WRITING SKILLS

NOTICE – 5 MARKS
Marking Scheme of Notice
Format – (Title /Notice/Heading/Place/Date/Signature with Name and Designation) 1 mark
Contents
(a) Where?
(b) When
(c) Target group
(d) Agenda
(All within 50 words) 2 marks
ExpressionCoherence, spellings and grammatical accuracy 2 marks
1.You are Sports Secretary of Lalwani Public School, Udaipur. Draft a notice in not more than 50 words for your
school notice board asking the students to give their names for participation in various events to be held on the
Annual Sports Day of your school. Invent the details of the events. Sign as Lalit/Lalita.

Lalwani Public School, Udaipur

Notice
6th November, 20xx
Annual Sports Day

Our school is celebrating its Annual Sports Day on 30th November, 20xx. Students are hereby
informed to give their names for participation in various events to be held on the Sports Day.
The list of events is given below:

 100 metres race

 high jump
 200 metres relay
 short put
 gymnastics
 kho-kho

Please give your names to the undersigned latest by the 10th of November during the ‘0’ period
in the Sports Room.

Lalit
Sports Secretary

INVITATION - 5 MARKS
Invitation is a kind of personal notice sent individually to people. There are two types of invitations.
(i) Formal invitations (ii) Informal invitations

Formal invitations may be in the form of (a) Card or (b) Letter. They are addressed in a fixed format to a person
in a department having a designation, with proper salutations.
Guidelines for Writing Formal Invitations
 Formal Invitations don’t include the name of the addressee.
 Formal invitation are always written in third person i.e. he, she or it are used in place of I, you or we.
 The occasion, name of the invitee, name of the host, date, day , time, venue etc are written in proper
sequence.
 Some more details like name, designation, address etc of organizer sponsor or host should be included.
 If a VIP is invited, then the name of that VIP should appear prominently.

FORMAL INVITATION : CARD FORMAT

EX. You are a student leader of Apex Public School, Bengaluru. Draft an invitation for a musical evening to be held in
your school.

The Principal, Staff and Students of

Apex Public School, Bengaluru
take great pleasure in inviting you to a musical evening

TARANA
On
Saturday, the 5th October, 20xx
at 5.00 pm
in the School Grounds
Air Marshal S.K.Sinha, AVSM,

has very kindly consented to be the Chief Guest.

R.S.V.P
Principal
Special Instruction : (This card admits only two. You are requested to be seated by 4.30
pm)

Ex. You are Mr Chandra Mohan Singh of Rajendra Nagar, Delhi. Draft an invitation for your daughter
Shradha’s marriage.
 Mrs and Mr Chandra Mohan Singh
Solicit your benign presence on the auspicious occasion
of the marriage of their daughter

Shradha
Weds

Ritesh
(S/o Mrs and Mr Satish Kumar Singh)
On
17th September 20xx
at 7.30 pm

INVITATION BANQUET HALL

Model Town, Delhi 110009
R.S.V.P
Vinod Kumar Singh With best compliments from
27120011, 27210012 All Relatives

FORMAL INVITATION : Letter Format

The format of formal invitation is the same as that of a formal letter.
Ex. Inviting a dignitary as a Chief Guest to preside over a function
Sarvodya Public School
E-7 New Model Town
Shikohabad -283135

12th August, 20xx

Mr PK Singh
District Magistrate
Civil Lines
Shikohabad-283135

SUB : Invitation for Annual Sports Day

Respected Sir
It is a matter of great pride that our school is celebrating its 25th Annual Sports Day on 25th September, 20xx from 10am at
the school ground. We shall consider it a great favour if you could grace the occasion by presiding over the function as
the Chief Guest and give away the prizes.
Soliciting a line in reply or an e-mail at sarvodyaacademy@gmail.com

Yours sincerely
Namita Singh
(Principal)
FORMAL REPLY
(a) Acceptance

13 January 20XX
Mrs Suman and Mr Sushil Goel accept the kind invitation of Mrs and Mr Rakesh Verma with pleasure and confirm their
presence at dinner on Sunday, 25th October, 20xx at their residence.

(b) REFUSAL

13 January 20XX
Namita Sharma wishes to thank Mrs and Mr Rakesh Verma for their kind invitation to dinner on 25 th October, 20xx at
their residence. She regrets to inform her inability to attend the same due to a prior engagement.

INFORMAL INVITATIONS

You are Sooraj Dwivedi. Your brother Manav from Mumbai is staying in a paying guest accommodation. Invite him to
join Diwali celebrations with you at your residence.

417/2 Janakpuri
New Delhi

11th November, 20xx

Dear Manav

You know that Diwali is approaching. It gives me great pleasure to invite you to Diwali celebrations at my residence on
15th Nov , 20xx at 7pm. We shall have great fun. Do join us for the ‘Puja” and Diwali celebrations.

