Reading and writing skills

READING SKIMMING
 It is a process of looking at a series of written  is reading quickly, horizontally, through the text
symbols and getting meaning from them. to get a general understanding of the content
 The ability to comprehend meaning from a and its usefulness by looking for the main points
given text. in the text.
 An interactive process that helps you to find  often refers to the way in which one reads at a
meaning from a given text. faster rate to gain the general idea about the
 A method of decoding meanings out of letters text without paying heed to the intentional and
or symbols. detailed meaning of the text.
 With skimming, your overall understanding is
reduced because you don't read everything.
3 techniques in selecting and organizing
information
 Getting the Overview of a Text
In skimming
 Context Clues  Let your eyes run along the page/s.
 Choose what to read.
 Denotation and Connotation
 Fast reading to get the general overview of the
text.
Getting the overview of the text  It might be what you already do when on the
internet.
Overview is a general review or summary of a
subject.
What to read when skimming?
3 ways of getting the overview  Keywords (ignore details)
 Bold words
PREVIEWING  Headings or titles
 is a strategy that readers use to recall their  First and last sentence/paragraph.
prior knowledge and set a purpose for reading.
Here, the readers take a quick look at the text PREVIEWING VS SKIMMING
before reading it, looking for various features Please remember that previewing focuses more on
and information that can help them when they the material itself, while skimming focuses on the
return to read it later in full detail. general overview of the text.
 simply means looking over your reading
material in order to become familiar with its SCANNING
content before you actually begin reading it. In  looks for specific details like names, dates, and
this way, you begin thinking about any facts.
experiences you may have had with the subject.
CONTEXT CLUES
Here are some questions or tips that you might Context clues are hints found within a sentence,
consider when previewing a text. paragraph, or passage that a reader can use to
 Do not skip the title. understand the meanings of new or unfamiliar words.
 Take a few moments to consider the subject
matter. 4 types of context clues
 Who wrote the text?
 When and where this text originally published? SYNONYMS
 Read the chapter title or the headings.  are words with the same meaning.
 Why has your teacher assigned this text to you?  As the reader, you can discover the meaning of
an unknown or unfamiliar word because it
repeats an idea expressed in familiar words
nearby.
ANTONYMS Text as Connected Discourse
 Another way to get the meaning of an
unfamiliar term is by looking for words that
contrast the meaning of an unfamiliar word with
LANGUAGE Means of communication to convey a
message verbal or non-verbal
the meaning of a familiar term.
 Antonym is a word of opposite meaning.
Structures of language
DEFINITON  Letter
 At times, when you see an unknown word, the  Word
meaning of the term is explained or given in the  Phrase
same sentence.  Clause
 A definition is a statement of the meaning of a  Sentences
term
Discourse
EXAMPLE  Verbal interchange of ideas or information that
 An example is a particular instance of is written or spoken that has unity, meaning, and
something that is representative of a group, or purpose.
an illustration of something that's been  Discourse plays a vital role in communication
generally described. and in language development process.
 Sometimes examples are used as clues that  Without a proper discourse, people will have a
shed light to the meaning of the unfamiliar word. hard time understanding each other.

DENOTATION CONNOTATION Purposes of Discourse

Another way to improve your understanding of a
 To inform
text is determining the various meanings of a word
through denotation and connotation.  To persuade
 To entertain
 To create
Denotation
 refers to the literal or dictionary meaning of the
word. TEXT A text is usually written. However, text can be
 is a literal framing of a term or sign. anything that is documented. Large unit of a written
Denotations have no subjective, symbolic or language.
otherwise non-literal meaning.
Text vs Discourse
Connotation Text is made up of sentences.
 is the idea or feeling that the word invokes or Discourse is the use of such sentences.
suggests in addition to its literal or primary
meaning. Text becomes a connected discourse when we read.
 Also, the word can either have a positive or
negative interpretation. Written text as a connected discourse means that it
is written interchange of ideas between the writer
2 types of connotation and himself or between the writer and the readers
that seeks to inform, to entertain, to create, or to
persuade
POSITIVE It refers to the positive feeling associated
with a word that extends beyond its literal,
dictionary definition. Brainstorming
 Is a process of writing topics from different
NEGATIVE It refers to the negative feeling sources.
associated with a word that extends beyond its  It is a tool in generating creative and reach
literal, dictionary definition. ideas.
 It helps people establish patterns of ideas,
develop new ways of thinking, active
background knowledge, and overcome mental
block.
Types of brainstorming Present essential information and connect these
pieces of information into a coherent framework.
IDEA LISTING Simply listing down ideas about a (Coherent: united as or forming a whole, or
particular topic. consistent)

