General English Module 2

1. Unit-II- Grammar Plus/ Writing Skills 6 Sessions

1.1. Grammar Plus:

 Tenses
 Passive Voice
 Conditionals
1.2. Empower your writing skills:
 Mind Mapping
 Paragraph Writing
 Precise Writing
 Petition Writing
 Opinion Writing.
Simple present (do)
• To talk about universally true statements.
• The sun rises in the east.
• Reena plays piano well
• To talk about hobbies/ actions that occur on a regular basis
• I go for a walk everyday
• Sita plays cricket when she is free.
• Used with the verbs that perform the action they describe
• I agree to help him in every possible way.(agreement)
Other such performative verbs are apologise, assume, deny, guarantee, inform,
predict, promise, recommend, suppose, warn)
• I refuse to believe that he did not know that the car was stolen.
• Used with verbs describing states
 • I enjoy reading books
• The board consists of five members
Other such verbs are agree, assume, regret, hope, have, hate, realize, smell, taste
• While telling a story
• The woman walks into the hotel, carrying a large handbag.
• To report what we have read or heard
The Times of India reports how the train accident occurred.

Present Continuous Tense

• To talk about an event that has begun but has not ended at the time of speaking
She is trying to get through this loss .
• To describe repeated events
Why are you looking here and there?
• To employ a temporary situation
The politicians are distributing blankets to gain votes.
• To describe a temporary state
 I am enjoying this ride.

Present Perfect Tense

• When something has happened in the past but the time is not specified.
I have done my homework.
• when some kind of connection is suggested between the past event and the present time
We have planned a party to celebrate your success.
 When a situation has lasted for long

o It has become so hot since past few years

 When an action or event has occurred a number of times

o The have committed the mistake thrice.

 Reporting about someone’s recent discovery, writing, observation, invention etc.

o Renee has discovered an easier method for multiplication and division of

numbers.

 To talk about things that existed in the past and continue in the present.

 We have known each other for six years.

Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense is used to show that one action in a sentence finishes before a
second action begins. Words like before and after are indicators that the past perfect tense
may be used; however, there are no strict rules for this situation. You must choose the best
verb tense for your sentence.
The past perfect is created by using I had, you had, he/she had, we had, you had or they
had + past participle.
Both of these sentences are correct.
After he tied his shoes, he left the house.

Past Continuous Tense (Past Progressive Tense)

The past continuous tense is used to refer to several temporal situations. It’s made with the
past tense of be + the present participle (the root word = -ing).
Narrative in past tense.
It  was raining . The water was pouring down in sheets and the passersby  were getting wet with
every step, despite their umbrellas.
When one action is happening at the time of another particular time.
It  was raining   at noon.
It  was raining   during lunch.
When one action is happening at the same time as another.
It  was raining   while I  was  out  walking .

Remember not to use the past continuous tense with non-action verbs
like seem andknow. These verbs should use the simple past.

I  was knowing   my neighbour quite well.

I  knew  my neighbour quite well.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense (Past Perfect Progressive

Tense)
The past perfect continuous is written by using the past tense of  have + been + present
participle. It’s used when one activity in the past was happening before or after another
activity had taken place. Look for the words for, since, and before.

The car  had been sitting  in the garage, unused, for a month.
It was 5 o’clock; his parents  had been waiting  for him since 2 o’clock.
Before they immigrated, my father  had been working  as a surgeon and my mother  had been
training  to be a psychiatrist.
We’ d been walking   for only 5 minutes when the rain started.

Remember not to use the past perfect continuous tense with non-action verbs like be,
seem, and know. These verbs should use the past perfect.

The baby  had been being  cranky all night.

The baby  had been  cranky all night.

The Future Tenses

Simple Future Tense
The simple future is the tense we use when something will begin and end later. It’s created
by putting will in front of the root word.

I  will learn   a new language.

Annie  will make  a cake.
The cat  will sleep  all day.
Will   you  come  to the beach with us?
Who  will become  the next president?

Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect is used to talk about an action that will be finished before something
else happens in the future. It’s made by using will + have + the past participle. Look for
key words which suggest the action is in the future, such as later, tomorrow, next
weekand next year.

I promise I  will have  this  finished   by the end of today.

Hopefully, the prospectors  will have found   gold before winter comes.
Will   you  have shaken   that cold by next week, do you think?
We  will have  eaten all the food by the time he arrives.