Yours affectionately

Sooraj

Informal- Acceptance

You have received the invitation from the Secretary mother’s Pride. Make a prompt reply confirming your presence for
the Baby Show (along with the baby). You are Mrs Kapoor.
A/2, Preet Vihar,

New Delhi-110092

4th June, 20xx

Dear Madam

The invitation to ‘Baby Show’ was a pleasant surprise that brought smiles on our faces. Our daughter, Chinky, aged three
years, has sparkling eyes and a sunny smile. We thank you for the invitation and confirm our participation in the show at
your Preet Vihar branch.

Hosting a baby show is a beautiful step.

Wishing you the very best.

Mrs and Mr Kapoor

Informal – Refusal

You have received an invitation from Mother’s Pride. But you have a reason for declining the invite. Write the reply.

B-14 Sector 28
Noida-201303

20th June, 20xx

Dear Madam
It was a great pleasure to receive your invitation for the Baby Show. We thank you for inviting us but due to Tanuja’s ill
health. We shall not be able to participate. Hopefully we would love to be a part of the show next year.

Wishing you all luck

Mrs and Mr Sharma

REPORT
A report is a description of an event or an investigation of an issue or a problem. It may also be an objective
analysis or evaluation of something. It is a vivid expression of a person’s experience. It is a commentary on the
incidents seen by the reporter. The purpose of a report is to highlight an incident, event or experience of
general nature. Reports create awareness among readers, give voice to many social problems and help in
solving them through the concerned authorities.

Mainly there are two types of reports.

1. Reports on events/functions
2. Newspaper reports involving accidents

POINTS TO BE KEPT IN MIND

 A good report should present all the necessary information as clearly as possible.
 Write in a practical and businesslike manner.
 Write in indirect speech and preferably in passive voice.
 Write in third person form and avoid using pronouns like I, me or you
 Ornamental language is to be avoided. The contents should include details like what, where when, why,
who, how, eye witness account, action/mishap etc.
  The aim of the report and source from where it was obtained should be mentioned in the beginning
itself.
 It should have a proper heading and simple language which is easy to grasp, in several small paragraphs.
 Adhere to the word limit of 150-200 words.

Division of Marks : Weightage : 5 Marks

FORMAT : (Heading, name of the reporter, place and date) ----- 1 MARK
CONTENT : ----- 2 MARKS
EXPRESSION : ------ 2 MARKS
( Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spelling (1 mark)
Coherence and relevance of ideas and style) (1 mark)

TYPE 1 - REPORTS ON EVENTS/FUNCTIONS

Values points to be used in a report on events/functions

 Types of function or its name

 Occasion
 Date, time and place
 Name/designation of the chief guest
 Objective and main highlights of the programme
 Inauguration (if any)
 Description of the event
 Chief guests address to audience
 Prize distribution
 Vote of thanks
 Conclusion
 Contribution of the writer, if any
 Comments about the quality of the programme

FORMAT OF AN EVENT REPORT

You are Rohan/Roshni of BPS International School, new Delhi. Recently your school organized a cultural show
as a part of a cultural exchange programme. Write a report in 150-200 words for your school magazine.

Cultural show with a Difference ---Headline (1/2 mark)

By Rohan ------ by line (1/2 mark)

Our school organised a cultural show in the School Auditorium on 10 th January, 20XX –date, time and place
at 6 pm as part of a cultural exchange programme between India and Pakistan.
The theme was ‘Friendship between countries’. The Chief Guest was the Indian
External Affairs Minister Mr R.K Kapoor, who inaugurated the show.

A variety of programmes/performances including folk dances, drama, role play

and musical programmes/perfomances were staged. The role play stole ----------- Highlight of the programme
the show due to its theme of the commonality of cultures between the two
countries and the fantastic acting of the children. The dances were both the
classical ones (Kathak and Bharat Natyam) as well as the modern (hip-hop and rock)--description of the event

The show concluded with a prize distribution ceremony honouring the talented --------prize distribution
children of the school. Then the Chief Guest spoke, congratulating the students
for their excellent performances. ------chief guest address

Then our Principal, Mrs Reena Singh, proposed a vote of thanks. She thanked ------ vote of thanks
everyone for their wholehearted support and co-operation for making this
event a grand success.

The function ended with the Nationa ----------conclusion

It was an evening to remember.

