps in speedy compliance/ disposal.
https://keydifferences.com/
https://study.com/
1. List differences between formal and informal letters.
· 2. Discuss characteristics of formal and informal letters.
*****
26
LESSON SIX
CV/RESUME WRITING
Structure
6.0 Introduction
6.2.1 What to Include in a Curriculum Vitae
6.2.2 What Not to Include
6.2.3 How Long Should a CV Be?
6.3 Summary
6.5 Glossary
6.0 Introduction
A CV (short for the Latin phrase curriculum vitae, which means “course of life”) is a detailed
document highlighting your professional and academic history. You may be asked to submit a CV when
applying for jobs in academia or a job outside the US. CVs typically include information like:
• Work experience
• Achievements and awards
• Scholarships or grants you’ve earned
• Academic coursework
• Research projects
• Publications of your work
A resume, or résumé, is a concise document typically not longer than one page as the intended the
reader will not dwell on your document for very long. The goal of a resume is to make an individual stand out
from the competition.
The job seeker should adapt the resume to every position they apply for. It is in the applicant’s
interest to change the resume from one job application to another and to tailor it to the needs of the specific
post. A resume doesn’t have to be ordered chronologically, doesn’t have to cover your whole career like and
is a highly customisable document.
After reading this lesson, students will be able to write their own CV/Resume.
27
As stated, three major differences between CVs and resumes are the length, the purpose and the
layout. A resume is a brief summary of your skills and experience over one or two pages, a CV is more
detailed and can stretch well beyond two pages. The resume will be tailored to each position whereas the CV
will stay put and any changes will be in the cover letter.
A CV has a clear chronological order, listing the whole career of the individual; whereas a resume’s
information can be shuffled around to best suit the applicant. The main difference between a resume and a
CV is that a CV is intended to be a full record of your career history and a resume is a brief, targeted list of
skills and achievements.
6.2.1 What to Include in a Curriculum Vitae
A curriculum vitae, commonly referred to as a “CV,” is a longer (two or more pages), more detailed
synopsis than a resume. Your CV should be clear, concise, complete, and up-to-date with current employment
and educational information.
The following are examples of information that can be included in your curriculum vitae. The elements
that you include will depend on what you are applying for, so be sure to incorporate the most relevant
information to support your candidacy in your CV.
• Personal details and contact information. Most CVs start with contact information and personal
data but take care to avoid superfluous details, such as religious affiliation, children’s names, and so
on.
• Education and qualifications. Be sure to include the names of institutions and dates attended in
reverse order: Ph.D., Masters, Undergraduate.
• Work experience/employment history. The most widely accepted style of employment record
is the chronological curriculum vitae. Your career history is presented in reverse date order starting
with the most recent appointment. More emphasis/information should be placed on your most recent
jobs.
• Skills. Include computer skills, foreign language skills, and any other recent training that is relevant
to the role applied for.
• Training / Graduate Fieldwork / Study Abroad
• Dissertations / Theses
• Research experience
• Teaching experience
• Publications
• Presentations, lectures, and exhibitions
• Grants, scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships
• Awards and honors
• Technical, computer, and language skills
• Professional licenses, certifications, and memberships
28
6.2.2 What Not to Include
For example, there is no need to include your photo, your salary history, the reason you left your
previous position, or references in a CV submitted for jobs in the United States. References should be listed
separately and given to employers upon request.
In other countries, private information like your date of birth, nationality, marital status, how many
children you have, and a photograph may be required.
6.2.3 How Long Should a CV Be?
A good, entry-level curriculum vitae should ideally cover two to three pages (CVs for mid-level
professionals, especially in academia and medical research roles, may run longer). Aim to ensure the content
is clear, structured, concise, and relevant. Using bullet points rather than full sentences can help minimize
word usage.
6.3 Summary
Without a favourable initial impression, a prospective employer is likely to stop considering you as a
suitable candidate for the job on offer and move on to other candidates who have provided better resumes.
Think of a resume as a tool for marketing yourself. It’s more than just a document: It outlines your background,
your skills, and your education so that a potential employer is quickly and easily able to see how your individual
experiences can contribute to an organization’s success.
