Unit 2:

FUNDAMENTALS OF
WRITING
Lesson 6:
Principles of effective
WRITING

INTRODUC
TION

Hi dear learners!
In the previous lesson, you have learned about critical reading skills. In this
module, you will discover the importance of effective writing and why it is the
most challenging macro skill to learn.
 OBJECTIVE
S
By the end of the lesson, you will have been able to;
 Identify the components and structure of an effective essay
 identify the cohesive, coherent, language and mechanics features used in texts
and
 write an essay that reflects properties of a well – written text.

PRELIMINARY
ACTIVITY
Fill-in-the-Blanks
Construct a composition using the sentences below. You may choose any sentence as a starting
point for your writing. Make sure that you would be able to use all the given sentences.
Nothing justifies the existence of ____________________
Age is composed of____________________
The whole world belongs to__________________
Love disguises itself as______________________
Wouldn't it be beautiful to_________________
Small invisible things are___________________
Today the sun is made of______________________
The poem I'll never write begins_______________

DISCUSS
ION
Introduction—typically the first paragraph of your paper. The goal of your
introduction is to let your reader know what he or she can expect from your paper
which prepares the audience to read the essay. An effective introduction should:
 Catch the reader’s attention, which can be done, for
example, by using a direct announcement, a quotation, a
question, a definition, an unusual comparison, or a
controversial position;
 Introduce the topic of the essay, (in other words, inform
the reader of and provide a context for the topic being
discussed);
 Introduce the main idea (otherwise known as thesis or
claim) of the essay;
 Introduce the purpose of the essay (inform, argue,
persuade, describe, narrate, etc.).

Body— is where the main ideas are developed, sources are brought in to support
the said main ideas, then the overall argument is made, which develop the main
idea (thesis or claim) of the essay. An effective body paragraph should:

 Explain, illustrate, discuss, or provide evidence to support the main idea (thesis
or claim) of the essay;
 Discuss only one aspect of the main idea (whenever you move on to a new
supporting point, start a new body paragraph);

 Work together with the other body paragraphs to support your essay’s
main idea;

https://www.slideshare.net/guestb9454e5/ 1
 Work together
with the other body paragraphs to create a clear, cohesive paper (clarity
and coherence can
https://www.slideshare.net/guestb9454e5/ 2
be achieved
through the use of transitions).

Conclusion— works to remind your reader of the main points of your paper and
summarizes what you want your reader to “take away” from your discussion,
which brings the essay to a logical end.
An effective conclusion should:

 Provide closure for the reader by

reviewing main points (make sure that
this review is brief – after all, these
points have already been fully
developed in the body paragraphs),
linking the main https://www.slideshare.net/guestb9454e5/ 3
idea of the essay to a larger issue,
predicting an outcome related to the
main idea, giving an opinion, or using
a quotation that helps sum up an essential aspect of your main point;
 Remind readers of the primary focus of the essay, which can be done by
restating the main idea in different words;
 Avoid introducing new ideas;
 Avoid apologies.

Properties of a well-written text

Coherence and cohesion make your text easier for your readers to follow and
understand. Cohesion is the connection of
ideas to the central concept of a text.
Coherence is the relationship of ideas between
sentences. Both should be present in your text
because having one without the other will still
create confusion for readers. A text with both cohesion and coherence has a central
concept linking all the ideas in the text, and these ideas are presented in a logical
manner. The main point is clear, and the text is easy to follow and understand.
Example: International Women’s Day is celebrated on the 8th of March of every
year. It began as a Socialist political event in several Western countries. Then,
other countries also started celebrating the holiday just as a way to express their
love for women. Currently, the United Nations observes the holiday as a way to
bring to light women’s issues around the world.
The main topic of the text is International Women’s Day, which was stated in the
first sentence. The paragraph proceeds to outline the history of the holiday starting
from some Western countries and its spread to other nations. It ends with the
current way that the whole world celebrates the day. The writer can present
different ideas about the holiday in a logical manner and without veering away
from the topic.

Text organization is the way a text is organized that

helps to guide the reader logically through it. This
property makes a text readable and its message clear.
Example: Marxist ideology has three main theories.
Historical materialism purports that all the features
of society can historically be traced back to economic
activity. Social class in capitalist societies is what produces unjust structures of
power that exist today. Socialism would be the next rational step for the
development of human society.
The words in bold are the three most important Marxist theories that the first
sentence is referring to. By emphasizing these words, the reader can identify the
correct term for the concepts along with their definitions; this would also aid in
remembering the theories since they stick out from the rest of the text.

Language Use is important that you

make good choices when it comes to
language use because how you use
language affects the tone of the text
and the readers’ interpretation of it.
Before writing, you have to think about
and consider your target audience.
Determine when it is appropriate to use formal language or when informal
language is acceptable. Informal language is usually used in writing for oneself or
in writing to family, friends, and colleagues. On the other hand, formal language is
used in writing academic, business, and official texts.

Mechanics is the technical aspect of writing. The following

should be observed in academic and more formal texts.
1. Always use standard English.
2. Avoid contractions (e.g. shouldn’t)
3. Avoid exclamation marks unless they are part of a direct
quotations.
 4. Mention the full name of the institution or organization with the abbreviation in
parenthesis, in first mention. Thereafter, use the abbreviation.
5. Numbers from zero to ten should be spelled out while numbers higher than ten
should be written in figures.
6. Generally, citations are used in academic and formal texts. However, they are
sparingly used in business texts.

ACTIVI
TY
A. Read the articles from the given links and analyze the properties of the texts.
Focus and observe on the organization, cohesion, language used and mechanics.
Write your output using at least 5 sentences.
 1. https://opinion.inquirer.net/87565/happy-introvert
2. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/cell-
phones-fact-sheet

B. Think of one rule in your home which your parents strictly enforce. (curfews, no
sleepovers, no smoking etc.) Write an essay with a minimum of three paragraphs
regarding this rule. Make sure to observe the properties of a well-written text
when you write your essay.

Use the following to help you guide developing your content.

1. Analyze the reason why the rules are enforced.
2. State whether you agree or not with the enforcement of this rule,
3. What would be the consequences if you disobey this rule?
4. What are the effects of obeying the rule?
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
6. How does this affect your growth as a person?

Writing might be difficult because of rules

and structures but it is not impossible to
master it. You just need to practice and apply
whatever you are learning from the modules. I
am always here to guide you. Do not be afraid
to ask questions.