WRITING
Unit II: Techniques of writing.
Writing is a process that involves at least four distinct steps: prewriting, drafting or writing,
revising, and editing/rewriting. Writing is a process whose finished product is a sentence, a
paragraph, an essay, etc. It is known as a recursive process. While you are revising, you might
have to return to the prewriting step to develop and expand your ideas.
(1) Techniques of Writing.
Writing is an important form of communication. Good writers use different writing
techniques to fit their purposes for writing. To be a good writer, one must master the:
i. Descriptive/metaphor.
ii. Exposition.
iii. Narration.
Iv. Persuasion.
v. Comparison and Contrast.
(i). Description
Through description, a writer helps the reader use the senses of feeling, seeing,
hearing, smelling, and tasting to experience what the writer experiences.
Description helps the reader more clearly understand the people, places, and
things about which the writer is writing. It is the most common form of writing.
You will find descriptive writing in newspapers, magazines, books, and most
other forms of written communication.
(ii). Exposition
Through exposition, a writer informs, explains, and clarifies his/her ideas and
thoughts. Exposition goes beyond description to help the reader understand
with greater clarity and depth the ideas and thoughts of the writer. Expository
writing, like descriptive writing, is commonly found in newspapers, magazines,
books, and most other forms of written communication.
(iii). Narration
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Through narration, a writer tells a story. A story has characters, a setting, a time,
a problem, attempts at solving the problem, and a solution to the problem.
Bedtime stories are examples of short stories while novels are examples of long
stories. The scripts written for movies and plays are further examples of
narrative writing.
(iv). Persuasion
Through persuasion, a writer tries to change a reader's point of view on a topic,
subject, or position. The writer presents facts and opinions to get the reader to
understand why something is right, wrong, or in between. Editorials, letters to
the editor in newspapers and magazines, and the text for a political speech are
examples of persuasive writing.
(V).Comparison and Contrast
Through comparison and contrast, a writer points out the similarities and
differences about a topic. Comparison is used to show what is alike or in
common. Contrast is used to show what is not alike or not in common.
By using the writing technique that fits your purpose, you will be able to communicate
your ideas effectively.
(2) Writing Stages
(a) Pre-writing, is a stage at which: topic, audience, purpose, ideas and information
are identified and gathered. One may be dealing with an assigned or chosen
topic.
(b) Writing is a stage at which: first draft is made, paragraphs are organised and
proofreading is made.
(c) Re-writing or post-writing is a stage at which: Revision and editing are made,
final copy or draft is published or printed and then critique and grading of the
writing are made.
(3) Paragraph
Is a group of related sentences that deals with one main idea in a piece of writing. It is
usually begun on a new line and may be in indented or block format. In the indented
style/format, a small space is left between the margin and the first letter of the
sentence, whereas in the block format a single or double space is used to demarcate
one paragraph from another.
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A paragraph is composed of two categories of sentences-the topic sentence and the
supporting sentences. The topic sentence contains the controlling idea of the paragraph,
while the supporting sentences serves to develop the point made in the topic sentence.
They may define, justify, illustrate or elaborate on the topic sentence.
(4) Types of Paragraphs
There are different types of paragraph, depending on the types of writing one is making.
Paragraphs in a report tend to have a different purpose to paragraphs in essay writing.
A body paragraph in an essay has a different purpose to an introduction or conclusion.
The following are types of paragraphs:
i. Definition paragraph.
ii. Argument paragraph.
iii. Classification/classified paragraph.
iv. Description paragraph.
v. Compare and contrast paragraph.
vi. Explanation paragraph.
vii. Illustration paragraph.
It should be noted that a clear paragraph structure help the reader to understand the purpose
of a good writing.
(i). Definition paragraph.
The starting point for a definition paragraph is a simple definition in the first sentence
(the topic sentence). Support sentences then give more information such as
examples, description and explanation.
(ii). Argument paragraph.
An argument paragraph presents a point of view, and provides evidence to support
the position taken by the writer. Evidence to support the position can include
reasons, personal experience, statistics, confirmed facts and expert research.
(iii). Classification/classified paragraph.
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In this type of paragraph, separate items are grouped together according to shared
characteristics.
(iv).Description paragraph.
