Class 10 IT-402 Basic Writing Skills

BASIC WRITING SKILLS

Proficiency in written communication is considered to be of utmost importance in today's world. Written Communication is preferred for official purposes. It allows us to keep a record of the communication which can be used for further reference. It is, hence, a necessary skill that every person needs to acquire.

The effectiveness of this communication depends on the usage of appropriate words, grammatically correct sentences, and their organisation into a coherent structure.

WRITING SKILLS

To communicate well, we must have a good command over the language in which we are communicating. We should also avoid any grammatical errors while writing. To improve our writing skills, we will study the basic components of English Grammar and how they should be used effectively.

PHRASES

When we communication with each other, we express our thoughts and ideas through words. A group of words that makes a complete sense is called a Sentence.

Now look at the following group of words:

• In a corner
• On a wall
• A man of wisdom
• Of the mountains

They do not make complete sense.

Therefore, they are not sentences. They are called phrases.

A phrase is a group of words that form a unit within a sentence but is incomplete independently. A phrase lacks both the subject and the object.

Example:

To learn French (phrase)

She wanted to learn French. (sentence)

The phrase in the above example makes complete sense when it is a part of sentence.

TYPES OF PHRASES

There are different kind of phrases.

• A noun phrase acts like a noun in a sentence. Example: We all love eating ice cream (noun phrase - eating ice cream).
• A verb phrase is a group of main verbs and helping verbs within a sentence. Example: This jewellery may be worth millions of rupees.
• An adjective phrase  is built around an adjective and consists of adjectives and/or articles. Example: Radhika walked on the stage very gracefully.
• An adverbial phrase is built in around  an adverb by adding words before or after it. Example: We strolled through the gardens very slowly.
• A prepositional phrase always begins with a preposition and is followed by a noun. Example: All rooms below the deck are for sleeping. 

SENTENCES

A group of words that makes a complete sense is called a sentence. A sentence must contain a subject and a predicate.

Example:

Sing likes roma to (makes no sense)

Roma likes to sing (makes sense)

KINDS OF SENTENCE

There are four kinds of sentences:

• Assertive or declarative sentence (a statement)
• Interrogative sentence (a question)
• Imperative sentence (a command)
• Exclamatory sentences (an exclamation)

1. An Assertive sentence is a sentence that states a fact. Such a sentence is a simple statement that indicates, asserts or declared something.

Example: 

We will not tolerate this.

I am your friend. 

2. An Imperative sentence is a sentence which gives a command, makes a request, or expresses a wish. This type of sentence may end with a full stop or an exclamation mark.

Examples:

Finish your homework.

Please leave your footwear outside.

Have a good time at the party.

3. An Interrogative sentence is a sentence that asks a question.

Examples:

Do you enjoy listening to classical music?

Where is your bag?

4. An Exclamatory sentence is a sentence that expresses sudden and strong feelings, such as surprise, wonder, pity, sympathy, happiness, or gratitude.

Examples: 

Hurry up!

Wow, I really love this dress! 

PARTS OF SENTENCE

Every complete sentence contains two parts – a subject and a Predicate.

A subject is a word or a group of words which conveys the names of persons or things that we are speaking about.

A predicate, on the other hand, is a part of sentence which contains a verb, and states something about the subject,

Let us learn more about subject and predicate through the following sentences:

All the trees are shedding their leaves.

‘All the trees’ is the subject here because the sentence is telling us something about the trees; ‘are shedding their leaves’ is a predicate because that is being said about ‘All the trees’.

The subject usually comes first in the sentence. However, in certain cases, it is placed after the predicate to emphasis.

For example:

Blessed are the merciful.

To determine a subject in a sentence, ask ‘who’ and the answer would be the subject.

On the contrary, ask ‘what’ about the subject, and the answer would be the predicate.

In the sentence given above, when you ask who, the answer is ‘the merciful’. That is the subject. When you ask what, the answer is ‘are blessed’. This is the predicate.

In imperative sentences, the subject is implied and not explicitly stated. Look at the given sentence.

Go away.

In this sentence, the subject, the subject ‘you’ is implied.

RULES FOR WRITING A SENTENCE

• Use short sentences.
• Limit sentence content.
• Economise on words.
• Arrange the sentences in a proper sequence.
• Design sentences to emphasise on the topic.

PARTS OF SPEECH

Each word in the English language belongs to a particular class or part of speech. There are eight parts of speech in English  grammar.

ARTICLES

An article is a word that is used to modify a noun (person, place, object or idea). There are two different types of articles.