Remember to check for irregular past participles.

Future Continuous Tense (Future Progressive Tense)
The future continuous relates one action in the future to another specific action or time.
It’s formed this way: will + be + present participle (root word + -ing).

We  will be going  to the gym after work.

Will   you  be joining   us?
At 5 a.m. tomorrow, they  will be departing   Alaska.
I’ ll be returning  home next Thursday.

Remember not to use the future continuous tense with non-action verbs like seem and
know; include be in this list for future continuous tense. These verbs should use the
simple future.

She  will be being   here at 3:00.

She  will be  here at 3:00.

Future Perfect Continuous Tense (Future Perfect

Progressive Tense)
The future perfect continuous tense is used much like the future perfect, but one of the
actions is likely to continue beyond the other. It can also be used when one action will be
continuing at a certain time in the future. Create the future perfect continuous this
way:will + have + been + present participle (root + -ing). Look for key words
like in and by.
In September, I  will have been going  to school for 4/5 of my life.
By 2015, you  will have been living  in Mexico longer than you’ve lived anywhere else.
By the end of this month, she  will have been working  long enough to get benefits.
In three months, they  will have been seeing  each other for a year.

Remember not to use the future perfect continuous tense with non-action verbs like be,
seem and know. These verbs should use the future perfect.

Tomorrow, I  will have been being  here for a week.

Tomorrow, I  will have been  here for a week.
 PASSIVE VOICE FOR ALL TENSES RULES
Present Simple Tense (passive Voice)
Auxiliary verb in passive voice: am/is/are
Passive voice:
Active voice:
A song is sung by him.
He sings a song.
A song is not sung by him.
He does not sing a song.Does he sing asong?
Is a song sung by him?

Present Continuous Tense (passive Voice)

Auxiliary verb in passive voice: am being/is being/are being
Active voice: Passive voice:
I am writing a letter A letter is being written by me.
I am not writing a letter. A letter is not being written by me.
Am I writing a letter? Is a letter being written by me?

Present Perfect Tense (passive Voice)

Auxiliary verb in passive voice: has been/have been
Active voice: Passive voice:
She has finished his work Her work has been finished by her.
She has not finished her work. Her work has not been finished by her.
Has she finished her work? Has her work been finished by her?

Past Simple Tense (passive Voice)

Auxiliary verb in passive voice: was/were
Active voice: Passive voice:
I killed a snake A snake was killed by me.
I did not kill a snake. A snake was not killed by me.
Did I kill a snake? Was a snake killed by me?

Past Continuous Tense (Passive Voice)

Auxiliary verb in passive voice: was being/were being
Active voice: Passive voice:
He was driving a car. A car was being driven by him.
He was not driving a car. A car was not being driven by him.
Was he driving a car? Was a car being driven by him?
 Past Perfect Tense (Passive Voice)
Auxiliary verb in passive voice: had been
Active voice:
They had completed the assignment.
They had not completed the assignment.
Had they completed the assignment?
Passive voice:
The assignment had been completed by them.
The assignment had not been complete by them.
Had the assignment been completed by them?

Future Simple Tense (Passive Voice)

Auxiliary verb in passive voice: will be
Active voice: Passive voice:
She will buy a car. A car will be bought by her.
She will not buy a car. A car will not be bought by her.
Will she buy a car? Will a car be bought by her?

Future Perfect Tense (passive Voice)

Auxiliary verb in passive voice: will have been
Active voice: Passive voice:
You will have started the job. The job will have been started by you.
You will have not started the job. The job will not have been started by you.
Will you have started the job? Will the job have been started by you?
Note: The following tenses cannot be changed into passive voice.

1.  Present perfect continuous tense
2.  Past perfect continuous tense
3.  Future continuous tense
4.  Future perfect continuous tense
5. Sentence having Intransitive verbs

Fundamental Rules

 The places of subject and object in sentence are inter-changed in passive voice.

 3rd form of verb (past participle) will be used only (as main verb) in passive voice.
 Auxiliary verbs for each tense are given below in the table.
 Conditional Sentences
 Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses.
They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only
take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three
types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional Clause and Main Clause

If I have enough money, I will go to America.

Conditional clause Main clause

I will go to America , if I have enough money.