IDEA MAPPING Visual representation of ideas and VENN DIAGRAM Used to compare ideas and
their connections with one another. events and show similar and different attributes
using two or more overlapping circles.
How to make an idea map?
1. Put the big idea or the question at the center.
NETWORK TREE Used to represent hierarchy,
classification, and branching or showing relationships
2. Add related idea by writing it down in a circle
of scientific categories, family trees, and even
near the big idea, the draw a line between the two
lineages. Also used to show organizational mapping.
to show how the ideas are connected.
3. Continue the process of connecting ideas until you
have generated enough concepts. TIMELINE Used to show how events occurred
chronologically through a long bar labeled with
date and specific events. We usually find it in
FREE WRITING Writing what comes to your mind; history books.
continuous writing without inhibitions and not minding
errors in spelling and grammar. There are no rules 2 Types of Timeline
that you must follow.  Linear timeline - Shows how one event
happened within one period.
As free writers, we don’t mind any grammatical  Comparative timeline - Shows how two events
errors we may have because the main goal of free happened within one period.
writing is just to put into writing what you have in
mind.
PROBLEM SOLUTION MAP Displays the nature of
the problem and how it can be solved. There is a
RESEARCHING Going to library or checking out problem that is identified and as a writer, we try to
websites from the internet, then making a list or map provide solutions to solve this problem.
of new ideas
FISHBONE MAP
Advantages of brainstorming  Used to better understand causal relationship of
 It encourages critical thinking a complex phenomenon by showing factors that
 All ideas are accepted cause a specific event or problem, as well as
 It makes everyone part of the team details of each cause.
 It is exciting and easy  Here, there is an already identified effect and
you are trying to know what the cause was of
that effect.
Disadvantages of brainstorming
 It only works when everyone in the room has
something to say Outline
 Without strict control or leader present, the is basically the skeleton or the blueprint of any
group may take time to understand the topic. written text.
 Group with many members will not be effective
 People with high emotions are not allowed OUTLINING Planning for writing or creating a
summary that gives the essential features of the text.

Graphic Organizer Formats Of Outlining

Visual representations of concepts that helps us
structure information into organizational patterns  Alphanumeric - uses both letters and numbers
as labels.
In general terms, the word “graphic” refers to any  Decimals - uses only numbers for labels.
visual representation of data and includes a variety
of forms including drawings, photographs, line art,
graphs, diagrams, numbers, symbols, geometric
designs, maps, and engineering drawings.
Principles Of Outlining The Writing Process