1. How long should my CV be?
2. Should I add a photo of myself?
3. Do I need a cover letter?
4. Should I include references in my CV?
5. What if I have no work experience?
6.5 Glossary
CV: long, covers your entire career, static
Resume: short, no particular format rule, highly customisable
Biodata: information regarding an individual’s education and work history, esp in the context of a
selection process
1. In order to sell yourself without boring employers and recruiters, your CV should be about 2 pages
in length
2. Unless you are a model or actor then a photo is not required to prove your value to an employer
3. You should add a cover letter to your application to ensure that you give recruiters a reason to open
your CV
4. Referees will not be contacted until offer stage so you don’t need to include them in your CV
29
5. If you don’t have any direct work experience that is relevant to the roles you are applying for then
try to highlight your non-work gained skills such as education and voluntary work
https://www.indeed.com/
https://theundercoverrecruiter.com/
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/
https://www.gingersoftware.com/
https://elearninginfographics.com/
6.8 Terminal Question
1. Imagine you are applying for a Systems Analyst’s post in a software company. Write an appropriate
sample CV.
*****
30
LESSON SEVEN
REPORT WRITING
Structure
7.0 Introduction
7.2.1 Essential Elements to Report Writing
7.2.2 Kinds of Reports
7.2.2.1 All Types of Reports and their Explanation
7.2.3 Report Writing Format
7.3 Summary
7.5 Glossary
7.0 Introduction
An essay sets out and then defends a writer’s personal point of view about a specific topic, however,
it does not include headings. Unlike an essay, a report discusses in great detail a specific topic in a structured,
but easy to follow format. Reports are often grouped into sections with headings and subheadings.
A report might be academic, or it might be technical or even business related. Most often, it will
feature specific recommendations. Reports are created to deliver facts about a project, process or a situation
and will typically define and analyze a particular issue. The best reports convey or deliver educated observations
to their intended audience in a very clear and concise
Prior to starting to write your report, you must invest time into planning and preparation. It is important
to clearly determine who your intended audience will be. The report needs to be written with them in mind.
You must tailor your writing to meet the unique needs and expectations of your audience.
• Who is your audience?
• Why are you writing this report? What is its purpose?
• What important or relevant information must be included in the paper?
7.2.1 Essential Elements to Report Writing
Reports are written with much analysis. The purpose of report writing is essential to inform the
reader about a topic, minus one’s opinion on the topic. It’s simply a portrayal of facts, as it is. Even if one
31
gives inferences, solid analysis, charts, tables and data is provided. Mostly it is specified by the person who’s
asked for the report whether they’d like your take or not if that is the case. In many cases, what’s required
is your suggestions for a specific case after a factual report. That depends on why you are writing the report
and who you are writing it for in the first place. Knowing your audience’s motive for asking for that report is
very important as it sets the course of the facts focused in your report.
Further:
• write-up flows like – introduction, body, conclusion and summary. The layout is pretty crisp with a
title page, numbered subheadings, clear bulleted points, recommendations, references, appendices,
dates, and timings reported exactly sometimes, and so on. This format stays consistent throughout.
• All your facts and information presented in the report not only have to bias-free, but they also have
to be a 100% correct. Proof-reading and fact-checking is always what you do as a thumb rule before
submitting a report.
7.2.2 Kinds of Reports
Based on some special characteristics, a report can be a certain kind. Why classify them in kinds?
Well, depending upon the purpose of the report, it’s always best to know what kind would be the best for that
case.
For example, informal reports in office formal contexts may not be suitable. In that case, even if your
report is on point and the best, just the structure or format or language could work against your report.
Small things like that should not stand in the way of you conveying your point. And thus for these
reasons and more, let’s dive into the kinds of reports that exist so we can make clear decisions of their usage.
7.2.2.1 All Types of Reports and their Explanation
Long Report and Short Reports:
These kinds of reports are quite clear, as the name suggests. A two-page report or sometimes
referred to as a memorandum is short, and a thirty-page report is absolutely long. But what makes a clear
division of short reports or long reports? Well, usually, notice that longer reports are generally written in a
formal manner.
