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Introduction To Writing Skills

This document provides an introduction to writing skills and the writing process. It discusses the importance of writing skills in communicating ideas clearly and effectively. It then outlines the four main steps in the writing process - prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. The document also distinguishes between formal and informal writing styles, providing examples of each.

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WALEEJA KHADIM BS Chemistry
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312 views8 pages

Introduction To Writing Skills

This document provides an introduction to writing skills and the writing process. It discusses the importance of writing skills in communicating ideas clearly and effectively. It then outlines the four main steps in the writing process - prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. The document also distinguishes between formal and informal writing styles, providing examples of each.

Uploaded by

WALEEJA KHADIM BS Chemistry
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Writing Skills

By Nabiha Qasim
Writing skills
Writing skill enables a person to be able to put his thoughts into
words in a meaningful way to interact the message. Good writing
skills require a person to have the knowledge of what he wants to
convey, use of proper vocabulary, expressions, phrases and
powerful sentence structures which best define his thoughts with
clarity. In academic/professional writings, one needs to make sure
that his written information is complete, answers all the important
questions being asked, provides all the necessary details about
oneself.
Process of writing
Writing is a process that involves at least four distinct steps:
prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing.

1- Prewriting
Prewriting is the planning phase of the writing process. It involves
anything you do before you write a draft of your document. It
includes thinking, finding an idea, taking notes, talking to others,
free writing, brainstorming, outlining, building a plan or structure
and gathering information (e.g., interviewing people, researching
in the library, assessing and collecting data).
2- Drafting

Drafting occurs when you make a rough sketch of how are you
going to execute your thoughts or plan your data. It is putting
your ideas into sentences and paragraphs. Here you concentrate
upon explaining and supporting your ideas fully. You also begin to
connect your ideas. Regardless of how much thinking and
planning you do, the process of putting your ideas in words
changes them. Sometimes the words you selected trigger other
words and the ideas you are working on generate other ideas.
While drafting, you don’t have to pay attention to such things as
spelling or grammar at this stage as the draft tends to be writer-
centered only; it is you telling yourself what you know and think
about the topic.
3- Revising
Revision is a must in achieving effective results in writing. Here you
think more deeply about your readers’ needs and expectations. The
document becomes reader-centered. The stage involves refining
your text, picking appropriate vocabulary, making each sentence as
concise and accurate as possible, organizing the text and make
connections between ideas explicit and clear. It involves, adding,
rearranging, removing, replacing to maintain the flow of the text. All
these things must be revised to make sure the text is easily
understandable for the readers.
4- Editing
After you are done with the other stages in the writing process, you
reread and proofread the text to check for grammar, punctuation,
spellings, repetition and editing to improve style, coherence and
clarity.
Formal and informal writing
Formal writing:
▪ Formal writing style is mostly used for academic, business, official,
professional and legal purposes.
▪ Formal writing must use a professional tone by using formulaic
expressions (fixed or standard group of words i.e., it is respectfully
stated, once upon a time).
▪ Formal writing uses long and complex sentences.
▪ No use of colloquial language, short forms, slangs or interjections (
i.e., ah, eh, hmm, oh, phew, yuk)
▪ It includes objective writing, i.e., no use of first and second person
singular pronoun (I and You) rather third person pronoun (it) is
used.
▪ Use of passive voice instead of active voice.
▪ Use of proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.
▪ Use of literal language and academic vocabulary with fully
elaborated and concluded sentences.
▪ The sentences should be gentle and polite.
▪ Use of proper references to support your argument.
Informal writing
▪ The informal style of writing is one used for personal and casual
conversation, wherein friendly and colloquial language is used.
▪ Informal writing uses personal or emotional tone by using direct
language.
▪ Uses short and simple sentences.
▪ Use of short forms, slang, abbreviations, interjections, colloquial
language.
▪ The reader is directly referred to as personal pronouns (you, your)
and subjective writing is involved using (I).
▪ Use of active voice instead of passive voice.
▪ Sentence can be loosely structured as the purpose of writing is
only conversational e.g., text messages, personal mails and letters
to friends.
▪ Imperative sentences can be used.
Example 1: This is to inform you that your book has been rejected by
our publishing company as it was not up to the required standard. In
case you would like us to reconsider it, we would suggest that you go
over it and make some necessary changes.

Example 2: You know that book I wrote? Well the publishing


company rejected it. They thought it was awful. But hey I did the best
I could and I think it was great. I’m not gonna redo it the way they
said I should.

Example 3: I don't believe that the results are accurate.


Example 4: The results are not believed to be accurate.

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