Coordination requires ideas of the same relevance PRE WRITING is a planning stage. Here you
to be labeled in the same way. explore possible ideas or topics, choose your
audience and determine your purpose for writing.
Subordination shows that minor details have to be Prewriting activities can help you generate possible
placed under their respective major details. topics by taking an inventory of your interests,
experiences, and ideas.
Division requires that no cluster should contain only
one item.  Brainstorming getting ideas from different
resources
 Free Writing you are just simply writing what
Parallel construction requires all entries in each comes to your mind
cluster to use the same structure and format.  Concept Mapping it is a technique that lets you
narrow a broad topic into more specific topics.
Kinds Of Outlining You take a piece of paper, write at the center
and connect ideas that are related to the broad
Topic outline systematic arrangement of ideas topic.
using broad topics in the form of words or simple  Journal Writing it is more of personal writing
phrases as headers where you jot down your experiences, your
thoughts, important events that took place on a
Sentence outline uses complete sentences as its particular day, or anything that creates an
entries. Also known as the Expanded Outline. impression in your mind.
 Outlining it is listing down ideas from broad to
Outlining Process narrow or from general to specific. It helps you
organize your thoughts linearly and makes it
easier for you to connect ideas together.
Brainstorming getting ideas from different sources
DRAFTING is putting your ideas into sentences and
Organizing group all related ideas together. paragraphs. You arrange your ideas in such a way
that allows the reader to understand your message.
Ordering arrange materials in subsections from
general to specific or from abstract to concrete. REVISING is how you rearrange, add, or remove
words, sentences, or paragraphs from your draft.
Labeling create main ideas and subheadings You review your thoughts, reconsider your
arguments, strengthen your evidence, or redefine
What is Writing? your purpose. Good writing will undergo multiple
drafts and revisions then move on to editing.
is a skill that all of us must acquire. According to
Nunan (2003), writing is the combination of mentally
inventing ideas, thinking about how to express them, EDITING AND PROOF READING It involves looking
and organizing them into sentences and paragraphs at your work carefully, making sure that it is well-
that will make sense to a reader. designed has serves its purpose. Proofreading is
making sure that your paragraph or essay has
Writing is an art because you use your imagination correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
and creativity to express the emotions that you
would like to share with your readers. While most PUBLISING is submitting your work to your teacher
people think that writing is a talent, writing can be or sharing it on a website so others can see it.
learned and mastered.
Qualities of a Good Paragraph
 Unity or “oneness” Of the idea discussed in the
paragraph
 Coherence is the logical flow of details
between and among sentences and paragraphs.
 Development is the strategy used in
developing the idea.
Parts of a Paragraph CLAIM OF POLICY is a statement regarding the
 Topic Sentence this part shows the main idea of merits of a course of action. It argues that certain
the paragraphs. conditions should exist, or that something should or
 Supporitng Details this part shows the pieces of should not be done in order to solve a problem. To
information that provide specific details about support, you must first convince the audience that a
the idea. problem really exists and then prove that your
 Conclusion this part is a restatement or a policy will fix it. It usually uses the word “should”.
summary of the ideas discussed in the
paragraph.
IDENTIFYING THE CONTEXT IN
WHICH A TEXT WAS DEVELOPED
3 Types Of Claim
Critical reading involves the process of analyzing
Reading is an active skill, and you need to interact texts that are developed in different contexts.
with the author. You need to find yourself looking at
the writer’s point or position regarding the chosen The total meaning of a text is somehow influenced
topic. by a set of circumstances.
Writer’s point is also called the CLAIM. Context is defined as the social, political, cultural,
historical, and other related circumstances that
A claim is a sentence that summarizes the most surround the text that leads to a better
important thing that the writer wants to say as a understanding and evaluation of text.
result of his/her thinking, reading, and writing.