Main clause Conditional clause

• There has to be conditional clause and main clause in the sentence. Irrespective
of its position.

Examples:-

• If he gets the job, he’ll pay you back.

• If I have enough money, I’ll go to France.

• I ‘ll go to France, if I have enough money.

The zero conditional (real conditionals)

• They express something that is CERTAIN or REAL

• The tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present.

• The zero conditional is used for when the time being referred to is now or
always and the situation is real and possible.

• The zero conditional is often used to refer to general facts, universal truths and
personal results in a given situation.

E.g.

If water reaches 212 degree Fahrenheit , it boils.

If you cut my finger, it bleeds.

If I eat junk food, I put on weight.

 If you heat ice, it melts.

First conditional / Type 1

 It refers to possible condition and its probable result

 if clause is in simple present and main clause is in simple future

If + Simple Present tense + will + verb1

If you ask me , I will help you

If it rains today, you will get wet

If I eat too much, I will get fat.

You’ll miss the train if you don’t hurry!

Use:

Nature: Open condition/likely condition

Time: It refers either to present or future time.

Second conditional /Type 2

• It refers to hypothetical conditions and its probable results. ( imagining a dream )

• Both the clauses are unsure. ( if clause and main clause)

If + simple past + would/could/might + v1

If I were the prime minister, I would cut taxes.

If I were you, I wouldn’t tell anybody about this.

If you were me, what would you do? [asking for advice]

Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations.

Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now.

If I had his number, I would call him. ( I don’t have his number now, so its
impossible for me to call him )

• We can also use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to
be true. (May be I am imagining a dream) .

• If I met the queen of England , I would say Hello. ( I probably wont meet her. )

Third conditional / Type 3

• It refers to past time and a situation that is contrary to reality.

• It refers to a situation that didn’t happen.

E.g:- if you had studied harder, you would have passed the exam. ( but you didn’t
study and you didn’t pass)

If + past perfect + would/could/might have + v3 (past participle)

If I hadn’t eaten so much, I wouldn’t have got so fat

If you had gone to bed early you would have caught the train( but you didn’t and
didn’t catch the train)

If it had rained , you would have gotten wet.

If I hadn’t gone to the party, I would have never met my husband.

Nature: unreal/impossible

Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past.)
e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But
you didn't, and I have).

Difference between Type 2 / Type 1

• Type 2 – This is lot more unlikely.

If I had enough money I would buy a house with 50 rooms. ( I am probably not
going to have this much money ( its just a dream)

 Type 1 – if I have enough money, I will buy

new shoes ( its much more likely that I will have enough money to buy new
shoes )

Type 1 is much more likely in comparison to type 2

The difference between the second & third conditional

 If I knew his phone number, I would call him.

(But I don’t know the number, so I can’t call him)

 If I had known his phone number, I would have called him.

(But I didn’t know the number, so I couldn’t call him.)

 The second conditional: refers to present time

The third conditional: refers to past time

Remember!
1. The conditional construction does not normally use will or would in if-clauses.
EXCEPTION: If ‘will or would’ express willingness, as in requests, they can be
used in if-clauses.

Ex:  If you will come this way, the manager will see you now.
I would be grateful if you would give me a little help.

2. For second conditional, were replaces was:

If I were a rich man...

3. Instead of if not, we can use unless.

I'll be back tomorrow unless there is a plane strike.

He'll accept the job unless the salary is too low.

Summing Up

Conditional Sentence Type 1

 → It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.

 Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future

 Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.

 more on Conditional Sentences Type I ►

 Conditional Sentence Type 2

 → It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.

 Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

 Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

 Conditional Sentence Type 3
 → It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the
past.

 Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

 Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

Exceptions
Sometimes Conditional Sentences Type I, II and III can also be used with other
tenses.
 Paragraph Writing
What is a paragraph?
• A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. Learning to
write good paragraphs will help you as a writer stay on track during your drafting and
revision stages. Good paragraphing also greatly assists your readers in following a piece
of writing. You can have fantastic ideas, but if those ideas aren't presented in an
organized fashion, you will lose your readers (and fail to achieve your goals in writing)
• A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. Learning to
write good paragraphs will help you as a writer stay on track during your drafting and
revision stages. Good paragraphing also greatly assists your readers in following a piece
of writing. You can have fantastic ideas, but if those ideas aren't presented in an
organized fashion, you will lose your readers (and fail to achieve your goals in writing)
•

