Reading and Writing

(Reviewer)

Book Review
Book review is a form of literary criticism in which a book is analyzed based on content, style,
and merit. A book review can be a primary source opinion piece, summary review or scholarly
review. A book review's length may vary from a single paragraph to substantial essays.

Before You Read

Before you begin to read, consider the elements you will need to include in your review.
The following items may help:
Author: Who is the author? What else has s/he written? Has this author won any awards? What
is the author’s typical style?
Genre: What type of book is this: fiction, nonfiction, romance, poetry, youth fiction, etc.? Who
is the intended audience for this work? What is the purpose of the work?
Title: Where does the title fit in? How is it applied in the work? Does it adequately encapsulate
the message of the text? Is it interesting? Uninteresting?
Preface/Introduction/Table of Contents: Does the author provide any revealing information
about the text in the preface/introduction?

As You Read
As you read, determine how you will structure the summary portion or background
structure of your review. Be ready to take notes on the book’s key points, characters,
and/or themes.
Characters: Are there characters in the work? Who are the principal characters? How do they
affect the story? Do you empathize with them?
Themes/Motifs/Style: What themes or motifs stand out? How do they contribute to the work?
Are they effective or not? How would you describe this author’s particular style? Is it accessible
to all readers or just some?
Argument: How is the work’s argument set up? What support does the author give for
her/findings? Does the work fulfill its purpose/support its argument?

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Key Ideas: What is the main idea of the work? What makes it good, different, or
groundbreaking?
Quotes: What quotes stand out? How can you demonstrate the author’s talent or the feel of the
book through a quote?

When You Are Ready to Write

The final portion of your review will detail your opinion of the work. When you are ready
to begin your review, consider the following:
Establish a Background, Remember your Audience: Remember that your audience has not
read the work; with this in mind, be sure to introduce characters and principals carefully and
deliberately.
Minor principals/characters: Deal only with the most pressing issues in the book. You will not
be able to cover every character or idea. What principals/characters did you agree or disagree
with? What other things might the author have researched or considered?
Organize: Determine what kind of balance to strike between your summary information and
your evaluation. If you are writing your review for a class, ask your instructor. Often the ratio is
half and half.
Your Evaluation: Choose one or a few points to discuss about the book. What worked well for
you? How does this work compare with others by the same author or other books in the same
genre?
Publisher/Price: Most book reviews include the publisher and price of the book at the end of
the article. Some reviews also include the year published and ISBN.

Revising
When making the final touches to your review, carefully verify the following:
1. Double-check the spelling of the author name(s), character names, special terms, and
publisher.
2. Try to read from the vantage point of your audience. Is there too much/enough
summary? Does your argument about the text make sense?
3. Should you include direct quotes from the reading? Do they help support your
arguments? Double-check your quotes for accuracy.

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 Literature Review
Is a text of a scholarly paper
Literature reviews are secondary sources, and do not report new or original experimental
work.
Literature reviews are a basis for research in nearly every academic field.

Steps in Writing a Literature Review

1. Writing the introduction
In the introduction, you should:
● Define or identify the general topic, issue, or area of concern, thus providing an
appropriate context for reviewing the literature.
● Point out overall trends in what has been published about the topic; or conflicts in
theory, methodology, evidence, and conclusions; or gaps in research and scholarship; or a
single problem or new perspective of immediate interest.
● Establish the writer's reason (point of view) for reviewing the literature; explain the
criteria to be used in analyzing and comparing literature and the organization of the
review (sequence); and, when necessary, state why certain literature is or is not included
(scope).
2. Writing the body
In the body, you should:
● Group research studies and other types of literature (reviews, theoretical articles, case
studies, etc.) according to common denominators such as qualitative versus quantitative
approaches, conclusions of authors, specific purpose or objective, chronology, etc.
● Summarize individual studies or articles with as much or as little detail as each merits
according to its comparative importance in the literature, remembering that space
(length) denotes significance.
3. Writing the conclusion
In the conclusion, you should:
● Summarize major contributions of significant studies and articles to the body of
knowledge under review, maintaining the focus established in the introduction.