A claim is a statement that is essentially arguable or In discovering the deeper meaning of a text, one
debatable but is used as a primary point to support may consider identifying the following:
or prove an argument.  the time/period when the work was written;
 the circumstances that produced it; and
If somebody gives an argument to support his/her  the issue/s that it deals with.
position, it is called “making a claim”.
Also, in analyzing the context of a written text, it is
4 characteristics of a good claim important for you to identify intertext and hypertext.
1. A claim should be argumentative and debatable
2. A claim should be specific and focused Intertext
3. A claim should be interesting and engaging In the 1960s, critic Julia Kristeva posed the concept
4. A claim should be logical that intertextual relationships could be found
throughout many kinds of literature, feeding into the
thought that no text is really or uniquely original.
3 kinds of claim
The notion of intertextuality posits that everything
CLAIM OF FACT is a statement about how things has some variety of influence or borrowing from
were in the past, how they are in the present, or literary works of the past.
how they will be in the future.It needs, instead, to
focus on an assertion which uses facts to back it up, Intertextuality
but for which the evidence might still be debatable. is the development of a text's meaning by another
text. It shows the connections between language,
CLAIM OF VALUE is an arguable statement images, characters, themes, or subjects based on
concerning the relative qualities of something which their similarities in language, genre, or discourse.
is measured subjectively.Basically, a claim of value
argues that something is good or bad, or that one This gives us an idea that the text is always
thing is better than another thing. It is based on influenced by previous texts. This shows the
preference such as likes and dislikes, and it usually interrelationship, interconnectedness, and linkage of
compares two subjects and states own choice. a previous and a current text.
An example of intertextuality is Arthur Laurent's There are different strategies to read
“West Side Story”. Laurent was inspired to put into
writing the West Side Story by gaining inspiration critically.
from William Shakespeare's tragic play “Romeo  Previewing
and Juliet”.  Annotating
 Summarizing
There are similarities between Romeo and Juliet and  Analyzing
Maria and Tony from West Side Story. Both Maria  Re-reading
and Juliet have been forbidden to love the man  Responding.
they desire to love.
Previewing gathering as much information about
Another example is the deliberate retelling of the text as you can before you read it.
Homer’s “Odyssey” by James Joyce in his work,
“Ulysses”, but transplanted out of ancient Greece Annotating jotting down notes in the text as you
into modernday Dublin. The varied chapters in read it.
Joyce’s novel correspond to the adventures of
Odysseus in Homer’s heroic poem.
Summarizing shortening the text read to test your
For Joyce, the purpose of this deliberate comprehension.
intertextuality was to indicate that ordinary people
can experience something heroic in their everyday Analyzing breaking the text down into its parts to
lives. find out how they relate to one another.

Hypertext Re-reading reading the text several times to make

is a nonlinear way of showing information. as much meaning.
Hypertext connects topics on a screen to related
information, graphics, videos, and music— Responding reacting to what you have read
information which is not simply associated to the text.
This information appears as hyperlinks and is usually Moreover, one major use of this reading strategy is
accessed by clicking. Through this, readers can to for reasoning.
easily learn and acquire more information about a
topic. This allows the readers to a wider horizon of Reasoning is logical thinking. It is a thinking that all
information or to a new direction of learning about has reason as cause and effect, pattern, etc..
the topic.
This means you can use critical reading to formulate
Readers can skim through the sections of a text and arguments/reasons in response to what you read.
freely jumping from one part to another depending
on what aspect of the text interests them. Critical reading for reasoning means carefully
understanding details to make conclusions
Thus, in reading with hypertext, the readers are
given more flexibility and personalization because
they get to select the order in which they read the Formulating evaluative
text and focus on information that is relevant to their statements about a text read
background and interests.
Belino (2017) defines an evaluative statement as
Explaining critical reading as a a way of giving explanation to show the strengths
and weaknesses of something through writing. It
form of reasoning presents a value judgment based on a set of criteria.

Critical Reading is an academic skill. It is a careful, It is the writer’s way of explaining why strength is a
thorough, thoughtful, and active reading strategy. strength and a weakness is a weakness based on
the evidence gathered.

This means that evaluative statements about a text

are formulated after having read the text carefully
and critically, understanding the essence of the text
and checking for possible misconceptions or
misjudgments in the argument.
Evaluative statement is also called as evaluative Meaning of expressions are classified into
essay. two
Evaluation essay is a composition that offers value
judgments about a particular subject according to a
Descriptive meaning deals with the presentation
set of of facts. It provides expressive details about the
criteria. situation or other. It gives an account of what the
context is without saying it’s good or bad, as in the
claim “These grapes are sweet.” The descriptive
Nordquist (2019) evaluative statement is also meaning of this statement can be verified and is
called evaluative writing, evaluative essay or report, constant.
and critical evaluation essay. An evaluative essay is
one that presents a writer's point of view about the
subject. Its purpose is to evaluate upsides and
Evaluative meaning gives assessment. It expresses
downsides of some object, process or action. judgment, disapproval, strengths, and weakness. It is
usually a conceivable interpretation about an event
or things. In the example, “The grapes taste good.”,
Hernandez et al. (2017) an evaluative statement this view may be disputed or accepted by others.
is an objective and tactful way of reacting to a text

