LESSON #1 – WRITING

INTRODUCTION
• This skill is one of the hardest skills to master (along with speaking)
• It needs a creative mind, flourishing thoughts which are always ready to be imparted, passionate emotions that can always be
expressed for others to know, and rich experiences which are worth learning.
• It is an expression of one’s feelings, thoughts or ideas using appropriate words.
• It also an ability which requires critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Writing is also a form of storytelling.
• Prolific writers have always used this skill not because they wanted to be famous and be adored or praised by their readers. They
write because they have something to say, to tell, to narrate, to impart, and this for them is an important undertaking which they
need to do. They feel that they owe something to their readers and they do this responsibility to let others know.
• This skill is not easy to master. Like speaking, it requires constant practice and careful observance of conventions, the standards,
the structures and the formats.

WRITING AS A SKILL
• This skill is an exceptional characteristic of humans. Writing helps individuals to inform, collaborate, and alert others, while societies
are benefitting from history, culture and knowledge.
• Writing is a life skill, it is not only an essential job- related skill, it also often the basis upon which others judge one’s learning, the
values he has, his ideas and even his contribution to the society.
• Regardless of one’s career or occupation, everyone has to write to communicate with others.
• Writing is also personal. It represents ourselves when at times we are absent physically. It expresses who we really are, even after
our lifetime. It makes our knowledge, aspirations, and work visible for others in a different time (future).
• This is an important means to explain our ideas to ourselves while we preserve our experiences and memories. Much as writing
connects us with others, it also connects us to ourselves.
• Writing is not fleeting, it is permanent. It serves as a record of what one wishes to communicate at a certain point in time. The lips
may not be able to say what the mind really wants to say, it can only be through writing.
• Writing can reach larger audience in many places and over time.

HOW TO DEVELOP WRITING SKILLS

1. Organize your thoughts
2. Explain your arguments well
3. Present your supporting evidences and lead your readers to a shared conclusion.
4. Be critical and analytical in nature.
5. Set your mind and have a clear picture of the desired outcome of your written composition.
6. Research and read extensively, take down notes and list down important references.
7. Know the feedback of others so that you can be aware on the things you need to improve.
8. Practice and more practice.

EFFECTIVE WRITING
• It targets the reading audience
• It can be adapted to a certain medium, either digital or print, formal or informal, light or serious.
• It produces a response in the reader by stimulating the thought
• It also evokes an emotion by stirring to action.

Writing, as it is, should be enjoyable. It may be serious when its impact is important but it can also be fun and enjoyable. Take
pleasure in a turn of phrase, a touch of humor and word play. In this way, writing will come naturally, and when you write your name after
your full written composition, you should experience a feeling of accomplishment (Brink, 2020).