Internal and External Reports:
As the name suggests, an internal report stays within a certain organization or group of people. In the
case of office settings, internal reports are for within the organization.
We prepare external reports, such as a news report in the newspaper about an incident or the annual
reports of companies for distribution outside the organization. We call these as public reports.
Vertical and Lateral Reports:
This is about the hierarchy of the reports’ ultimate target. If the report is for your management or for
your mentees, it’s a vertical report. Wherever a direction of upwards or downwards comes into motion, we
call it a vertical report.
32
Lateral reports, on the other hand, assist in coordination in the organization. A report traveling
between units of the same organization level (for example, a report among the administration and finance
departments) is lateral.
Periodic Reports:
Periodic reports are sent out on regularly pre-scheduled dates. In most cases, their direction is
upward and serves as management control. Some, like annual reports, is not vertical but is a Government
mandate to be periodic in nature.
That is why we have annual or quarterly or half-yearly reports. If they are this frequent, it only
makes sense to pre-set the structure of these reports and just fill in the data every period. That’s exactly what
happens in most cases too.
Formal and Informal Reports:
Formal reports are meticulously structured. They focus on objectivity and organization, contain deeper
detail, and the writer must write them in a style that eliminates factors like personal pronouns.
Informal reports are usually short messages with free-flowing, casual use of language. We generally
describe the internal report/memorandum as an informal report. For example, a report among your peers, or
a report for your small group or team, etc.
Informational and Analytical Reports:
Informational reports (attendance reports, annual budget reports, monthly financial reports, and such)
carry objective information from one area of an organization to maybe a larger system.
Analytical reports (scientific research, feasibility reports, and employee appraisals) show attempts to
solve actual problems. These analytical reports usually require suggestions at the end.
Proposal Reports:
These kinds of reports are like an extension to the analytical/problem-solving reports. A proposal is a
document one prepares to describe how one organization can provide a solution to a problem they are facing.
There’s usually always a need to prepare a report in a business set-up. The end goal is usually very
solution-oriented. We call such kinds of reports as proposal reports.
Functional Reports:
These kinds of reports include marketing reports, financial reports, accounting reports, and a spectrum
of other reports that provide a function specifically. By and large, we can include almost all reports in most of
these categories. Furthermore, we can include a single report in several kinds of reports.
7.2.3 Report Writing Format
Following are the parts of a report format that is most common.
Executive Summary
You summarize the main points of the report, such as the report topic, the data obtained, the data
analysis methods, and recommendations based on the data. The summary could be as short as a paragraph or
as long as five pages, depending on the length of the full report.
33
Usually, the recipient of the report doesn’t always have the time to read through the entire report.
This summary gives the reader a gist of the important points.
Remember that although attached as the first page, this summary is always putting a perspective for
the entire report, meaning that effort-wise, the writer always needs to include it at the end.
Most importantly, the summary should contain:
• the purpose of the report
• what you did (analysis) and what you found (results)
• your recommendations; these recommendations should be short and not go beyond a page
Table of Contents
The report should begin with a table of contents. This explains the audience, author, and basic
purpose of the attached report. It should be short and to the point.
Introduction
This section is the beginning of your report. It highlights the major topics that are covered and
provides background information on why the data in the report was collected. It also contains a top view of
what’s covered in the report.
Body
The body of the report describes the problem, the data that was collected, sometimes in the form of
table or charts, and discusses with reasons. The body is usually broken into subsections, with subheadings that
highlight the further breakdown of a point. Report writing format is very specific that way about clear and
crisp headings and subheadings.
This just structures out readers clarity in understanding and further enhances the logical flow that
can get hard to follow. Since a report has no personal bias or opinions, you can imagine that reading through
a report can be a bit boring and people may find it hard to follow through. In such a case, it’s always best to
create pointers and lay out the points in short and simple methods.
Note: Tables and figures must all be labeled
Conclusion
At the end of our main body lies the tying of ends together in the much-awaited conclusion. The
conclusion explains how the data described in the body of the document may be interpreted or what conclusions
may be drawn. The conclusion often suggests how to use the data to improve some aspect of the business or
recommends additional research.