Moreover, Belino (2017) suggested ways in Four (4) elements of a well written text
formulating evaluative statements in an that an evaluator must consider
objective and tactful way through counterclaim and 1. unity and logical arrangement of ideas
hedges. 2. appropriateness of language use
3. proper grammar
Counterclaim is an opposition you make about the 4. punctuation, spelling, and format
claim of a writer. You must recognize the value of
hedges when you state your counterclaims Finally, to be an effective critical evaluator, it is not
enough just to be able to identify claims and
Hedge is a word or phrase that minimizes the assertions. It is also note worthy to identify the
negative impact of criticism. When you are properties of a text read whether it is a fact or
presenting your counterclaim, you are providing opinion, and inference or a conclusion, and a fallacy
criticism since you are stating that the claim is not or a judgment.
true.
Facts are true information based on evidence.
Evaluation is passing judgment onto works of others,
so they must be written and expressed with care Opinion is a belief based on person’s judgement
and much constancy. Exactly, when you evaluate, without certainty.
you are actually asserting.
Inference is a process of reacting to a conclusion.
Assertion from Webster is defines as an act of
declaring what is right based on evidence presented.
Conclusion is an end or a sum up as a result of
something.
Hernandez(2017), enumerates tips on
writing assertions, such as: Fallacy is the use of invalid or otherwise faulty
1) Be knowledgeable. Before you start writing reasoning, or "wrong moves" in the construction of
your assertions, make sure your facts are an argument.
straight
2) Back it all up. Your assertions needs to be a Judgment is a decision which is a product of careful
stable throughout.
thought. The ability to analyze an argument is
3) Be clear and concise. Since each assertion lets
essential to understanding the text more deeply, but
you take a stand on your topic, it's very
understanding the claim is not the only facet of the
important that you keep things clear and
argument
concise.
4) Be thematic.Look for a bigger perspective of
Finally, acquiring this knowledge will train you not
issue or topic being evaluated
only to become a better critical thinker but also an
unbiased evaluator.
 DETERMINING TEXTUAL No matter what kind of text you are examining,
follow these important steps as strategies:
EVIDENCE 1. Read and understand the question or claim.
2. Closely read the text to find the answer.
Textual evidence is gathered from the original 3. Note inferences and quotations from the passage
source or other texts that supports an argument or that support the answer or claim.
thesis. 4. Analyze the evidence. How does this textual
evidence support a claim or idea from
There are two sides to every argument: the passage? What makes this evidence strong?
5. Cite the evidence by including quotations of the
Claim is a statement of the writer’s point or excerpted text or by using these
argument for something. phrases:
• According to the text, _____
Counterclaim is a rebuttal, or argument opposing • On page _____, the author stated
the claim. • One example of this from the text is _____

The claim/counterclaim system is used to make

points in essays and scientific papers. Although Unique features of and
reasons are critical to supporting a claim, without
evidence they carry little weight.
requirements in composing text

Textual evidence is stated in two forms: Academic writing is clear, concise, focused,
structured, and supported with evidence. Its purpose
Explicit textual evidence is information that is is to resource the reader's understanding. It has a
formal tone and style, but it is not complex and
directly stated in a text.
does not require the use of lengthy sentences and
intricate vocabulary
Implied textual evidence is information that
can be gathered through clues given thought the
text.
Types of Academic Writing

Textual evidence often requires a large amount of Book Review It is a form of literary criticism in
critical thinking, especially when dealing with which a book is analyzed based on content,
implied evidence. approach used, and form.

