Introduction to Writing
Skills
SHORT QUESTIONS
1. What is a paragraph?
Name some of the kinds of paragraphs.
Answer:
A paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized and coherent, and are
all related to a single topic. Based on the style of writing there are seven
different types of paragraphs:
Narration,
Description, Definition, Comparison, Persuasion, Exposition, Process Analysis
2. What is a composition or essay?
Answer: An essay is
a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number
of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos,
learned arguments,
observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author.
Or An essay
is a short piece of writing that discusses, describes or analyzes one topic. It
can discuss a subject directly or indirectly, seriously or humorously. It can
describe personal opinions, or just report information.
3. Give a list of linkers.
Answer: Linking
words help to connect ideas and sentences. Giving examples: For example, For instance, Namely. Adding
information: And, In addition, As well as, Also, Too, Furthermore,
Moreover, Apart from, In addition to, Besides.
4. What is a topic introducer/topic sentence?
Answer:
A well-organized paragraph supports or develops a single controlling idea,
which is expressed in a sentence called the topic sentence. A topic sentence
has several important functions: it substantiates or supports an essay’s thesis
statement; it unifies the content of a paragraph and directs the order of the
sentences.
5. What types of sentences
are required to prepare a paragraph? Or, What is your idea of the structure of
a paragraph?
Answer: Introduction: the first section of a paragraph;
should include the topic sentence and any other sentences at the beginning of
the paragraph that give background information or provide a transition.
Body: follows the introduction; discusses the controlling idea,
using facts, arguments, analysis, examples, and other information.
Conclusion: the final section; summarizes the
connections between the information discussed in the body of the paragraph and
the paragraph’s controlling idea.
6. What is the importance
of paragraph writing in learning a language?
Answer:
Paragraphs support/connect to one another and together make up a written work,
whether it is an essay or a story or something else. Paragraphs help organize
writing, combining similar ideas together and developing key ideas that the
work aims to convey.
Organizing
writing into paragraphs helps readers understand the work better. It is much easier to read text broken up into
paragraphs rather than one long "block" of text, and paragraphs can
also help with understanding how ideas are related.
7. What are developers?
Every well-written paragraph should have
a middle consisting of a number of supporting sentences. These supporting
sentences which expand and develop the main idea of the paragraph are generally
known as the developers. They present evidence or examples in support of the
main idea. We know that a paragraph is a unified and coherent piece of writing.
The function of the developers is to bring about this unity and coherence.
8. What is a classification
paragraph? Define argumentative paragraph.
Answer:
A classification paragraph groups items into categories according to some
specific principle. An argumentative paragraph tries to convince the reader to
agree with something.
9. Give 5 examples of
cause and effect paragraph.
Answer:
A cause and effect paragraph develops an idea by explaining the causes of
something or by showing the effects of something. The paragraph might move from
cause to effects or from an effect to its causes. Example: Acid throwing,
Arsenic Pollution, Gender Discrimination, Environmental Pollution, Causes of
Road Accident.
10. What is report? Name
the kinds of reports?
Answer:
According to Oxford Dictionary,
report means "a record of ascertained facts." Report is a
self-explanatory statement of facts relating to a specific subject and serves
the purpose of providing information for decision making and follow up actions.
It is a systematic presentations of ascertained recommendations about a particular
matter/problem. Report is for the guidance of higher authorities including
company executives and directors. Reports facilitate timely decisions and
follow up measures.
Or, A report is a specific form of writing
that is organised around concisely identifying and examining issues, events, or
findings that have happened in a physical sense, such as events that have
occurred within an organisation, or findings from a research investigation.
Examples:
Proposal Report, Business Report, Academic Report, Technical Report,
Investigative Report, Research Report, Recommendation Report, Progress Report,
Newspaper Report.
11. What is a business
letter? How many types are Business letters?