This solution then may be implemented to solve a given problem the report was made for in the first
place. Big consultancies or service providers prepare reports in the form of Microsoft Powerpoint or the
Keynote in Mac to present to the stakeholders. At the end of which lies the conclusive suggestion section.
Reference
If you used other sources of information to help write your report, such as a government database,
you would include that in the references. The references section lists the resources used to research or
collect the data for the report. References provide proof for your points. Also, this provides solid reasoning
for the readers so that they can review the original data sources themselves. Also, credit must be given
where credit is due.
34
Appendix
Lastly, comes the appendix. Although this one is not necessary, more like an optional element. This
may include additional technical information that is not necessary to the explanation provided in the body and
conclusion but further supports the findings, such as tables or charts or pictures, or additional research not
cited in the body but relevant to the discussion. Note: Tables and figures must all be labelled.
7.3 Summary
A Report:
• presents facts and information specifically, no opinions
• is written for a specific audience, a report concerns itself to only a certain set of people related
• has crisp and clean structure is, using pointers and numbered headings and sub-headings
• uses tables, graphs, charts to prove a point is very common
• needs a quick summary addressing highlighting points
• often has appendices
• is crisp, often pre-designed layouts
1. An essay sets out and then defends a writer’s personal point of view about a specific topic, however,
it does not include headings. (True/False)
2. The purpose of report writing is essential to inform the reader about a topic, minus one’s opinion on
the topic. (True/False)
7.5 Glossary
Appendices: a section or table of subsidiary matter at the end of a book or document.
Appraisal: a formal assessment, typically in an interview, of the performance of an employee over a
particular period
Stakeholder: a person with an interest or concern in something, especially a business.
1. True
2. True
https://www.aresearchguide.com/
https://www.open.edu/
35
1. Cultural Society of your College organised an adult literacy camp in its neighbourhood. Write a
report in 150-200 words on the camp for your college newsletter. You are P.V. Sunitha, Secretary.
Use the following clues: no. of volunteers – hours spent in teaching – location of the class – chairs,
blackboards – no. of people attending the camp – benefits.
2. Describe various types of reports.
*****
36
LESSON EIGHT
FEATURE ARTICLE/INTERVIEW
Structure
8.1 Introduction
8.3.1 Choosing the Topic
8.3.2 Interviewing Subjects
8.3.3 Preparing to Write the Article
8.3.4 Writing the Article
8.3.5 Finalizing the Article
8.4 Summary
8.6 Glossary
8.1 Introduction
Feature articles are windows into the human experience, giving more detail and description than a
hard news story, which typically relies on the style of writing. Features focus on an event or individual, giving
the reader a chance to more fully understand some interesting dimension of that subject. Writing a feature
article can be a highly creative and fun activity, but it does take hard work and planning to write an effective
and engaging article.
After going through this lesson students will learn to write a feature article and learn the way subjects
should be interviewed for writing a credible feature article.
8.3.1 Choosing the Topic
1. Find a compelling story. Read the news and talk to people to find interesting stories. Think about
what phenomena are happening and how you can talk about them in a new and innovative way.
2. Do research on your topic. Finding out background information can help you figure out an angle
and identify subjects to interview. Doing online research is good, but it may only get you so far. You
may also need to consult books to make sure you are fully aware of the issues surrounding a topic.
A historical article may require a visit to an archive.
37
3. Decide on the type of feature you want to write. There are a number of ways to write a
feature, depending on what you want to focus on. Some of these include:
• Human Interest: Many feature stories focus on an issue as it impacts people. They often focus on
one person or a group of people.
• Profile: This feature type focuses on a specific individual’s character or lifestyle. This type is
intended to help the reader feel like they’ve gotten a window into someone’s life. Often, these
features are written about celebrities or other public figures.
• Instructional: How-to feature articles teach readers how to do something. Oftentimes, the writer
will write about their own journey to learn a task, such as how to make a wedding cake.
• Historical: Features that honor historical events or developments are quite common. They are also
useful in juxtaposing the past and the present, helping to root the reader in a shared history.
• Seasonal: Some features are perfect for writing about in certain times of year, such as the beginning
of summer vacation or at the winter holidays.