Elements of a paragraph
• Unity
The entire paragraph should concern itself with a single focus. If it begins with one focus
or major point of discussion, it should not end with another or wander within different
ideas.
• Coherence
Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. You
can help create coherence in your paragraphs by creating logical bridges and verbal
bridges.
Ideal paragraph structure

A topic sentence
A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates in a general way what idea or thesis the
paragraph is going to deal with. Although not all paragraphs have clear-cut topic
sentences, and despite the fact that topic sentences can occur anywhere in the paragraph
(as the first sentence, the last sentence, or somewhere in the middle), an easy way to
make sure your reader understands the topic of the paragraph is to put your topic sentence
near the beginning of the paragraph. (This is a good general rule for less experienced
writers, although it is not the only way to do it). Regardless of whether you include an
explicit topic sentence or not, you should be able to easily summarize what the paragraph
is about.
 Some methods to make sure your paragraph is well-
developed:
• Use examples and illustrations
• Cite data (facts, statistics, evidence, details, and others)
• Examine testimony (what other people say such as quotes and paraphrases)
• Use an anecdote or story
• Define terms in the paragraph
• Compare and contrast
• Evaluate causes and reasons
• Examine effects and consequences
• Analyze the topic
• Describe the topic
• Offer a chronology of an event (time segments)

Approach towards paragraph framing

Inductive approach
An inductive paragraph begins with either evidence or reasons leading to the
statement of the Writer’s claim at the end of the paragraph. Inductive paragraphs are
therefore ‘conclusion-oriented’. The main conclusion is the most important part of the
reasoning and usually comes at the end of a paragraph.
Example
Oceans have ingredients which can benefit human health. Several important medical
treatments are based on chemicals discovered in marine animals. On the other hand,
increasingly common phenomena such as harmful algal blooms have demonstrated their
negative impact on human health. The health of marine ecosystems is affected by human
activities such as pollution, global warming, and over fishing. But at the same time,
human health depends on thriving ocean ecosystems. We need a better understanding of
the many ways marine organisms affect human health, both positively by providing drugs
and bio-products, and negatively by causing human ailments.

What is a Deductive paragraph?

In a deductive paragraph, the claim is usually provided in the first sentence of the
paragraph. The sentence containing the claim, which is the main point of the paragraph,
is often referred to as the ‘topic sentence’. The topic sentence is then developed in the
rest of the paragraph with evidence and reasoning supporting the initial claim.
Example
Beneficial and harmful links exist between human health and ocean health. While several
important medical treatments are based on chemicals discovered in marine animals,
increasingly common phenomena such as harmful algal blooms have demonstrated their
negative impact on human health. The health of marine ecosystems is affected by human
activities such as pollution, global warming, and over fishing. But human health in turn
depends on thriving ocean ecosystems
 Mind Mapping
Mind mapping is a highly effective way of getting information in and out of your brain.
Mind mapping is a creative and logical means of note-taking and note-making that literally
"maps out" your ideas.
All Mind Maps have some things in common. They have a natural organizational structure
that radiates from the center and use lines, symbols, words, color and images according to
simple, brain-friendly concepts. Mind mapping converts a long list of monotonous
information into a colorful, memorable and highly organized diagram that works in line with
your brain's natural way of doing things.
One simple way to understand a Mind Map is by comparing it to a map of a city. The
city center represents the main idea; the main roads leading from the center represent the key
thoughts in your thinking process; the secondary roads or branches represent your secondary
thoughts, and so on. Special images or shapes can represent landmarks of interest or
particularly relevant ideas.
The great thing about mind mapping is that you can put your ideas down in any order,
as soon as they pop into your head. You are not constrained by thinking in order. Simply,
throw out any and all ideas, then worry about reorganizing them later.

The Five Essential Characteristics of Mind Mapping:

 The main idea, subject or focus is crystallized in a central image
 The main themes radiate from the central image as 'branches'
 The branches comprise a key image or key word drawn or printed on its associated
line
 Topics of lesser importance are represented as 'twigs' of the relevant branch
 The branches form a connected nodal structure

How to Make a Mind Map

 Think of your general main theme and write that down in the center of the
page. i.e. Food
 Figure out sub-themes of your main concept and draw branches to them from
the center, beginning to look like a spider web i.e. Meats, Dairy, Breads
 Make sure to use very short phrases or even single words
 Add images to invoke thought or get the message across better
 Try to think of at least two main points for each sub-theme you created and
create branches out to those
Sample Mind maps
 Precis Writing
Precis writing is an exercise in compression. A precis is the gist of a passage expressed in as
few words as possible. A precis should give all essential points so that anyone reading it will
be able to understand the idea expressed in the original passage.