Always keep in mind in your book reviews that your

Evidence include the following focus should be about its topic itself. Your key
1. facts and statistics (objectively validated sentences should say, "This book shows...”, "The study
information on your subject) demonstrates...", or “The author argues..." rather
2. opinions from experts (leading authorities on a than "This happened...” or “This is the case.…
topic such as researchers or academics)
3. personal anecdotes (generalizable, relevant, and
objectively considered)
Article Critique is a genre of educational writing
that presents indispensable assessment through
intensive analysis of an article, which includes
The following are the characteristics of giving a quick summary of the article.
good evidence:
1. unified The main purposes of article critique
2. relevant to the central point writing:
3. specific and concrete 1. describe the most important thoughts of the writer
4. accurate that he/she desires to express;
5. representative or typical 2. analyze each essential and fascinating point and
include an improved explanation of the article;
3. interpret the author’s intention; and
4. summarize and consider the price of an article,
pointing out whether you agree or disagree with the
author, with aiding evidence.
Literature Review is a compilation of published PURPOSEFUL WRITING FOR
information/materials on a certain topic from
different sources in a specific period. It is a kind of PROFESSIONS
overview article.
Resume is a tool that summarizes your skills,
A literature assessment is a scholarly paper that educational background, experiences, and other
provides the current know-how which includes qualifications.
noticeable findings as well as theoretical and
methodological contributions to a precise topic. It is also called curriculum vitae, but this is a more
detailed. It can be considered as a sales tool in the
Research Report undergoes thorough process in sense that it helps you market your skills to a
gathering data or information to interpret the topic potential employer, in the same manner that a
covered. product is advertised in a magazine.

In many ways, a research report can be viewed as The purpose of a resume is to introduce yourself to
a summary of the research method that absolutely employers, present your qualifications, and secure a
highlights findings, recommendations, and other slot for an interview.
essential details.
The goal of writing a resume is to showcase your
experience, education, and skills in a standardized
Features of a Research Report format which is easy to read.
1. The information is detailed with tables and
graphs.
2. Formal language is used.
The key elements of a resume are as
3. Research report is written in the third person. follows:
4. It is informative and based on first-hand
verifiable information. Personal Information
5. There is a pattern to make it presentable. Name, Current/Permanent Address,
6. It always includes recommendations for future Telephone/Cellphone number and
actions. E-mail address.