Answer: A business letter is a letter written in
formal language, usually used when writing from one business organization to
another, or for correspondence between such organizations and their customers,
clients and other external parties. The overall style of letter will depend on
the relationship between the parties concerned. There are many reasons to write
a business letter. It could be to request direct information or action from
another party, to order supplies from a supplier, to identify a mistake that
was committed, to reply directly to a request, to apologize for a wrong or
simply to convey goodwill.
Types of Business letters: There are many types of business
letters. We find the following business letters in the business world. Circular
Letter, Inquiry Letter, Quotation Letter, Order Letter, Order confirmation Letter,
Order Refusal or Cancellation Letter, Complaint Letter, Adjustment Letter,
Collection/Dunning Letter.
12. What do you understand
by the word memo/memoranda? Or Give the definition of memoranda.
Answer:
A memorandum or a memo is a note, document or other communication that
helps the memory by recording events or observations on a topic.
13.
Give a structure of memo?
Answer:
The format of a memo follows the general guidelines of business writing. A memo
is usually a page or two long, should be single spaced and left justified.
Business materials should be concise and easy to read. Therefore, it is
beneficial to use headings and lists to help the reader pinpoint certain
information.
TO: Robert Marks, Research Assistant
FROM: John Alfred, Market
Research Assistant
DATE: July 20, 2013
SUBJECT: New season clothes promotion
Market
research and analysis clearly present that the proposed advertising media need to be changed and updated. Findings from focus groups have made it necessary that we need to update our advertising efforts. No longer are young
adults interested in old styles as they watch various programmes in tv and surf the internet . Also, it
is has become important to use the internet and social media like facebook to
communicate with our target audience to show our prominence in the industry.
14. What is your idea about
short and long report?
Answer: The Short Report: The special business report can be classified into two
categories. The short report and long report, also called the INFORMAL REPORT
and THE FORMAL REPORT. The short report may range from short statement of facts
presented on a single page to a longer presentation taking several pages. The
short, informal, report is usually submitted in the form of a letter or
memorandum. It does not carry a cover, table of contents or any special
display. This short report is personal, informal and relaxed. It is written in
the first person (I or WE), unlike the formal report in which the use of first
person is usually for the sake of complete objectivity.
The Long Report: The report is always a long one and consists of all or only some
of these parts: cover, title page, contents page, and letter of transmittal
(covering letter), summary, introduction, and the body of report, conclusion
with or without recommendations, appendix, bibliography, and index. It is even
printed sometime and bound in hard covers like a book.
15.
What is your idea of amplifications?
Answer:
A rhetorical term for all the ways that an argument, explanation, or
description can be expanded and enriched.
A
natural virtue in an oral culture, amplification provides "redundancy of
information, ceremonial amplitude, and scope for a memorable syntax and
diction" (Richard Lanham, A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms, 1991).
In
rhetoric, amplification refers to the act and the means of extending
thoughts or statements to increase rhetorical effect, to add importance, or to
make the most of a thought or circumstance.
16. Why do we need to
amplify ideas?
Answer:
In amplification, writers repeat something they've just said, while
adding more details and information to the original description. The main
purpose of amplification is to focus the reader's attention on an idea he or
she might otherwise miss.
(Brendan
McGuigan, Rhetorical Devices: A Handbook and Activities for Student Writers.
Prestwick House, 2007)
17. What do we need to follow to amplify a
thought/a sentence/ a proverb?
Answer:
Firstly, we need to consider the topic of the amplification. Secondly, we need
to think how we could expand the thought. Thirdly, the language should be easy
so that everyone could understand. Use of unnecessary words should be avoided.
We have to write it in such a way that it represents the topic clearly.
18. How long should
amplification be?
Answer:
There is no hard and fast rule in the length of amplification. It depends on the
topic. If the subject demands more clarification, it could be long. If the topic
is easy to understand then it could be shorter.
19. What is a formal and an
informal letter?
Answer:
A formal letter is a letter which is written to any organization other than for
personal purpose. Its language is formal in nature. A particular format is to
be followed in writing a formal letter.
An
informal letter is a letter which is written to friends, families, relatives.