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 ● Evaluate the current "state of the art" for the body of knowledge reviewed, pointing out
major methodological flaws or gaps in research, inconsistencies in theory and findings,
and areas or issues pertinent to future study.

Research Report
Research report is a written document containing key aspects of research project.

1. Research report is the systematic, articulate, and orderly presentation of research work
in a written form.
2. Research report is a research document that contains basic aspects of the research
project.
3. Research report involves relevant information on the research work carried out. It may
be in form of hand-written, typed, or computerized

WRITING A RESEARCH REPORT

A research report can be based on practical work, research by reading or a study of an
organisation or industrial/workplace situation.
1. Preparing
● Identify the purpose/the aims of the research/research question.
● Identify the audience.–lecturer/ supervisor/ company/ organization management/staff.
The amount of background included will vary depending on the knowledge of the
“audience”.
2. Collecting and organizing information
There are two main sources of information depending on the research task:
● Reading — theory and other research
● Research — experiments, data collection‐questionnaires, surveys, observation,
interviews.
● Organise and collate the information in a logical order. Make sure you record the
bibliographic information of your reading as you go along.

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 3. Planning
Consider the following:
● Logical organization
Information in a report must be organized logically. Communicate the main ideas followed by
supporting details and examples. Start with the more important or significant information and
move on to the least important information.
● Headings
Use headings and suitable sub headings to clearly show the different sections. In longer reports
the sections should be numbered.
4. Writing the report
● Draft the report from your detailed plan.
● Do not worry too much about the final form and language, but rather on presenting the
ideas coherently and logically.
● Redraft and edit. Check that sections contain the required information and use suitable
headings, check ideas flow in a logical order and remove any unnecessary information.
● Write in an academic style and tone.
- Use a formal objective style.
- Generally avoid personal pronouns; however, some reports based on your own field
experience or work placement can be reflective the first person can be used. For
example, “I observed..”. If in doubt about this, check with the lecturer.

Writing Project Proposals

Project proposals are documents that are written for problem solving, service provision, event
planning, or equipment selling.

FORMAT OF THE PROJECT PROPOSAL

Proposals are primarily categorized according to their length. An informal proposal is about 2-4
pages long. A formal proposal, meanwhile, has 5 or more pages. Regardless of their purpose and
audience, they have standard parts such as the following:

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 1. Introduction
This part provides the background necessary for understanding the project, which is done by
discussing the following:
● Rationale – This identifies the problem to be addressed and show the need to solve it.
● Objectives - These reveal what the project intends to achieve in terms of results. It also
gives the reader an idea of an intended solution. Good objectives are SMART (Specific,
Measurable, Attainable, Result oriented, and bound within a realistic Time frame).
● Benefits – These show what the reader or the target audience can gain from the
proposal, which may be improvements in processes or systems, an increase in revenue,
or a change in behavior of the beneficiaries of the proposal.
2. Project Description
This section gives specific information about the project itself. It indicates how the project will
address the identified problem through the fllowing parts:
● Methodology – This details the different activities the project will take on, including the
manpower and resources to be utilized, and the expected output.
● Schedule – This discusses the task duration and expected start and end days of each
activity in the project.
● Budget – This presents an analysis of all the costs anticipated in the project, which can
be itemized or shown as a whole, depending on the needs of the project.

TIPS TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL

1. Plan ahead. Allow plenty of time for those involved to meet, discuss, and review progress
in the grant writing process. Also, allow enough time to get the required signatures and
to get the proposal to the funder.
2. Make it a team effort. Assign specific roles and responsibilities to people in terms of
developing the proposal.
3. Be realistic in what you are proposing. What can reasonably be accomplished in the
scope time and resources of this grant?
4. Be factual and specific. Don't talk in generalities or in emotional terms. Be sure to
substantiate all statements in your proposal, otherwise don't make them.
5. Consider collaborating with other organizations. At a minimum, find out what other
proposals are being submittedto the same donor at the same time.