Note that precis writing is different from paraphrasing. In a paraphrase you should give all the
details: you should not leave out any details. A paraphrase will be at least as long and
sometimes longer than the original. A precis, on the other hand, must always be shorter than
the original. It should express only the main theme that too as briefly as possible.
How long should a precis be?

There are no rigid rules regarding the length of a precis. But as a general rule, it should not
contain more than a third of the total number of words in the original passage.

PRECIS WRITING:
Writing a precis means making an intelligent summary of a long passage. To write a precis
one should have a clear understanding of the passage.

Some general considerations :

 Learn with shortening in your words, text of written work useful writing tips, essential
thoughts, ideas or fact on how to write a precis writing format
with preciswritingexamples.wordpress.com.

 It is generally accepted that a precis should be a third of the passage given. If the
original passage has 300 words, the precis should not be more than 110 words in
length.

 A precis should be in the language of the precis-writer. The original passage is not to
be reduced in length by just removing unimportant or unnecessary sentences and by
reproducing the rest as the precis. It should be a brief gist or summary of the passage
expressed in the writer’s own words.

 A precis should be full i.e. it should contain all the essential thoughts, ideas or fact in
the original passage. It should not contain repetitions or observations that are not
relevant to the main theme of the original.

 A precis is always written in Reported Speech. The passage given may be a speech
made by a person in Direct Speech, but the precis is to be in Reported Speech and in the
Third Person and in the Past tense.

Techniques of Precis – Writing

There three kinds of work to be done in producing a clear and successful precis.

They are (1) Reading, (2) Writing and (3) Revision.

Reading
Read the passage carefully
If one reading is not enough to give you a general idea of its meaning, then read it a second
time. As you read, find out the subject or the theme of the passage and what is said about the
subject.

It will be a good thing if you find out the lead or the topic sentence. The lead sentence will
help you to see the subject clearly. It will also help you to think of a title for the precis
example.

Further reading may be necessary at this stage to make sure that the details of the passage are
also understood. Read the passage more slowly this time, even sentence by sentence, and
make sure that everything in the passage is understood. If this is not done, it is likely that you
will miss something important, especially if it is expressed by a short phrase or a single word.

Now comes the process of selection. The writer of the precis writing passages has to decide
what facts or ideas in the passage are essential and what are of secondary or no importance.
Taking the main ideas of the passages as your point of reference, it should not be too difficult
to write out the important points in the original in a corner of your writing work sheet.
Writing

Writing

You should first prepare a draft of the precis, keeping in mind, the need to reduce he original
to one-third its length. The main thoughts expressed in the passage, the ideas it contains, the
opinions presented and the conclusion arrived at should figure in the rough draft. Unimportant
things like the names of people and places and dates should not figure in it.

It may so happen that your first draft is too long or that it sounds rather jerky. Shorten it if
necessary and write out a careful second draft during college preparation. Sometimes you may
need to work out three or even four drafts, but with reasonable care and concentration, you
should normally succeed in producing a good precis writing by the second draft.

Remember that a precis or essay is a connected whole and that it should read smoothly and
continuously, Get more advice and tips for more study tips for online education sites.
Revision
When you have made your second (or final) draft, carefully revise it before writing out the
fair copy. Look for many mistakes or slips in grammar or spelling and correct them. Don’t
forge to give your precis a title for precis writing examples.

Essential Features of a precis:

 Clarity, which means your reader should understand what a writer intended to
convey. Achieve it through using simple language and structure of your precis.

 Correctness, which means you should watch spelling, grammar, and punctuation you
use, as well as facts, figures, and dates you address.

 Objectivity, which means candid construal of the information. Don’t give your
opinion in a précis.

 Coherence, which means the logical interconnection of the original’s ideas. Your
audience shouldn’t lose their interest while reading.

