WRITING FORM THREE

WRITING FORM THREE

 WRITING FORM THREE:BUILDING SENTENCE SKILLS AND PARAGRAPHING

COHESION IN PARAGRAPHS

• Cohesion refers to how a group of sentences “hang together.”
• Consider the paragraph below:

Some astonishing questions about the nature of the universe have been raised by scientists studying black holes in space. A black hole is created by the collapse of a dead star into a point perhaps no larger than a marble. So much matter compressed into so little volume changes the fabric of space around it in puzzling ways.

 USING TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES

• Transitions are words or phrases that specify a relationship between sentences and between paragraphs.
• They help direct the reader from one idea to another.
• Below are some common transitional words:

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WRITING FORM THREE

 PUNCTUATION

The Colon

• The colon expands on the sentence that precedes it, often introducing a list that demonstrates or elaborates whatever was previously stated.

Examples

• There are three things I hate: eating while walking, being late for the lesson, and being abused.
• She brought various fruits: bananas, mangoes, guavas, and apples.
• Your problem is one: talking too much.

• The colon is also used to divide the hour from the minutes in writing a time in English.

Examples

• 12:30
• 11:10

THE SEMICOLON

• The semicolon is somewhere between a full stop and a comma.
• Semicolons can be used  to join phrases and sentences that are thematically linked without having to use a conjunction, for example,

I did not go out; it was raining.

Jane is tall; Albert is short.

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DASHES

• Dashes can be used to add parenthetical statements or comments in much the same way as you would use brackets.
• In formal writing you should use the bracket rather than the dash as a dash is considered less formal.
• Dashes can be used to create emphasis in a sentence.

Examples

• He might emerge the winner – you can’t tell..
• She might come to the party – you never know.

PERSONAL WRITING

• REMINDERS
• We keep track of everything we need to do.
• Your reminder will help you get things done by including relevant information like phone numbers.
• A reminder helps one remember important occasions and appointments.

Sample Reminder 1

Sample Reminder 2

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• Personal Journals

As discussed earlier.

1. SOCIAL WRITING

• NOTES OF THANKS
• A Thank You Note is thoughtful way to express your gratitude and appreciation for someone who has done something great for you.
• The note doesn’t have to be long to be meaningful. Your thoughts count more.

Elements of a Thank You Note

1. Date
2. Salutation
3. Personalizing the note. Think of one or two specific instances when you were helped by the person.
4. Concluding the note. Say thank you again to the person.
5. Sign

Sample Thank You Note

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CONGRATULATORY NOTES

• We always recognize the accomplishments by others.
• Writing a congratulatory note adds warmth to the relationships.
• We write congratulations notes incase of the following achievements:
• Promotion(job, class)
• Retirement
• Graduation
• New title
• New job
• Scholarship
• Successful speech
• Birth
• Engagement
• Marriage
• Winning competition

The Dos when Writing Congratulations Note

• Write soon after hearing the news.
• Use the word “congratulations” early.
• Tell the person how impressed you are.
• Express your wishes for the person’s continued success.

Steps to Writing Congratulatory Note

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Exercise

Juma Maxwel, your elser brother has just got a new job after working in another company for two years. In his new place of work he will be receiving twice the salary he used to be offered in the previous company. Write him a note congratulating him.

• Condolences Notes
• Writing a condolence note is not an easy thing to do. This is because we often don’t know what to say. Because of this, we may even put the task off until the time to write has seemingly passed.
• In a condolence note, we reflect our genuine thoughts and feelings.
• Keep your message short yet thoughtful.
• Try as much as possible to mention a fond or funny memory of the deceased if you knew them.

Steps to Writing Condolence Note

• Introduce your note. Example,

I was deeply saddened when I learned about Joan’s passing.

Or

I was deeply saddened by the news of Joan’s passing.

Or

We are very saddened to hear your recent loss of Joan.

• Express your condolences, referring to the person’s death as a “loss”. For example,

Please accept my heartfelt sympathies for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.

• Share a short story or memory you have about the deceased. It will allow the bereaved know how much their loved ones meant to you. Probably it will give them a reason to at least smile if not to laugh. If possible, tell them that the deceased will be missed. For example,

Joan was a source of inspiration to me. I will never forget her!

Or

Joan spent her time serving others. I am very grateful o have known her.

If you don’t know the person who has passed, you may say:

I will always remember your stories about…..

Or

I will always remember how much you loved ….

• Acknowledge the cause of death especially if it comes after a long period of suffering or illness. For example,

I know Joan experienced a great deal of suffering since she was diognosed with cancer. I pray that you find comfort in knowing that she is no longer in any pain.

• Offer some assistance. Give specific ways in which you would like to help. For example,

In this stressful moment, please let me know whether I can help in any way. I would like to ……….

• Sum up your note using an appropriate phrase. You can choose from the list below:
• You are in my thoughts
• With Deepest Sympathy
• With Heartfelt Condolences,
• Thinking of you
• My sincere sympathy
• I’m praying for you

WRITING FORM THREE

Exercise

Your friend’s sister has passed on following the road accident on the eve of the new year. That same day you spend most of the time with her before she meets her tragedy. Write a note to Angela expressing how you feel about the sudden death of Mary, her sister.

• TELEGRAMS
• A telegram is a text message sent by wire using Morse code.
• The codes are transcribed into language and printed.
• Telegrams can be sent all over the world within a couple of hours.