• Indefinite Article
• Definite Article

A AND AN (INDEFINITE ARTICLES)

‘A’ and ‘An’ are the two indefinite articles. As a determiner, these articles are used before Singular Countable Nouns. The main function of the indefinite articles is to indicate that the noun they precede does not refer to any particular person or thing. For example, ‘a friend’ refers to any friend and not a specific friend. These articles are also used to introduce new concepts.

Rules for Using Indefinite Articles (A/An)

‘a’ is used:

• Before a singular countable noun when it is mentioned for the first time. Example: This is a river.
• Before a single countable noun or adjective beginning with a consonant sound. Examples: I was a play., She has a bicycle.
• To express quantity. Example: a couple of; a good deal of;
• In certain exclamatory expressions. Examples: What a beautiful place!

‘an’ is used:

• 'an' performs a similar function as 'a'. It is used before singular countable nouns which begin with a vowel sound. (a, e, I, o, u). Examples: He has an axe.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

The initial sound is important, not the spelling:

• The following letters begins with a vowel letters but have consonant sound. Therefore, they have the article 'a' before them. Example: a union; a one-man army; a utopian world; a eugeny; a united force.
• The following letters begins with a consonant letters but have vowels sound. Therefore, they have the article 'an' before them. Example: an hour; an MLA;
• If a single countable noun is predicted by an adjective, a or an is used before the adjective, according to its initial sound. Examples: He is an honest boy; She has a pet dog;

THE (DEFINITE ARTICLE)

The definite article, ‘the’ can be used with both countable nouns (singular as well as plural) and  uncountable nouns. Its main use is to specify a person, place, or thing. It is used when the noun that follows is already known.

Example: 

I bought a painting from a shop.. The painting is beautiful.

Rules for Using the Definite Articles

• A singular noun when it refers to a particular class or group.
• The names of rivers, mountains, gulfs, seas, oceans, groups of islands, name of ships, etc.
• The names of countries in plural.
• The names of religious books.
• Hotels, museums, or certain buildings.
• The names of newspapers and magazines.
• The superlatives of adjectives.
• Descriptive adjective referring to a whole group or class.
• Names of races and communities.
• Uncountable nouns

Do not use 'the before': abstract nouns, plural nouns, proper nouns, names of materials, meals, colors, names of games (when used in general sense).

Example: 

• Iron is a hard metal. (Name of the material)
• Computers are useful machines.
• Akbar was a great king.
• Mother is cooking dinner.
• They speak French at home.

We do not use the with some expressions, such as: all day, all night, by train, by air.

PARAGRAPH WRITING

In the English language, a paragraph is a fundamental unit of composition. A paragraph consists of several sentences grouped together to talk about a main subject. Thus, a paragraph is essentially a collection of sentences that relate to one central topic.

You must have a clear idea of what the paragraph is going to be about. Without a definite topic, your paragraph will lack focus, clarity and uniformity.

Once you have decided on a topic, consider the most relevant ideas or issues relating to the subject matter, As paragraphs are usually short, it is essential that you try to touch upon all the main ideas, without going off the subject and maintain the length of the paragraph.

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PARAGRAPH

Listed below are some points you need to keep in mind while writing a paragraph.

Topic

Decide the topic on which you are going to write a  paragraph.

Introduction/Topic Sentence

A topic sentence conveys the main theme of the paragraph. It works as an introduction. Topic sentences should always contain a topic and a controlling idea.

The topic conveys the main subject matter of the paragraph. The controlling idea focuses on the topic by providing direction to the composition.

Example: There are many reasons why the pollution in Delhi is worst in India.

In the above example, the topic sentence is 'pollution in Delhi is the worst in India' and the controlling idea is 'many reasons'.

Support/Explanation

After starting the topic sentence, provide information in 7-8 sentences to explain in detail.

Conclusion

After illustrating your point with relevant information, add a concluding sentence the summarises the points made in the paragraph.

Proofread

  A crucial part of writing a good paragraph is proofreading and revision. Before submitting, check for text for any grammar or spelling mistakes. Make sure your paragraph is coherent and makes sense.

RULES FOR WRITING A PARAGRAPH

• Give the paragraph uniformity
• Keep the paragraph short
• Use topic sentences
• Leave out unnecessary details
• End the paragraph with a concluding sentence

A paragraph is usually judged on the following crisis:

1. Introduction (including title)
2. Support/Explanation

                This is further divided into-

• Content
• Expression (Fluency, Grammar and Spelling)
• Sequencing 

    3. Conclusion 

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