 Conciseness: which means avoiding unnecessary details in your précis. Don’t omit
essential facts but avoid wordy expressions, repetitions, wateriness, etc.

Sample precis:

Sandra M. Gilbert, professor of English at the University of California, Davis, in her

essay  “Plain Jane’s Progress”  (1977), suggests that Charlotte Brontë intended Jane Eyre to
resemble John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress in that Jane’s pilgrimage through a series of
events based on the enclosure and escape motif eventually lead toward the equality that
Brontë herself sought. Gilbert supports this conclusion by using the structure of the novel to
highlight the places Jane has been confined, the changes she undergoes during the process of
escape, and the individuals and experiences that lead to her maturation concluding that “this
marriage of true minds at Ferndean – this is the way” (501). Her purpose is to help readers
see the role of women in Victorian England in order to help them understand the uniqueness
and daring of Brontë’s work. She establishes a formal relationship with her audience of
literary scholars interested in feminist criticism who are familiar with the work of Brontë,
Bunyan, Lord Byron and others and are intrigued by feminist theory as it relates to Victorian
literature.

Source: Winthrop.edu

Petition Writing

How to Write Petition Letter

Writing a petition letter would have been a tough task, if a social and information tool like
Internet did not exist. To add to this support, site like ours specialise in guiding you towards
this effect. To begin with a Petition letter is composed of two essential elements – The content
(issue, problem etc.) and the list of signatures (supporting individuals). The other thing to
keep in mind is the format which includes the essentials of any formal letter like - the
addressee, the sender, the salutations, sign offs and so on. Refer to the sections below for easy
approach to petition letters.

Petition Letter Format 1

Title_of_the_Petition
Organisation Letterhead (can be placed before or after the title)
OR
Your_Name
Your Address (can be positioned to the left, right or centre)
Recipient'sOrganisation
Recipient's Name 
Recipient's Address (can be positioned to the left, right or centre)
Date (can be positioned to the left, right or centre, before/after or at the start)
Re or Sub (as required)
Dear Recipient (Salutation)
1st Paragraph - Details of the petition 
2nd Paragraph - Reason for petition, it’s outcomes etc
3rd Paragraph - Call for action i.e. request for early action
 
Subscription - Thanking you, yours sincerely etc. 
Your Signature
Your Typed First Name Last Name
Your Designation (as required)

ENCL (as required) stands for ‘Enclosure’

Format 2:

At the beginning of the petition, briefly summarize your cause.

Include specific information about the following:

● What you’re hoping the petition will accomplish

● The reason you’re starting this petition

● What you would like the recipient of your petition to do

Then, leave room for signatures.

Address Phone Signatur Voter
Name e
How to Start a Petition Letter
 Effective Title – A petition with an effective title is the first and foremost attempt to
make an impression on the recipient. It is the first thing that will be looked at and it is
the first thing you should work on.

The title should be:

1. Short
2. Informative
3. Easily understood
4. Easy to relate
5. Awe inspiring
6. Action initiating
7. Curiosity generator
8. Rhyming
9. Relative to your Goal

A title may not contain all these qualities but a few or one will also do good. The goal of the
title is to generate interest in the letter and the petition itself.  
Some of the Petition Letter Titles:

1. Mumbai for horses: Ban victorias/horse carriages. Sign the petiton!

2. Indian Politicians: Stop bickering about Presidents and get down to some nation
building
3. Tell Delta: Union Busting Won't Fly
4. Dolce & Gabbana: Stop the Killer Jeans
5. Sign Here to Stop Circus Cruelty!
6. Pledge to Help End Cruelty in Circuses
7. Kick the Bucket! Sign Pink’s Petition against KFC

 Follow the Format – After the title, there are certain formal structures which are to be
included. These are - Current Date, Recipients Name, Recipients Address and
Salutation. Please refer to the petition letter format and template for further assistance.
 Opening Statement – Influence the recipientin the opening itself. Your title has to be
sustained by an appropriate opening statement. The initial sentences should state the
purpose of the letter clearly. You can start with a simple request or state the issue with an
appealing request. You can use quotes or phrases towards this effect.

Some of the opening words can be:

1. A heartfelt appeal
2. Words do fall short of the gravity
3. Even the Lord seems to have no answer
4. For the sake of the
5. Denied to the deserving
6. It is unlike any humane society
7. Cruelty that will shatter
8. Fear that rules the streets
9. The fact that 1 in every 1000
10. Just about 10 percent receive

It can be emotional charged statement, a factual one or a mix of both.  But don’t over
emphasise these as it can be counterproductive.  