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 6. Choose a format that is clear and easy to read. Readers are overloaded with proposals
and appreciate legible, attractive proposals. Make sure tables are legible and easy to
figure out.
7. Be aware of donor priorities. Carefully match your project with an appropriate funding
source. The primary difference between successful grant writing and inefficient proposal
submission is the amount of time invested in the strategic identification of appropriate
funders.

Position Paper
Position paper is an essay that presents an opinion about an issue , typically that of the author or
another specified entity; such as a political party. Position papers are published in academia, in
politics, in law and other domains. Position papers range from the simplest format of a letter to
the editor through to the most complex in the form of an academic position paper.

Writing a Resume
Resume is a document that contains a brief account of a person’s education, skills, work
experience, and other qualifications. The purpose of a resume is to provide a summary of
your skills, abilities and accomplishments. It is a quick advertisement of who you are. It is
a "snapshot" of you with the intent of capturing and emphasizing interests and secures you an
interview.

TYPES OF RESUME
1. CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME
This kind of resume starts by listing your work history, with the most recent position listed first.
This type of resume works well for job seekers with a strong, solid work history.
Components of a Chronological Resume
● Personal details: Your name and contact information, including mailing address,
telephone number, and email address.
● Objective: This is an optional section where you can briefly define your career objectives.

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 ● Work experience: Start with your most recent position. List all of your work experience,
even if it wasn't employment based. Use bullet points to describe your duties and
responsibilities; provide the most information about your current position and less for
each remaining one. Try to begin each bullet point with an action word (e.g., consulted,
organized, or built).
● Education: Begin with your highest degree and work backwards. Include all schools you
have attended and list any diplomas, degrees (including majors and minors), and awards
you've received.
● References: It is best to simply state that references are available upon request, unless
they have been specifically requested.
2. FUNCTIONAL RESUMES
This kind of resume highlights your abilities, such as hiring, managing or coaching, rather than
your chronological work history. You'll still need to summarize your work history, but this is
usually done at the bottom of your resume. Don't panic. By the time the reader has gotten to that
point, he is usually sold on bringing you in for an interview.

Cover Letter
Cover letter is a document sent with your resume to provide additional information on your
skills and experience.

Outline of the Cover Letter

1. Header
A cover letter should begin with both you and the employer's contact information (name,
address, phone number, email) followed by the date.
2. Salutation
Begin your cover letter salutation with "Dr./Mr./Ms. Last Name." If you are unsure if your
contact is male or female, you can write out their full name.
3. Introduction
Begin your introduction by stating what job you are applying for. Explain where you heard about
the job, particularly if you heard about it from a contact associated with the company. Briefly
mention how your skills and experience match the company and/or position; this will give the
employer a preview of the rest of your letter.

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 4. Body
In a paragraph or two, explain why you are interested in the job and why you make an excellent
candidate for the position. Mention specific qualifications listed in the job posting, and
explain how you meet those qualifications. Do not simply restate your resume, but provide
specific examples that demonstrate your abilities.
5. Closing
In the closing section of your cover letter, restate how your skills make you a strong fit for the
company and/or position. State that you would like the opportunity to interview or discuss
employment opportunities. Explain what you will do to follow up, and when you will do it.
Thank the employer for his/her consideration.
6. Signature
Use a complimentary close, and then end your cover letter with your signature, handwritten,
followed by your typed name. If this is an email, simply include your typed name, followed by
your contact information, after the complimentary close.

College Application Essay

This essay is often seen as an important part of a college application. This is an esaay that is
response to a prompt that allows admissions committees to get to know you more personally.
Also, this essay is proof that you are a competent at writing and thinking. Here, you can
showcase your best qualities. This essay is used by committees to assess how you can contribute
to their school’s community. Applications to universities can be competitive, so a well-written
essay isa a golden opportunity to show how you stand out from other applicants.

