LS1 Effective Writing

LEARNING
STRAND 1
EFFECTIVE
WRITING
Here starts
the lesson!
The module is divided into two
lessons, which are:
Lesson 1 – Organizing Your Text
Lesson 2– Connecting Your Ideas and
Summing Up
After studying this module, you are
expected to be able to:
♦ write well-constructed paragraphs
utilizing varied rhetorical patterns;
♦ supply transition words and
phrases; and
♦ compose concluding or restatement
paragraphs.
LESSON 1
ORGANIZING
YOUR TEXT
Here starts
the lesson!
There are many The following discussion
different ways to provides a definition of
organize your facts each pattern, an example
or information, but and an illustration or
let us concentrate example of its application
on the six patterns in the self description
that you were asked activity. The examples
to identify in the merely provide a basis for
pretest. evaluating your own self
description paragraph.
Definition
– stating the group to which something belongs and how it
is different from other members of the same group.
Example: A Dalmatian belongs to the animal group called
dogs. It is different in appearance from other dogs, because
of its white color and black spots.
Self description example: I am from Ilocos, therefore I am
an Ilocano. But I am different from most Ilocanos because I
grew up in Manila so I may be different from
most Ilocanos.
Cause and Effect
– telling what happens (result), with reasons why it
happened (cause).
Example: Volcanoes erupt as a result of high pressure of
liquid rock under the earth’s surface.
Self description example: I am a very shy person because
when I was young,
I did not have many opportunities to be with other people
when I was young, which is one of the reasons why I am
very shy.
Comparison
– describing the similarities and differences between two
things.
Example: The Americans and the Japanese are both
leaders in the field of industry and economics. The style of
management of the Japanese however, is very different from
that of Americans.
Self description example: My sister and I are of the same
height and weight,but we differ in facial features.
Chronological order
– stating things in the order in which they happened,
according to time; from the newest to the oldest event, or from the
earliest to the latest event.
Example: The first living creatures were single-celled organisms,
then came fish, and then reptiles, then birds, and amphibians and
lastly mammals.
Self description example: When I was a child, I was very naughty
and got in trouble a lot, but then as a teenager I have changed and
became quieter and got into less trouble. Right now, I can say that I
am a very nice person and rarely ever have problems with other
people.
Induction and Deduction (Logical Order)
– stating information, in order of importance,
from the most important to least important.
Example: When choosing a job it is important to consider
that you are qualified for it, the salary is worth the amount of
work you would be doing, that the type of job is suitable for
you, and that you will enjoy it. Other small things to keep in
mind would be the benefits, the working environment, and
the type of people that you will be working with.
Self description example: My main characteristics include
my being assertive, sensible, friendly, and mature.
Also, there are times when I can be fun to be with.
Examples
– describing what you are writing about by
providing examples.
Example: Hygiene refers to cleanliness in terms of your body
and surrounding. Example of hygienic practices would
include regular baths and daily household cleaning.
Self description example: I am normally a calm person but I
get angry sometimes. For example, I get angry when I get
stuck in a traffic jam for three hours and then I am late for
work, or when I cannot take a bath because
there is no water.
Match each of the of rhetorical patterns with their characteristics in the opposite
column. Use connecting to indicate the answers.
Rhetorical Pattern Characteristics

• Chronological order -Gives reasons for the result
• Cause and effect -States characteristics
• Definition -Arranged as to when the events