 Drafting – Drafting is a rough letter before you actually start the final one. Use the
information of the outline and divide into short paragraphs. Since it is a draft write
whatever comes in your mind irrespective of grammar, paragraph structure,
punctuation, spelling etc. sentence and. Then read it aloud to yourself. How does it
sound? Go through the contents again and refer them with the outline and your
objective. The major objective of drafting is to have a concise matter for the final
letter and to make sure that your thoughts and ideas are conveyed in a cohesive
manner.

 Be Direct – As your letter is a request you cannot meander here and there. You have
to come to the point in the beginning itself. But it doesn’t mean you have to be blunt,
by direct means that you have to be specific about the issue at hand. Don’t divert the
reader’s mind in any unrelated matter. Your language should be simple yet effective
so that it comes across easy.

 Be Specific - While there are many examples, the letter focuses on one story that
really embodies the need for change. If an appeal or request depends on particular
facts which the decision maker will want to verify, be specific.

 Be Factual – A petition has to be factual and avoid dramatizing the issue. You don’t
need to tell a tale. You have to describe in a factual manner. Emotionally laced words
can be irritating and burdening on the recipient. For example – ‘I was denied a ticket
in the first class. It was discriminatory and there was nothing that I could do about it.’
 This sentence is a factual one. The dramatised version would be – ‘I was not given the
first class ticket, I felt prejudiced and I felt helpless’.

 Give Solid Reasons – Provide solid reasons so that they have a strong effect. Lame
excuses will not bear any fruit but an improvised weak appeal can get the work done.
Explain to the reader why your appeal is important? Why should they get involved?
Why should they agree with you? These strong ‘Why’s’ need a strong ‘Answer’.
Showcase ‘The Before and After Scenario’. Establish a connection of the issue with
the reader. Give simple reasons with which the reader can relate easily. Project an
image of well being and peace; it appeals to all. This will garner more support.

 Supportive Argument – The information that you collected in the initial stage is
meant to be utilised to give evidence and support your argument. By referencing the
newspaper articles, research papers, videos, images are all evidences from reputable
sources. These cannot be denied and cannot be repulsed as they themselves are
established facts. This also establishes   credibility, authority, sincerity and proves the
righteousness of the petition.

 Keep it Short – As an experienced observance, a lengthy text requires more time to

read and understand. In this ‘Make Quick World’ short is the preferred option. When
your petition doesn’t require a long description, why to offer it at all? There is an
issue, a solution and a support. The recipients do mind reading that extra paragraph.
But if you cannot shorten it make it interesting so that it is read till the last paragraph.
You should know what exactly the recipient requires and provide it in a shortest and
effective way.

 Typed – A formal letter is always typed or printed, same is the case with a petition
letter. Print your letter with fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman. Don’t use fancy
fonts which may not be legible to the reader. Use the proper size of font to suit the
need in lieu of paper size. You can also print on the envelope for added effect.

 Be Polite – Avoid personal attacks, vulgar or hostile language. Threatening, cajoling,

begging, pleading, flattery and making extravagant promises sound manipulative.
Maintain a polite tone throughout your letter as you are requesting and not ordering.

 Documentation – Attach important documents which serve as reference or as

evidence. In letter communication it is known as ‘Enclosure’. These documents’ can
be pictures, videos, audio, copies of regulations and any other material which is
supportive or required to establish the genuineness of the matter. Provide
identification of the documents through marks or circles so that they can be easily
comprehended. Do not send the originals and keep copies of all matter for future
reference.

 Sum it Up – Summing up the letter involves proofreading and revising. It is the final
 step before you post the letter. Check your grammar, spellings, sentence formation and
structure. Ensure use of active voice instead of a passive voice as the former has a
commanding appeal. Check the accuracy, clarity and a sense of completeness of your
paragraphs. Don’t forget call for action and place in the right sized envelope.

 Timely Action – To be successful, a petition letter must be delivered in time.  Certain

issues are sensitive and require immediate action. Certain issues tend to pale and stale
if they are not backed. To get a desired result always deliver the letters in advance so
that there is plenty of response time.