WRITING USING APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE

CONTENT AND STYLE

Writing Narrative Compositions/Essays (Not Less Than 200 Words) An Account of Event that Happened in the Past Write an account of event that happened in the past Refers to any report of connected events narrating a story which occurred in particular time

Characteristics of Narrative Composition

• Always tells a story from a writes perspective
• Plot refers to how one event leads to another
• Characters are described through action, speech and thoughts, good characters are always

described m detail.

• Setting refers tothe time and place in which the story takes place
• Theme refers tothe meanings behind the story.

Imaginary Events that Happened in the Past Write maginary evenss that happened inthe past ‘Choose any topic of your interest and compose short narrative essay on an imaginary event that happened in the past.

Writing Expository Compositions/Essays (Not Less Than 200 Word) Factual Information on a Topic/Subject Write facial information on a topic/subject Expository writing requires students to investigate ideas, evaluate evidence expound on ideas and et arguments concerning that idea ina clear and eoneise manner.

Structure of expository essay

• Clear and concise defined thesis statement that occurs in first paragraph of the essay
• Clear and logical transition between the introduction body and conclusion
• Body paragraph that include evidential support .and each paragraph should have one

general idea

• Evidental support which may be Factual, logical, statistical or anecdotal.
• ABit of creativity may add credit to your essay.

Writing Descriptive Compositions/Essays (Not Less Than 200) Vivid Descriptions of People/Places and Events Write vivid descriptions of people’places and events Descriptive composition refers to composition writing which describes person, place or thing in such a way tha a picture of the subject is elear inthe readers mind. This is usually done through descriptive use ofthe five senses

Examples of descriptive writing topic are your dream house, fayourite restaurant etc.

How descriptive writing helps students

• helps ta make your writing more interesting
• Trencourages students to use new words
• Itcan help students clarify their understanding of new subject matter.

Characteristics of desriptive writing

• Good descriptive writing includes many sensory details that paint a picture in the reader's

mind

• Good descriptive writing uses precise language, specific adjectives and nouns and strong

action verbs, avoid use of passive sentences.

• Goo descriptive writing offen makes use of figurative Tanguage such as analogies

similes and metaphor to help to paint picture bin teader's mind

• Good descriptive writing is organised e.g. chronological (time) spatial 9 location ) and

order of importance , for example in describing person by starting with their physical appearance then move to their thoughts, How to write descriptive essay More than other types of essays descriptive essays strive to cate deep and vivid experience for the reader, following thongs should be considered: Planning your descriptive essay

• What or who do you want to describe?
• Whats your reason for writing your description?
• What are the particular qualities you focus on?

Drafting your descriptive essay

• Such details such as sights, sound, smell, taste and texture are important in developing

your description Revising your descriptive essay

• Make sure you have provided enough details and description,
• Domnot forget minor but important points
• Use words that may convey emotion or perspective
• Each paragraph should focus on an aspeet of description.
• Organise your paragraphs

Writing Argumentative Compositiony/Essays (Not Less Than 200 Words) Contrasting Views of a Given Topic Present contrasting views of a given topic Argumentative compositions essays which express one sided point views and atlempt to persuade the reader.

Iris commonly assigned to teach students to write about facts and conduct research, Argumentative essays are written like other essays but they must have the following

• Am introduction
• Thesis statement which may have supportive evidence.
• Body paragraphs.
• Aeonclusion

‘Types of argumentative composition

• Analysis essays: Argumentative analysis essays focus on other argumentative essays, the

purpose ofthis essay isto analyse other evidence.

• Personal essays: Do not rely on research and are based on opinions as well as personal

experience

• Research papers: Argumentative research papers which rely heavily on extemal sources

to make and support the main arguments, authors should take various research papers as cites for their essays

Creative Writing

Writing a Literary Work Using Devices and Skills Woe a tuerary work using lterary devices and skills Creative writing refers to any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional journalistic, academie or technical forms of literature Creative writing ean technically be considered any writing of original composition which is contemporary and process oriented and differs from what is traditionally called literature

Writing styles and techniques help you as future writer to develop and grow, below are the various techniques to consider:

• Point of view: When writing a short story or novel point of view is important in

establishing who is telling the story.

• Strong plot: Creating a strong plot for you story is important, you could have engaging

characters, great scenes but if the plot is weak the reader will not be interested,

• Deseription: When writing a short story or novel itis important to describe characters,

action and setting in detail

• Flashback: Sometimes writers move back in time to write about past events to provide

more background detail about the story to the reader.

