Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
WRITING
Prepared by Madam Jessie/MUET Teacher/2017- Disclaimer : I acknowledge that some examples and illustrations are from reference books
that I’ve forgotten/ some examples are not my own works. I take no credits for any original works of others cited/use directly or indirectly here.
4 MAIN TYPES OF EXTENDED WRITING/ESSAY
NARRATIVE Relating events that happen over time/what
WRITING happened/who did what/to whom and how
Look for key words in the question and find out whether
the question requires you to describe, recount an event,
discuss, argue for or against, explain, compare and
contrast, analyse, etc.
PURPOSE OF WRITING
ANALYZE To consider something carefully and in detail in order to explain it.
CLASSIFY -To divide things into groups that have similar characteristics.
DESCRIBE -to give an account of characteristics and attributes of things, people, processes.
Once you have generated the ideas for your essay and decided on an
appropriate introduction and conclusion, it is time to put your ideas
together to form a complete paragraph.
How do you do that?
1. You need to organize your ideas and arrange them in such a way that
the paragraph is coherent.
2. The paragraph is coherent when the ideas you present fit together as
logically and snugly as in a jigsaw puzzle.
3. You can do this by using transitional signals.
4. Once your ideas are logically linked, you have achieved coherence.
THE TABLE BELOW GIVES THE TRANSITION SIGNALS WHICH ARE FREQUENTLY USED TO CONNECT IDEAS
IN A PARAGRAPH.
Addition Also, in addition, too, moreover , and, besides, furthermore, equally important, then, finally.
Example For example, for instance, thus, specifically, namely, that is, illustrate
Contrast But, yet, however, on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, conversely, in contrast, still, in spite
of, notwithstanding, on the contrary, instead
Comparison Similarly, likewise, in the same way
Concession Of course, to be sure, certainly, granted, after all
Result Therefore, thus, as a result, so, accordingly, otherwise, hence
Summary In short, in brief, in summary, in conclusion, finally, on the whole, to summarize, to conclude
Time Firstly, secondly, thirdly, next, then, finally, afterwards, before, soon, later, meanwhile,
sequence subsequently, immediately, eventually currently, after a short time, for as long as , as soon as, at
last, at the same time, lately, presently, until, when, while
Place In the background, nearby, in the distance, here, there, above, behind
Emphasis Indeed, in fact, in particular, specifically
UNDERSTANDING TEXT ORGANIZATION
Ideas in a text can be organized using a variety of patterns:
i. Sequence
ii. Space
iii. Definition
iv. Exemplification
v. Classification
vi. Cause and Effect
vii. Comparison and Contrast
UNDERSTANDING TEXT ORGANIZATION
Sequence Or time order is used mainly in narratives and processes where instructions are given. In
narratives, you tell what happened during a period of time, i.e. you describe events in the
order that they occurred. In describing processes you will give step-by-step instructions.
Space Spatial order is normally used when you describe what you see. You describe a place or an
object:
-from general to specific
-from inside to outside, from top to bottom
-from east to west
-from background to foreground, and vice versa in all cases.
You select the direction that is appropriate for the occasion.
In your description, you can make use of:
-prepositions which are spatial cues to show the relationship, for example, on the right, at the
corner, in the middle, to the left, etc.
-adjectives to describe visual images that appeal to the reader’s senses.
Definition You clarify in a complete and formal way the meaning of a term and then explain the meaning
by illustrating with a series of details on its nature.
Exemplification You use exemplification when you need to explain an idea or a concept. You help your reader
to understand this by giving an example or illustrations which is introduced by transition signals
Classification Through classification, you group similar things together. You do this by looking at
common patterns or properties. Classification involves dividing members into categories
of similar characteristics.
Cause and While examining and brainstorming the essay topic, if you find yourself asking questions like
Effect why and what if, then you can be sure that your essay will take a cause-and-effect pattern.
The cause and effect pattern may:
-explain why something happens
- Give the results of something
- Predict what will happen if something occurs
Comparison The ability to compare and contrast is an important writing skill.
and Contrast Comparison is the process of pointing out similarities or likenesses whereas contrast is that of
pointing out the differences.
-In the comparison- contrast essay, you discuss two subjects on the same point.
You show how things are similar and dissimilar. You can do this through a point-by-point
comparison or subject-by-subject comparison.
-The purpose of comparing and contrasting is to understand each of the two things more
clearly, and at times, to make judgements about them. Thus, the comparison-contrast
Paragraph needs proper planning; otherwise, it becomes disorganized and confusing.
-Make sure that the subjects you have chosen can be compared or contrasted.
WRITING EFFECTIVE SENTENCES
Adverb clause Because he was frightened by what he had seen, the boy ran.