• Behind the Scenes: These features give readers insight into an unusual process, issue or event. It
can introduce them to something that is typically not open to the public or publicized.
4. Consider the audience you’d like to talk to. As you brainstorm story ideas, think about who
will read these stories. Ask yourself questions such as Who will be my readers? and What kinds
of angles appeal to these readers? For example, you might write a profile about a pastry chef,
but you’ll write differently depending on if your readers are aspiring chefs or if they are wedding
planners looking to buy a wedding cake.
5. Consider the type of publication you’re writing for. If you are writing for a magazine or blog
with a very specific topic, such as gardening, then you will likely need to tailor your feature article
to reflect that interest in some way. A newspaper, on the other hand, is meant for a more general
audience and may be more open to varied content.
8.3.2 Interviewing Subjects
Schedule an interview at a time and place convenient for the interviewee. Ask your interviewee to
tell you when and where the best place is for them to meet. If they give you a choice, ask for a quiet place
where you will be relatively undisturbed for the duration of the interview.
• Schedule about 30-45 minutes with this person. Be respectful of their time and don’t take up their
whole day. Be sure to confirm the date and time a couple of days ahead of the scheduled interview
to make sure the time still works for the interviewee.
• If your interviewee needs to reschedule, be flexible. Remember, they are being generous with their
time and allowing you to talk with them, so be generous with your responses as well. Never make an
interviewee feel guilty about needing to reschedule.
• If you want to observe them doing a job, ask if they can bring you to their workplace. Asking if your
interviewee will teach you a short lesson about what they do can also be excellent, as it will give you
some knowledge of the experience to use when you write.
38
Prepare for your interview. Do research ahead of time to ensure that you are asking the most
compelling questions. Have a long list of questions to keep the conversation flowing. Know your interview
subject’s background and experience, as well as their views on the subject that you’re interviewing them
about.
Give a list of questions to your interviewee ahead of time. The direction of the interview
should not be a surprise to the interviewee. Giving them the questions before the interview will help them be
able to give more thoughtful answers.
Arrive early for the interview. Your interviewee’s time is valuable, so you don’t want to waste the
appointment rushing in and catching your breath. Get to the interview site early. Set up your audio recording
equipment and test it out. Make sure you have extra pens and paper.
Audio-record the interview. Use an audio recorder for the interview, but take notes throughout as
well. There is always the possibility that your recorder will run out of batteries or memory.
• Be sure to ask your interviewee if it’s okay to audio-record the interview. If you plan to use the audio
for any purpose other than for your own purposes writing up the article (such as a podcast that might
accompany the feature article), you must tell them and get their consent.
• Don’t pressure the interviewee if they decline audio recording.
Confirm details about your interviewee. You don’t want to write a lengthy feature about a
person only to find out that you’ve spelled their name wrong. Make sure you double-check the spelling of
their name, as well as other details that are important to the story.
Ask open-ended questions. Questions that rely on yes or no answers will not give you very rich
information. Instead, ask questions that start with “how” or “why.” These types of questions give the
interviewee a chance to tell a story, relate details or give their opinion.
• Another good option is a question that begins Tell me about a time when.... This allows the interviewee
to tell you the story that’s important to them, and can often produce rich information for your article.
Actively listen. Listening is a key component of a good interview. Don’t give too many of your own
observations, but do react to what they are telling you by smiling or nodding. People are more likely to
continue talking when their audience is receptive.
Ask follow up questions. Part of being a good interviewer is determining when someone is finished
talking about a particular subject and when it will be helpful to prompt them for further discussion. You can
also use your follow up questions to make connections between ideas.
Make notes immediately after the interview. Make observations and notes immediately when
you’re finished with the interview when it is fresh in your mind. These might be observations about the
location, what the person looked like, what they were doing or how they were carrying themselves.
Transcribe the interview. Transcribing, or typing out the entire interview, can be a tedious task. It
is essential for getting quotes correct, however, and it can be very helpful to be able to read what your
interviewee said. Do this yourself or pay someone to transcribe for you.
39
Send a thank you note to your interviewee. Thank them for their time, and give them an idea of
when to expect the article about them. This is also a chance when you can ask a few follow-up questions if
you find you need more information.