1. Wording telegrams

• The right way of wording is economical, while the wrong way is wasteful.
• Avoid unnecessary words—words that might be omitted without impairing the sense of the message.

2. Writing figures

• The suffixes ‘th’, ‘rd’, ‘nd’ appended to figures are counted as words.
• Spell the words as ‘fourth’ instead of ‘4^th ’etc.

3. Get rid of small connecting words such as ‘a’, ‘the, etc’.
4. Make use of sharp sentences and phrases.

Sample Telegram

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Exercise

Your sister who lives in Chicago, USA, has delivered of a baby girl. Write her a telegram congratulating her on arrival of the new baby.

2. PUBLIC WRITING

• Letters of Application
• Also known as cover letter, a letter of application is a document sent together with your curriculum vitae to provide additional information on your skills to your prospective employer.
• Detailed information on why you are qualified for the job should be provided.
• This letter will let your prospective employer know what position you are applying for.

Letter of Application Format

In the table that follows, all that should be included in a letter of application are captured.

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Sample Letter of Application

WRITING FORM THREE

Exercise

A job has just been advertised. You have been a doctor for three years. When you see this advert you feel like you have to apply for the job. Write your curriculum vitae you will attached in your letter of application.

3. STUDY WRITING

• SYNOPSIS
• Synopsis answers the question: What is the story of the novel, play, etc?
• Just write what happens in the book.
• Often not long, so try to capture only pertinent details.
• Go into the detail about the setting.

The River and the Source Synopsis

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Exercise

Assume you are the author of “Caucasian Chalk Circle”. The play has not been published. When you ask the publishers to publish it, they tell you to write the synopsis of the play before they consider publishing it. Write its synopsis.

REPORTS

• A report is a systematic, well organized document which defines a problem, and analyses it.
• Reports are written following research or study on a currently trending topic.
• There are short and long reports.
• A report has sections, and sub sections
• There are elements found in both the short and the long reports. They include:
• Heading
• Here we include things such as:
• Date
• Officer to whom the report is presented
• Committee members (if done as a group)
• Terms of reference. This is where we write the objective of the study.
• Methods of data collection. How the information was gathered is discussed here. The different methods of collecting data are use of:
• Questionnaires
• Observation
• Interviews
• State what you learned.
• Conclusions
• State how the findings can help improve the situation.
• Reports are always:
• Accurate;
• Concise;
• Clear; and
• Well structured.

WRITING FORM THREE

Sample Report

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Exercise

It has been noted that students at Kinya High abuse drugs. The deputy principal calls you one day and asks you to form a committee to investigate the causes of drug abuse at your school. Write the report to contain:

• Introduction
• Three methods of data collection
• Four findings
• Four conclusions
• Four recommendations.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS

• The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.
• The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following.

• A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.

In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set the context by reviewing the topic in a general way.

• Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.

Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up the idea from the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow in the next section.

• Body paragraphs that include evidential support.

Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general idea.

• Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).

The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current information to support the thesis statement and consider other points of view.

• A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.

Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include a short discussion of more research that should be completed in light of your work.

4. INSTITUTIONAL WRITING

NOTIFICATIONS OF MEETINGS

• A notice of meeting is sent to members of a particular group to inform them of the:
• Time of the meeting
• Date of the meeting
• Location of the meeting
• Information to be discussed. This is where the agenda come.

Writing a Notice of Meeting

To write a good notice of meeting, follow the steps that follow:

• Write the name of the organization/institution at the top of the page.
• Write “Notice of Meeting” a few lines down. Write “Notice of Public Meeting” if your meeting will be open to the public.
• Below write the name of the group.
• In the body of the notice, include such things like:
• Time of the meeting
• Date of the meeting
• Location of the meeting
• Agenda of the meeting
• Any pertinent information
• Sign off

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Sample Notice of Meeting

Exercise

You are the school head prefect. You want to call for the urgent  prefects’ meeting.  Notify them of the meeting.

AGENDA

• An agenda is the list of activities in a meeting and the order in which they should be taken up.
• Any organized meeting requires a well written agenda.
• If the agenda is not clearly written, the result will be that the meeting will become over-long, inefficient, or even slog.
• Agenda is written and handed to the members participating in a meeting prior to the meeting.
• Most secretaries prefer including the agenda in the notice of meetings.

Steps to Writing an Agenda

• Write the name of the institution. If possible, have a the institution letterhead.
• Give your agenda a title. Write “AGENDA”, “MEETING” and the name of the group to hold the meeting.
• Include the date, time, and venue of the meeting.
• Introduce your agenda.
• List the items to be discussed. Start with preliminaries, then reading and confirmation of previous minutes, followed by matters arising(some people write: unfinished business), then list all the other items to be discussed. From there add “any other business” and lastly, “adjournment”.

Sample Agenda Note to Group Members

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• MINUTE WRITING
• Minutes of what is discussed is written soon after the meeting.
• During the meeting, the secretary only takes notes.
• Minutes are the official records of a group in an organization.
• It is crucial that they be accurate as they are legal record of the proceedings of that group.

Minutes Format

Sample Minutes

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WRITING FORM THREE

• MEMORANDA
• A memorandum is a brief written message sent from one person or department, to another person or a group in an organization.
• A memo has twofold purpose:
• It brings attention to a problem; and
• It solves that problem.
• They inform the reader about new information such as price increases, or by persuading them to take an action.

Memo Format

ALL MATHEMATICS NOTES FORM 1-4 WITH TOPICAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

PRIMARY NOTES, SCHEMES OF WORK AND EXAMINATIONS