TOPIC SIX WRITING SKILLS Writing skills are very

TOPIC SIX: WRITING SKILLS - Writing skills are very important in written communication and expression of ideas. 1

. . WRITING SKILLS… - Organizing and writing down your thoughts is important for succeeding in school, your job and even your personal life. 2

6. 1 PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT What is a paragraph? - Is a group of sentences or a single sentence that form a unit and gives the intended meaning. - Length is not a factor in determining whether a section in a paper is a paragraph. 3

… PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT. . - In fact it is not the number of sentences that make a paragraph, but it is the UNITY and COHERENCE of ideas among those sentences that make a paragraph. 4

STAGES IN PARAGRAPH WRITING 1. PREWRITING A PARAGRAPH: a. Organize your ideas. b. Think carefully about what you are going to write. c. Collect your ideas related to your topic d. What other things should be included? 5

STAGES IN PARAGRAPH WRITING e. Identify the main idea of your paragraph. Choose the most important point. f. Organize your facts and ideas to develop your topic. Find the best way to tell the reader about it. 6

STAGES IN PARAGRAPH WRITING 2. WRITE YOUR PARAGRAPH This is the writing stage when you turn your ideas into sentences. - Write a topic sentence, some supporting sentences and closing sentences. 7

STAGES IN PARAGRAPH WRITING - Make sure sentences are clear, simple and they express what you really mean. - Focus on the main idea of your paragraph. - Rewrite what you wrote and see if the idea is clear 8

STAGES IN PARAGRAPH WRITING 3. EDIT YOUR PARAGRAPH -Check your paragraph for mistakes and correct them -Check your grammar and spelling. - See if your paragraph is interesting to read. 9

TRANSITIONAL SIGNALS - Transitional signals can be compared to traffic signals. - They are words that tell you to go forward, to turn to slow down or to stop. - They help you to follow your ideas coherently. 10

TYPES OF TRANSITIONAL SIGNALS i. Words that show Addition: they aid the writer to present two or more ideas that continue along the same line of thought. Eg. And, also, another, in addition, moreover, first of all, furthermore, finally, etc 11

…TYPES OF TRANSITIONAL SIGNALS… ii. Words that show time: They indicate a time relationship. Eg. First, then, often, since, immediately, before, after, soon, as, now, until, previously, while, during, next, frequently, etc. 12

…TYPES OF TRANSITIONAL SIGNALS… iii. Words that show contrast: They signal a change in the direction of the writer’s though. Eg. But, however, yet, although, in contrast, instead, still instead of, despite, on the other hand, on the contrary, etc. 13

…TYPES OF TRANSITIONAL SIGNALS… iv. Words that show comparison: Words that show a similarity between two subjects. eg. Like, as, just like, equally, similarly, in as similar fashion, in the same way, etc 14

…TYPES OF TRANSITIONAL SIGNALS… v. Words that show illustrations: used by a writer to provide an example to clarify a given idea. Eg. For instance, to illustrate, such as, to be specific, including, etc 15

…TYPES OF TRANSITIONAL SIGNALS… vi. Words that show location: words that show relationship in space. Eg. Next to, in front of, below, between, inside, outside, opposite, on top of, across, on the other side, ahead of, near, behind, etc 16

…TYPES OF TRANSITIONAL SIGNALS… vii. Words that show Cause and Effect: Words used to describe the result of something. Eg, because, if…then, as a result, consequently, accordingly, therefore, etc. 17

…TYPES OF TRANSITIONAL SIGNALS… viii. Words that summarize or conclude: words used to sum up the idea. Eg. In summary, in conclusion, in short, all in all, in brief, on other words, to conclude, to sum up, etc 18