Use of formal language is not compulsory here. No particular format is followed
here.
20. What is a personal and
impersonal letter?
Answer:
Letters which are written on personal matters are known as personal letters.
People share their personal feelings with each other through personal letters.
People communicate with their families, relatives, friends through personal
letters.
Impersonal
communication: A type of communication or interaction that is based specifically
on social roles,
such as communication between a sales
representative and a potential customer.
The manner of communication is informal and superficial,
covering
topics
necessary to instigate a sale or
similar transaction.
21. What is the importance
of writing a letter?
Answer:
We cannot even pass a single day without
a letter. In modern business, we notice that routine and non-routine messages
are exchanged through letters.
Importance
of a business letter is as follows:
1.
Acceptability: Letter is a widely
accepted means of communication. As letter is a very popular means of
written communication, it is accepted to everyone.
2. Document:
It has a legal value and it is kept as documentary evidence.
3.
Spread of business: Business letters act as the tool of spreading business.
4.
Publicity: A business letter works as the publicity of a product.
6.
Relationship: A business letter fosters
mutual relationship among business men.
7.
Idea sharing: A business letter acts as the sharing of ideas.
On
the other hand, a personal letter is the record of a person’s feelings to other
persons. After many days, reading previous letters, a person sees the image of
his feelings of that time.
22. What is a job application?
Answer:
An application which is written in the hope of getting a job is called a job
application. Here the applicant lists his qualifications and his/her desire for
the particular job.
23. What is a CV or Résumé?
Answer:
A curriculum vitæ, (CV), also spelled curriculum vitae,
provides an overview of a person's experience and other qualifications. In some
countries, a CV is typically the first item that a potential employer
encounters regarding the job seeker and is typically used to screen applicants,
often followed by an interview, when seeking employment.
28.
What is the importance of CV?
Answer:
A CV is the reflection of a job seeker. It gives the opportunity to see the
qualifications, experience, educational background of the job applicant to
employer. The employer can consider the candidate for the job. It has a great
value in getting a job.
24. What is a complaint
letter?
Answer:
Mistakes are part of business but such mistakes need to be adjusted or
corrected. When defective or goods of wrong quality supplied to a firm then the
receiving firm can write to the supplier for adjustments. This type of letter
written for making corrective actions or to inform complaints is known as
complaint letter.
Causes
of Complaints : Common causes of complaints are as follows :
1.
For defective goods
2.
Goods of poor quality
3.
Wrong size or colour
4.
Defective packing
5.
Wrong pricing
6.
Delay in sending goods etc.
25. What are the concluding
phrases that we use regularly in a personal letter?
Answer:
See you again, good bye, bye for now, meet you shortly, take care
26. How can we publish
article in a newspaper? To whom do we have to write for the publication?
Answer: For the publication of a letter, the writer
has to write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper. The subject of the letter
may be on the everyday problems or suggestions of solving a problem. Letters of
the writers/readers are published in the letter column of the newspaper.
27. What do you think a
business letter contains?
Answer:
Business letters play a vital role to create communication network or link
among people and organizations. This is a widely accepted form of communication
and a reliable source of communication. As it is a written document, it has a
documentary value. Because of the growth of business around the world, a
business letter is also increasing.
A
business letter is an important medium of communication. It is a tool used to
communicate formally in the world of business.
A
business letter means a letter related with business activities. Generally, a
business letter contains information relating to trade inquiries, replies,
order for goods, and complaint about delay and so on.
28. How can you order goods
by writing a letter?
Answer:
Business letters play an important role in the flourishing of business. The
list of goods is ordered by any business organization to
suppliers/manufacturers. The writer gives the order of particular goods and
informs the manufacturer the way of payment in the letter.
29. In which cases do you
write letter to the head of your institution?
Answer:
A letter acts as a document. We have to write a formal letter to the head of an
institution for different reasons. It could be an application about leave of
absence, asking permission to attend classes, for testimonial, for transfer certificate
etc.
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