8.3.3 Preparing to Write the Article
Choose a format for your article. Feature articles do not have a particular formula the way hard
news articles do. You don’t need to follow the “inverted pyramid” style of writing that conveys the “who,
what, where, when and why” of a news story. Instead, choose a more inventive way to write a story. Some
possible formats may include:
• Start by describing a dramatic moment and then uncover the history that led up to that moment.
• Use a story-within-a-story format, which relies on a narrator to tell the story of someone else.
• Start the story with an ordinary moment and trace how the story became unusual.
Decide on approximate length for the article. Newspaper feature stories run between 500 and
2,500 words, while magazine features run from 500 to 5,000 words. Blog features run from 250 to 2,500
words.
• Check with your editor to see how long they would like your article to be.
Outline your article. Start piecing together your article by reviewing your notes, selecting quotes,
and drafting a structure for the article. Start with your introduction and decide how you want to build the
article. What information do you want to reveal first? As you get to the conclusion, think of the overall theme
or lasting impression you want to leave with the reader.
• Consider what you absolutely must have in the story and what can be cut. If you are writing a 500-
word article, for example, you will likely need to be very selective about what you include, whereas
you have a lot more space to write in a 2,500 word article.
8.3.4 Writing the Article
Write a hook to open your story. Your first paragraph is your chance to hook your reader and
draw them into your story. If the opening paragraph is dry or difficult to follow, you will lose your reader and
they won’t continue on to the rest of your story.
• Start with an interesting fact, a quote, or an anecdote for a good hook.
• Your opening paragraph should only be about 2-3 sentences.
Expand on your lead in the second paragraph. While your lead might draw people in, your
second paragraph (and subsequent paragraphs) need to start explaining the reason for the story. Why are we
reading this story? What is important about it?
Follow your outline. You’ve drafted your article in outline form, which can help you stay on track to
building a good feature article. The outline can also help you remember how details connect to each other and
how quotes support certain points that you’re making.
• Be flexible, however. Sometimes when you write, the flow makes sense in a way that is different
from your outline. Be ready to change the direction of your piece if it seems to read better that way.
40
Show, don’t tell. By writing a feature article, you have the chance to describe people and scenes to
the reader. Describe a setting or person so that the reader can clearly envision it in their mind.
Don’t use too many quotes. While it can be tempting to include the interviewee’s own words in
the story, don’t rely too much on quoting them. Otherwise, this becomes more of a straightforward interview.
Write around their quotes to give them context, build the story and help the reader interpret what the interviewee
is saying.
Choose language that is appropriate to your readers. Consider the target audience of the
publication for which you are writing and write to their level and interest. Do not assume they are familiar
with what you’re talking about, so you may need to explain certain things. Be sure to spell out acronyms and
explain jargon or slang. Write in a style that is more conversational, rather than stiff and academic.
Keep your opinion out of the article. A feature article is a piece that conveys information and
detail about a person or phenomenon. It is not an opportunity for you to give your opinion on a topic. Rather,
your personality is conveyed through your writing style.
Revise your article. Once you finish writing, put the article away for a day to get some distance
from it. Come back to it when you are fresh and read through it all the way. Think of ways to sharpen
descriptions, clarify points and streamline explanations. What areas do you need to cut out? What areas need
additional information?
8.3.5 Finalizing the Article
Check for accuracy, and check again. The last thing you want to do is write an article that does
not have accurate details or information. Double-check how names are spelled, the order of events, and other
pertinent details.
Have your subject read your article. Not all feature writers do this, and in fact, some may argue
that this can detract from the journalistic quality of a piece. But many subjects often want to see their article
before it is printed in order to make sure they feel they are represented properly and fairly.
• You can choose to incorporate or not incorporate their suggestions.
Check spelling and grammar. Do not detract from your feature article with misspelled words and
poor grammar. Consult “The Elements of Style,” which is the standard for proper grammar usage.
• Consult “The Associated Press Stylebook” for style guidelines, such as how to format numbers,
dates, street names, and so on.
Get feedback on the article. Ask a friend or colleague to read through the article. Your editor will
also give you feedback. Be open to this feedback and don’t take it personally. They want you to write a good,
solid article, and will give you advice on how to change, clarify or expand on what you’ve already written in
order to make the best article possible.