THREE TYPES OF QUESTIONS

The question you see in the essay section of your college application will most likely be one of
three types. Here are a few sample questions and suggestions for answering each type.
1. The “YOU” question
With this type of question, the college is looking to get to know you better and to see how you
present yourself. Here’s the most common example: “Please complete a one-page personal
statement and submit it with your application.”

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How to answer it?
The key is to look at it as a chance to show who you are and what’s important to you. Try to keep
your answer focused and avoid the urge to spill everything. Instead, discuss one or two subjects
that reveal your best qualities.

2. The “WHY US” Question

With this type of question, admission officers want to find out about your goals. They also want
to know how serious you are about attending their school. Questions in this category include:
“Why is this college a good choice for you?”
“Tell us about your career goals and any plans you may have for graduate study.”

How to answer it?

The focus here is why you chose a certain college or path. It’s a pretty straightforward question,
but be sure you know your subject well. For example, if you say you want to attend this
college because of a specific academic department, make sure you’re clear on what that
department offers.

3. The “CREATIVE” Question

Admission officers look at both how intelligent and how creative your answer to this type
question is. They want to see your ability to think outside the box. Here’s an example from
Denison University: “Do you believe there's a generation gap?
Describe the differences between your generation and others.”

How to answer it?

Here you are asked to write about your views on a topic. Even though this is a creative piece,
make sure to back up all your points with facts and intelligent explanations. And don’t take
the creativity too far. Inventiveness is good, but wacky may not be the best choice.

Forms of Office Correspondence

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Business Letter Writing
Business letters can be written to employees or managers, as well as clients and prospective
customers. The business letter is a formal type of communication that is usually typed on 8 1/2
by 11-inch white stationery paper.

PARTS OF A BUSINESS LETTER

1. The Heading (Letterhead) – Companies usually use printed paper where heading or
letterhead is specially designed at the top of the sheet.
2. Date - The month should be fully spelled out and the year written with all four digits
October 12, 2005. The date is aligned with the return address.
3. The Inside Address – In a business or formal letter you should give the address of the
recipient after your own address.
4. The Greeting - Also called the salutation. It normally begins with the word "Dear" and
always includes the person's last name. Use every resource possible to address your letter
to an actual person. If you do not know the name or the sex of of your reciever address it
to Dear Madam/Sir (or Dear Sales Manager or Dear Human Resources Director).
5. The Subject Line (optional) - Its inclusion can help the recipient in dealing successfully
with the aims of your letter.
6. The Body Paragraphs - The body is where you explain why you’re writing. It’s the main
part of the business letter. Make sure the receiver knows who you are and why you are
writing but try to avoid starting with "I". Use a new paragraph when you wish to
introduce a new idea or element into your letter. Depending on the letter style you
choose, paragraphs may be indented. Regardless of format, skip a line between
paragraphs.
7. The Complimentary Close – This short, polite closing ends always with a comma. It is
either at the left margin or its left edge is in the center, depending on the Business Letter
Style that you use. It begins at the same column the heading does.
8. Signature and Writer’s identification - The signature is the last part of the letter. You
should sign your first and last names. The signature line may include a second line for a
title, if appropriate. The signature should start directly above the first letter of the
signature line in the space between the close and the signature line. Use blue or black
ink.

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 9. Initials, Enclosures, Copies - Initials are to be included if someone other than the writer
types the letter. If you include other material in the letter, put 'Enclosure', 'Enc.', or '
Encs. ', as appropriate, two lines below the last entry. cc means a copy or copies are sent
to someone else.

Writing Memorandum
Memorandum or memo is occasionally used as a business letter format. At the top of the memo
is date, name, name of the sender, name of the recipient, and the subject. The abbreviation RE is
sometimes used instead of SUBJECT. This information is place at the left margin. The body of
the memo is in block form.Memos have a twofold purpose: they bring attention to problems and
they solve problems. They accomplish their goals by informing the reader about new
information like policy changes, price increases, or by persuading the reader to take an action,
such as attend a meeting, or change a current production procedure.

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