• Dialogue: I's important to master communication between your characters Dialogue is

important in building suspense.conveying your story and setting a mood,

• Foreshadowing: This technique helps build a mood and engages your reader's ming, its

a technique where you drop clues or hints about characters or events that help reader predict what might happen later on

• Writing prompts: Writing prompts are sentences or paragraphs that provide inspiration

for you to write they can be activites or ideas,

• Story starters: This is a technique that helps you starts your story or novel

WRITING FORMAL LETTERS

Formal letters are used un business, transaction letters, letters to news paper, order letters, application letters and request letter just to mention a few Writing Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor Write letters to the editor Principles of writing formal letters

• Follow the prescribed format of writing formal or official letters,
• Use simple language to enhance understanding of the message.
• Avoid informal language and slang.
• Avoid vague or emotional words that may provoke or make an addressee angry
• Bepolite and show respect to the addressee
• Deseribe the purpose objectively
• Provide all necessary information precisely. Be direct to the point and avoid giving your

personal information,

• Make sure you provide true and researched information and not hearsay or rumours
• Proof read your letter befire sending it to the addressee

Major Parts of Formal Letters

• Sendors address and dato(all words must start with capital letters in an address).
• Addressee address below reference number.
• UPS; fit has to be signed by a certain officer/person for forwarding,
• Salutation ie. Sir’Madame( Salutation must start immediately afler the margin line)
• The introductory sentence
• Purpose application.
• Closing remarks like; yours sincerely.
• Signature
• Full name
• Title if you have one.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The editor plays a vital role in making eritical analysis ofall letters before they are published and read by the public through newspapers, magazines, or any other appropriate media. Letters which are sent to the news papers are always addressed to the editor, the proper form of salutation is Sir/Madame and rarely dear sir though in some circumstances you ean address the editor as dear Sit/Madame

Example 1

Example ofa leter to the editor

The editor Mzalendo newspaper Siv/Madame it is high time steps should be taken to all private schools on student's time management. Most of them are over working the students by the preparation of a timetable which is not giving a student time to rest, for example in a certain school instead of periods having 40 minutes for a single period and 80 minutes for doubles, it hour and two hours instead and no of periods are still the same.

hope the public, parents and government as education stakeholders can make changes through this writing Yours ily Observer

Writing Business Transaction Letters

Business Transaction Letter

Write business transaction letters Every company, large or small, relies heavily on the business letter to keep the organisation running smoothly. Business letters ask for and give information, order goods and services, request appointments, make complaints, and deal with all routine matters Although telephone calls have their place m the business world, letters have several important advantages, 1 Letters provide a permanent, written record

2 Letters are like written promises and clearly indicate who is responsible.

• Letters allow busy people to send and receive information when it is convenient for them.
• Letters allow time to think about and research a topic or situation before writing or

responding.

• Letters allow the reader the chance to reread and review complicated! material as often as

necessary.

Characteristics of a business letter

• A business letter should be brief, concise, clear, courteous and tactful. To get the best

letters possible, use the writing process. Start by focusing on your purpose for writing the letter ‘and the results you want from it, Think about your reader's needs.

• Secondly. prepare an outline or plan. It doesn’t have to be more than a few scribbles on a

sorap of paper that list the points you want to be sure to include,

• Thirdly, write a rough draft of the letter and allow a “cooling off” period before you

revise it, Business letters are not a place to vent your anger, but rather a way for you to present a reasoned and logical argument.

• Fourthly, revise the letter by arranging the details effectively and reworking sentences

and paragraphs until your message is as brief and clear as possible,

• Finally, eheck the mechanics of your writing and prepare the letter for mailing. Knowing

how fo write a correct and effective business letter is one of the best skills any employee can have, no matter what his/her work assignment is. Parts of a Business Letter

• The introduction, the body, and the conclusion, The introduction consists of

the heading (the sender's retum address)

• Date (the month, day, year on which the letter was prepared)
• Inside address (the name and address of the receiver)
• Salutation (a greeting like Dear Ms.)
• The body of the letter contains the message the writer needs to
• Conclusion consists of a complimentary closing (like Yours truly or Sincerely)
• Signature (sender's name written in pen)

How to Write a Business Letter A business letter, unlike a friendly letter must have a heading. On the first line, write your apartment number, postal box, rural route number, and your street address1 (whatever applies to your address). The second line gives your city, town, or village, and the province mame, and postal code2. On the third line, write the month, the day and the year you are writing the letter: Never write your name as part of the heading of a leter The addressee address is placed

at the left margin, two spaces below the heading and contains the receiver's full name, title, and address The salutation is placed two spaces below the inside address. If you don’t know the person use his/her fall name and title in the salutation If you do know him/her well, you would use hisyher full name and title inthe inside address and his/her first name in the salutation. In situation where you don’t know whether the reader is male or female, you may find something like Dear

Customer Service Representative ot Attention: Billing Department suitable. The body of the letter is, of course, what the letter is all about It begins two spaces below the salutation. You should single space within paragraphs and double space between them. The body of many business letters contains three paragraphs (although they don’t all have to have five sentences). The first paragraph should state the problem or situation clearly. The second

paragraph should explain in specific detail the reason for writing The third and final paragraph should make a specifie request for action and elose with courtesy. Here’s a sample body.

‘The conclusion of all letters is a brief phrase showing respect called the. Complimentary closing which is placed two spaces below the body. Only the first Word of this closing is capitalised, Four or five spaces below this, the writer's typed Signature (and ttle, if appropriate) should appear. The sender of the letter should write his/her signature between the complimentary closing and the typed signature

Example 2

Shautimoyo Shop

P.o.Box $43 Mbinga 17 april, 2007 Ref.No.041/SS/MB

Habari Leo Magazine

P.o.Box 7888

Dares Salaam

Dear Sir or Madam

[would like fo place a personal advertisement in your newspaper on the 20th June 2005. Please find enclosed my advertisement and also a cheque covering the cost Please contact me at my shove address if you have any queries or you ean phone me at 074232212 Yours faithfully

Mary Juma

Marketing Manager