happened
• Examples
-From most important to at least
• Logical Order (Induction important details
and Deduction) -Gives similarities and differences
• Comparison and -Uses examples
Contrast
Here are some examples of purposes and the possible
patterns that can be used:
- to argue a point or opinion – possible patterns, logical
order, comparison or contrast, cause and effect.
- to inform people to make them aware of something—
possible patterns: definition, developing through examples,
comparison
- to tell a story, or to entertain, or amuse the reader –
possible patterns: developing through examples, decreasing
importance – possible patterns: chronological order, cause
and effect
-to make the reader think and ask questions – possible
patterns: comparison, definition, decreasing importance
01
REMEM
BER
LESSON 2
COLLECTING YOUR
IDEAS AND
SUMMING UP
Here starts
the lesson!
The words or phrases used to connect ideas with
one another are what we call transitions. They are
simply units of language, whether a word or phrase,
that provides meaningful connections between parts
of a text like sentences, paragraphs or sections.
Underline the words that you think are transition words in the following
paragraph.
From the examples in the previous exercise,
we learned that transition words or phrases
can be placed at the:
♦ beginning;
♦ middle; or
♦ end of a sentence
They can either introduce what is going to follow or
refer back to something that has already been
stated. You shall see this more clearly in the
examples that will follow.
Below are some examples of transition words:

the first step . . . the second step . . . etc.
first. . . second. . . etc.
after
before
therefore plus
and so however
thus besides the mentioned
for example also
on the other hand so far
in addition to in relation to
in line with
Now, let us use the example already given in Lesson
1 to demonstrate how to
connect points together. Remember to include your
purpose or main idea at the
beginning of the paragraph. Then enumerate your
main points using a rhetorical
pattern and appropriate transition words.
Notice that transitions are used at the
beginning, middle, and end of sentences. Can
you see that the paragraph now makes sense.
The main points are now connected and the
ideas flow smoothly from one to the other. It no
longer looks like a disconnected list of
sentences that have no meaning on their own.
• Transitions are connecting words or phrases that
show the meaningful relationship between the main
idea and the supporting main points.
• Transitions can connect together sentences,
paragraphs, or whole sections.
• Sentence transitions may be found at the beginning,
middle or end of a sentence. The use of these
transitions depend upon your own preferred style of
writing.
• Include the main idea or purpose at the beginning of
the paragraph, then proceed to the main points using
a rhetorical pattern and the appropriate transition.
The last paragraph of any composition is the conclusion.
This should tie in with your introduction and it could also
be similar in content. The introduction is the first
paragraph which states the main idea and presents the
main points, while the conclusion is the last paragraph
which restates the main idea and summarizes the main
points.
This is the main difference between the
two. Now we will learn how to restate or
use different words that give the same
idea expressed in the introduction.
In writing conclusion, it is important to keep in mind the following:
Use paraphrasing or restatements – change the original

verb in the introduction with another verb that has the same
meaning.
Example: The government asserted that . . .

Restated: The government has announced that . . .
In writing conclusion, it is important to keep in mind the following:
Restate the main idea and summarize the main points –

shorten the content of your text by leaving out unimportant
details so it can fit into one sentence or paragraph.
Example: The first key factor is . . . the second is . . ., the

third is . . . , and the last is . . .
Summary: These are four key factors which are . . .
♦ Continue using transition words.
♦ The main idea of your paragraph should be written last.
This is the last portion and should be well emphasized.
Here is an example of an introduction and a restated conclusion:
CONCLUSION:
The articles explain that drinking while
driving could be dangerous.
Notice that the conclusion is shorter and
has less details. Of course you may
rearrange the main points because you
need not follow your first pattern. But if you
wish to stick with your pattern, then you
may do so. It is important to stress the
main idea which is why it is written as the
last sentence.
A conclusion is the last paragraph which restates the main idea
and summarizes the main points.
Restating changes the original verb into a similar one with the
same meaning.
Summarize the main idea and main points by leaving out the
details, while still using transition words.
The main idea is written last. It is the last word and the most
emphasized.

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LEARNING

Rhetorical Pattern Characteristics

• Cause and effect -States characteristics

• Definition -Arranged as to when the events

Below are some examples of transition words:

Use paraphrasing or restatements – change the original

Example: The government asserted that . . .

Restate the main idea and summarize the main points –

Example: The first key factor is . . . the second is . . ., the

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