A description paragraph is used to write about how something looks, sounds, tastes,
smells or feels. It includes specific details of the most important features.
(v). Compare or contrast paragraph.
A compare and/or contrast paragraph is required if you are asked to examine
similarities and/or differences. Compare focuses on similarities. Contrast focuses on
differences.
(v). Explanation paragraph.
An explanation paragraph is required if you are asked to describe how something
works, or how something happens.
(vi). Illustration paragraph
In an illustration paragraph, specific examples are used to clarify and
support a general statement.
(5) Qualities of good paragraph
The following features denote qualities of a good paragraph:
(i). Unity. All contents of sentences must focus on the idea housed in the
sentence topic.
(ii). Coherence. All sentences in a paragraph must be logically linked in such a
way that a sentence leads to another. It can be achieved with the use of
transition markers, such as: furthermore, again, in addition, similarly,
therefore, however, for example, besides, before, etc.
(iii). Completeness. A good paragraph must contained sufficient information
pertaining
the sentence topic, to the satisfaction of the reader. Complete information takes
care of the reader’s curiosity.
(iv). Clarity. A good sentence in a paragraph must be clearly written, expressed
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and unambiguous. One should avoid grammatical blunders which mar
meaning and make comprehension very tasking.
(v). Variety. A good sentence in a paragraph should contains varying pattern of
writing to avoid monotony.
(6). Essay
An essay is a short formal piece of writing with a single subject that presents vital ideas
that inform, entertain, challenge or stir the reader. All three stages of writing are
applicable to essay writing thus: Pre-writing, writing and post-writing stages. Essay
writing has three basic parts and types.
(a). Parts of essay: Introduction, body and conclusion.
(b). Types of essay are: Description, Narration, Argument and exposition.
(7). Formal and informal letter writing
A letter is a written text designed to convey a message of information, an inquiry, a
complaint or request to somebody known or unknown to the writer.
Types of letters
Letters are classified according to the specific purpose they serve and the relationship
that exists between the writer and the recipient, based on the foregone criteria, there
three types:
(i). Informal.
(ii). Formal.
(iii) Semi-formal letters.
(i). Informal letter, is a letter written to one’s close relations and friends. Its
subject matter is usually personal, unofficial.
Features of informal letter are:
*It carries the address of the writer only.
*It also carries the date of writing.
*It carries salutation.
*It carries indented paragraphs.
*It has no heading/subject matter.
*It has an opining, body and end.
*It has a complementary close in only two lines.
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Example:
No T12 Ali Kazaure Street,
Jos,
8TH March, 2022.
My dearest Father,
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………
Your son,
Usman.
Yours sincerely,
Yours affectionately, etc.
(ii). Formal letter, is letter type that is written to an official personality, persons we
know and those unknown to us, but are occupying official positions. A formal
letter is written to serve official purposes.
Instances of formal letters are: *Application for a job, *Letter to an Editor, *Letter to
Government or business organization, *Letter of formal complaint or request, etc.
Features of formal letter are:
*It carries the address of the writer.
*It also carries the date of writing.
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*It carries address of the recipient.
*It carries salutation.
*It carries heading/subject matter.
*It has a body and end.
*It has a complementary close.
Example:
No 6 Monedo Street,
Jos, Plateau State,
8th March, 2022.
The Rector,
Hill College of Nursing Sciences,
Jos-Bauchi ring road,
Plateau State.
Dear Sir,
APPLICAION FOR ADMISSION INTO THE COLLEGE
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………..
Yours faithfully,
Joseph Moses.
(iii). Semi-formal letter, is a letter type that is blend of the informal and formal letters. It
refers to a letter written to an adult friend, an ex-school headmaster, a principal, a
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current lecturer so familiar to you.
A semi-formal letter shares similar features with informal letter, but has slight distinct
feature in three areas: *Salutation, (Dear Mrs. Janet; *Dear Provost Isma’il). *Language
should be free from slang and colloquialism; and closing should be Yours Sincerely.
Prepared by: Muhamamd Tanko Shittu
*Ezekulie, C. (2011)English for General Studies.
*[Link]/current-students/resources/academic-skills/fact-sheets.
*[Link]-to-study/study/[Link]