Write a headline. Your publication might write headlines for you, but if you want the initial entry
into the article to be reflective of your content, write a headline that does so. The headline is short and to the
point, using no more than about 10-15 words, if that. A headline should be action-oriented and should convey
why the story is important. It should grab the reader and draw them into the article.
41
If you want to convey slightly more information, write a sub-headline, which is a secondary sentence
that builds on the headline.
Submit your article by the deadline. Make sure your article is submitted to your editor or to the
publication on or before the deadline. Late articles usually do not get printed, and then all of your hard work
will either be delayed until the next issue or not published at all.
8.4 Summary
In conclusion the feature article writer may answer the following questions after completing the article:
• Is my research complete and accurate?
• Does my opening catch the readers’ attention?
• Is my article interesting throughout?
• How have I organized my article? Is it logical?
• Have I used a variety of sentence lengths and styles?
• Have I included transitions to improve the flow and coherence?
• Have I used fresh, effective words?
• Have I removed all unnecessary words?
• Do I tell an interesting story?
1. Magazine features generally run from 500 to 5,000 words. (True/False)
2. A writer need not make notes immediately after the interview. (True/False)
3. A writer should not ask open-ended questions from the interviewee. (True/False)
4. A writer should keep his/her opinion out of the article. (True/False)
8.6 Glossary
Credible: able to be believed; convincing
Transcribe: put (thoughts, speech, or data) into written or printed form.
Narrator: a person who narrates something, especially a character who recounts the events of a
novel or narrative poem.
1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
42
https://www.wikihow.com/
https://www.morrisjournalismacademy.com/
http://member.tokoha-u.ac.jp/
1. How should a writer interview his/her subject?
2. Describe various steps involved in choosing the topic for a feature article.
*****
43
LESSON NINE
NOTICE WRITING
Structure
9.0 Introduction
9.2.1 Purpose of Notice
9.2.2 Display
9.2.3 Main Aspects
9.2.4 Format
9.2.5 Points to Remember
9.4 Summary
9.5 Glossary
9.0 Introduction
A notice is a written or printed news announcement or information. A notice may contain news/
information about something that has happened or is likely to happen. It may be a formal announcement of
public importance or an advance warning meant for compliance and information. A notice can be about a
meeting, an event, an excursion/a historical trip/a picnic, lost and found, change of name/address/uniform/
timings/venue etc.
One important aspect of communication is business communication, also known as formal
communication. Formal letters, memos, circulars etc are all forms of business communication. Another
important tool of the same is a notice. Let us learn the meaning of notices and details of notice-writing.
9.2.1 Purpose of Notice
Notices are effective means of disseminating information related to different issues or occasions.
They reach to a large number of persons in a short time. Hence; a notice is written in simple and formal
language. It is clear, brief and to the point.
9.2.2 Display
(a) School/College Notice Boards.
44
(b) Newspapers/Magazines.
(c) Public Notice Boards.
9.2.3 Main Aspects
(a) Format: It includes the word ‘NOTICE’, date, heading, writer’s name and designation.
(b) Content: It must answer the questions What? When? Where? How? etc.
(c) Expression: It relates to the overall organisation and relevance of the content as well as grammatical
accuracy and fluency.
9.2.4 Format
9.2.5 Points to Remember
1. Box is mandatory.
2. Do not cross the word limit to avoid penalty of marks. The prescribed word limit is 50 words.
3. Repetition of any information should be avoided.
4. Always enclose the notice in a box. Make sure you draw the box with a pencil.
5. Keep your notice short, crisp and to-the-point.
6. Highlight the word “NOTICE” and “TITLE”. It can be either bold or underlined.
7. The title should be captivating and eye-catching.
8. Don’t make hypothetical information and facts. Make use of what’s give in the question.
9. Make sure you do not mention your personal information.
10. Make use of all the available information in the question.
11. Your answer shall include answers to all the 5 Ws – What, Why, When, Where and Who.
12. The purpose for which it is being written should be stated clearly.
13. Focus on presentation and clarity.
1. What should be the length of a notice?
2. What are the 5Ws in the context of a notice?
9.4 Summary
In conclusion it may be recalled that a notice is information regarding an important event that is about to
happen or that has happened. It is publicly displayed — a kind of information for others to know and
follow.