Objective
Project Proposal is the presentation of the initial In one short sentence, summarize your goal for your
document that contains the detailed plan to solve a job search. The goal statement should be related to
problem. The project proposal is the direct the specific position for which you are applying. It is
manifestation of a project design. It is a means of also effective to highlight your skills in the goal
presenting a format that is easily understandable statement.
and acceptable for the readers.
Education
Basic Features of Project Proposal Name of Primary, Secondary or Tertiary school
1. Clearly states the problem where you finished your studies. Indicate if you
2. Identifies the proposal in solving problem well received any awards and certificates.
3. Has a supporting idea
4. Has an evaluation of the positive effect/s of the Work and Related Experience
proposal Summer jobs, Internships, Volunteer work (include
5. Has awareness on the possible objection/s to the position title, company/organization, and dates.)
proposal
6. Has a careful selection of the topic
7. Has acceptable writing emotions
Skills
a. Soft skills: (e.g. being responsible, loyal,
hardworking, energetic, outgoing.)
Position Paper presents a debatable view about a b. Hard skills: (e.g. research and writing, Microsoft
certain issue in academia, in politics, in law, or in Publisher 2000, Public speaking.)
other domains. It is a written report outlining
someone's attitude or intentions regarding a
particular matter.
References A cover letter can be a response to a job
(2-3 people) Teacher/Professor, Work supervisor advertisement, an unsolicited inquiry to a
(current or past), prospective employer as part of your direct mail
Character reference (Pastor, Headmaster, or strategy, or a letter to a recruitment agency.
someone who knows you well). Include
the name, relationship to you, organization, contact Parts of a Cover Letter
phone numbers.
A. Introduction
College admission application letter shows your 1. Introduce yourself and state your purpose in
interest in the college/university while justifying why writing to the receiver.
you are qualified at the same time. It also serves as 2. Indicate your source of information in learning
a cover letter for all your other college admission about the job vacancy. Was it through
documents. a newspaper, magazine, the Internet, or a personal
contact?
3. Add an interesting statement about yourself that
Parts of a College Admission Application will cause the reader to continue
Letter reading through your credentials.
4. Show enthusiasm to work in the company.
A. Introduction
1. State who you are and what you are applying B. Body
for. 1. Present your work experience/s, academic
2. State an eye-catching statement about yourself qualifications, trainings, and some personal qualities
that will cause the reader to continue with specific evidence/s.
reading through your qualifications. 2. Organize your paragraphs accordingly. You may
3. Show your enthusiasm to study in the university segregate them by theme (one
you are applying to. paragraph for work experience and one for
education) or by function (management,
B. Body financial, technical).
1. Present your academic qualifications, 3. Explain the benefits to the employers if they hire
extracurricular involvements, community activity you. Do not simply give facts; explain how these
engagements, and some personal qualities with facts will contribute to the company.
specific evidence/s. 4. For instance, instead of merely telling the
2. Organize your thoughts and segregate them into company about all the trainings you had, you may
paragraphs. You may separate say, “I have extensive training in copyediting. You
paragraphs by theme (one paragraph for will save both time
academic qualification and one for and money because I will need little training on this
extracurricular activities and so on). area.”
1. State the benefits the university can obtainby 5. In the last part of the body, direct the reader to
admitting you. Do not just give facts,explain how a specific part of your resume that
these facts will benefit the university. suggests your strongest credentials for the position.
C. Conclusion C. Conclusion
1. Indicate your interest for an interview. 1. Indicate your interest for an interview at a time
2. Indicate how the interviewer can contact you. most convenient to the employer. If
3. Express your hope for a positive response from possible, specify the time you are available for an
the Admission Director. interview.
4. Say thank you. 2. Indicate how the interviewer can contact you.
3. Express an expectation of a positive response
Job Application Letter or cover letter is a type of from the employer.
personal business correspondence which states your 4. Thank the employer.
intention to work in a particular organization. It
should always be attached with your resume.

While some online job applications do not require

an application letter, corporate experts say that
employers are more likely to read a resume which is
accompanied by a cover letter.
 Letters, Memos and Electronic Disadvantages of Communicating through
Mails E-mail
1. An e-mail may carry a virus.
2. Not all official documents can be sent via e-mail
Business letter elicits the expected response from due to nature.
the readers. This can be achieved through a concise, 3. An e-mail is sometimes used as a tool for
tactful, and accurate writing style. A business letter scamming. Hence, using it requires utmost caution.
serves several purposes: for sales efforts, for 4. Sending an e-mail is prone to technical glitches
complaints, for information dissemination, for and is dependent on Internet connection.
relationship building, for problem-solving, and many
others.

Memorandum comes from the Latin term memorare

which means “to remember”. A memorandum, which
is commonly shortened to “memo”, is meant to inform
as well as to persuade people within an
organization. It follows an organized structure which
means that the most important information comes
first.

Advantages of Using a Memo

1. It reaches a large number of readers at the same
time.
2. It serves as a written record that can be accessed
anytime.
3. It allows a detailed and accurate delivery of the
message.

Electronic mail more commonly known as e-mail,

has been a vital part of our everyday
communication since its inception. We use it to send
messages to everyone, from friends and family to
colleagues and superiors. Indeed, the e-mail has
revolutionized interpersonal communication.

An e-mail can serve many purposes. It can be used

for directives, transmittals, documentations,
confirmations, explanations of procedure,
recommendations, status reports, and inquiries.

Advantages of Communicating through E-

mail
1. It reaches the target reader fast.
2. Confirmation of acceptance is easy.
3. It is cheaper and easy to use.
4. Original messages can be easily attached via
thread.
5. It is environment-friendly because it requires no
paper.
6. It has an automated e-mail feature that notifies
the sender if the receiver is on vacation or will not
be able to access his/her e-mail as soon as possible.