9.5 Glossary
Display: In the context of a notice it refers to where the notice is exhibited.
Format: the way in which something is arranged or set out.
1. 50 words
2. What, Why, When, Where and Who.
45
https://www.cbsetuts.com/
1. Draft a notice to be put up on the college notice board urging students to buy organic Ganesha idols
during Navaratri. Mention the advantages of doing so in the notice.
2. The principal of your college has asked you to draw a notice warning students about the strict
disciplinary action to be taken against them if they are found guilty of ragging the freshers. Draft
the notice for the same in 50 words.
Suggested References
1. Fluency in English. Part I. Macmillan, 2005.
2. Fluency in English. Part II. OUP, 2006. Unit 1-15.
3. El Dorado: A Textbook of Communication Skills. Orient Blackswan, 2014. Units 1-5.
4. Interchange. Workbook III. Fourth Edition. Cambridge University Press, 2015. Units 1-8.
5. New Headway. Intermediate Student‘s Book. 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press, 2012. Units
1-6.
6. Write to be Read: Reading, Reflecting & Writing. First South Asian edition. Cambridge University
Press, 2014. Units 1-4.
7. Business English. Pearson, 2008. Units 4-6.
Online Sources
https://www.skillsyouneed.com
https://www.ets.org
https://www.extension.harvard.edu
https://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.mindskills.co.in/
https://www.ets.org
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/
https://www.cbsetuts.com/
https://www.wikihow.com/
https://www.morrisjournalismacademy.com/
http://member.tokoha-u.ac.jp/
https://www.aresearchguide.com/
https://www.open.edu/
46
https://www.indeed.com/
https://theundercoverrecruiter.com/
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/
https://www.gingersoftware.com/
https://elearninginfographics.com/
https://keydifferences.com/
https://study.com/
https://www.eduscapes.com/
https://library.leeds.ac.uk/
http://www.illinoisliteracyinaction.org/
https://englishmelon.com
https://sol.du.ac.in/library/index.php/digitallibrary
*****
47
ASSIGNMENT TOPICS
Answer any five questions. Answer for each question should not exceed 250 words. Each question
carries 6 marks. (Total: 30 marks)
1. Describe various steps involved in choosing the topic for a feature article.
2. Describe various types of reports.
3. Write your own sample CV.
4. What are various techniques for summarization?
5. Write a paragraph on “Environmental Pollution”.
6. What is the format for diary writing?
7. List differences between formal and informal letters
*****
48
CONTENTS
TOPIC PAGE NO.
Syllabus 1
LESSON ONE INTRODUCTION 2
LESSON TWO DIARY WRITING 9
LESSON THREE PARAGRAPH WRITING 14
LESSON FOUR SUMMARY/NOTE-MAKING 18
LESSON FIVE FORMALAND INFORMAL LETTER WRITING 24
LESSON SIX CV/RESUME WRITING 27
LESSON SEVEN REPORT WRITING 31
LESSON EIGHT FEATURE ARTICLE/INTERVIEW 37
LESSON NINE NOTICE WRITING 44
ASSIGNMENT TOPICS 48
BA Ist Year Course Code
English (New Syllabus) ENGL AECC-2-104
Writing Skills
Lessons 1- 9
By: Dr. Ashwani Rana
International Centre for Distance Education & Open Learning

Himachal Pradesh University, Gyan Path
Summer Hill, Shimla - 171005
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Syllabus

AECC-2 Writing Skills

Meaning A formal letter is a letter, written in A letter written in an friendly

Objective Professional Communication Personal Communication

Format Written in prescribed format only. No prescribed format.

Written to Business, college/institute, Friends, family, acquaintances etc.

Voice Passive Active

Sentences Long and complex Short and simple

Size Concise Large or concise

Contractions and Avoided Used

5.2.2 Characteristics of Formal Letters

International Centre for Distance Education & Open Learning

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