TYPE 2 NEWSPAPER REPORTS INVOLVING ACCIDENTS

Value Points to be used in an accident report
 What happened
 Where
 When
 How
 Why (if known)
 People/vehicles involved
 Loss of life and property
 Eye-witness account(if any)
 Details of accident site
 Details of rescue and relief operation
 Details of casualties-dead /injured/hospitalised
 Police action/enquiry ordered
 Compensation to families of those killed or injured
 Warning/recommendations/action required

FORMAT OF AN ACCIDENT REPORT

Rishikesh is popular in India for its river rafting. A well known rafting guide gets drowned in the river after
saving eight Mumbai tourists. Write a report to be published in a local daily, covering this rafting mishap. (150-
200 words).

Rafting Guide Drowns After saving Six Lives --Heading ½ Mark

by Narendra Soni, Staff Reporter --byline(name & designation if any) ½ Mark

Dehradun, 10th April, 20XX ----Place and Date

A rafting guide drowned in the Ganga river near Rishikesh after saving eight tourists,
all residents of Mumbai. He was well-conversant with the river and having more -----Where & How
than 25 years experience of the swift flow of the river in Rishikesh. However, his
heroism cost him his life.

The mishap occurred at about 2 pm on Saturday, when the raft carrying the tourist
turned turtle downstream the river. All the eight tourist were saved by 40-year ----------When &Why
old Rajesh Kumar, but he himself could not survive, as too much water had
gone into his lungs, causing asphyxiation.

After Rajesh somehow managed to reach the river bank, he was rushed to a
government hospital in Rishikesh where doctors declared him dead. Rajesh,
who was a well-known rafting guide of the area, had been a guide for the ------Compensation if any
last 25 years. Government has ordered an enquiry into the mishap and has
announced a bravery award for him.

Article Writing – 5 MARKS

An article is an expression of one’s thought on an issue or a subject logically and coherently written in
meaningful paragraphs.

♦ Points to Remember:

 Give a title that catches the attention of the reader.

 Begin with a striking opening sentence which addresses the readers and gets them interested in the
topic.
 Present a strong argument for your ideas supporting it with evidence or elaboration.
 Use linking devices (‘however’, ‘therefore’, ‘although’, ‘even though’, ‘in order to’) to make the composition
appear a whole.
 Introduce a new point at the beginning of each paragraph that follows to strengthen your ideas.
 Develop your ideas as much as you can to make them interesting and substantial.
 Conclude with your strongest point.
 Use passive voice, humour, emotive language, rhetorical questions to provide a specific effect. Split-up of
marks

Q. In many parts of our country girls are still discouraged from going to school. Consequently, a sizable section
of the population is deprived of education. Schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, CBSE scholarship to the
single girl child and the Government’s policy of giving free education to girls have come as a boon to our
society. Write an article in 150-200 words on the education of the girl child in the country. You are Akshita/Advit.

Education Of The Girl Child

By Akshita

Education of girls has been a high priority with the Government of India. In the new millennium, India
has consolidated its earlier educational reforms with increased resources and stronger policy
commitments for achieving elementary education, particularly for girls. Reaching out to the girl child is
primary to the efforts to universalise elementary education. ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ or ‘Education For
All’ programme recognizes that ensuring the education of the girl child requires changes not only in the
education system but also in society’s norms and attitudes.
A two-pronged gender strategy has hence been adopted to make the educational system responsive
to the needs of the girls through targeted interventions which serve as a pull-factor to enhance access
and retention of girls in schools on the one hand and generate community demand for girls’ education
through training and mobilisation on the other hand. The CBSE has also come up with the novel
scheme of providing free education from the sixth standard onwards to the single girl child. The need
of the times is that the government should further improve the educational infrastructure and make it
more accessible and meaningful for the girl child

JOB APPLICATION

1. You are Rajan/Ragini, 20-B, Gandhi Road, Bengaluru. You have come across an advertisement in The
Hindu for recruitment of Management Trainees in a Bank. Apply for the same giving your bio data with all
necessary details.

20-B, Gandhi Road

Bengaluru

7th March, 20xx

The Manager
Andhra Bank
Bengaluru

SUB : - APPL ICATION FOR THE POST OF MANAGEMENT TRAINEES

Sir
This is in response to your advertisement in ‘The Times of India’ dated 4th March,20xx. I am an applicant for the
job of ‘Management Trainee’ in your prestigious bank. I am a dynamic young man of 26 with a pleasing
personality. I have requisite qualifications and experience with specialization in accounting functions and related
commercial activities.

My detailed biodata is enclosed herewith for your kind perusal and consideration. In view of my qualifications I
consider myself suitable for the job. If selected, I shall prove to be a valuable asset to your esteemed bank and
endeavour to satisfactorily meet the requirements of the job.

Yours truly
Rajan
Encl : 1. Biodata/Curriculum Vitae
2 Photo copy of testimonials

Curriculum Vitae

Name : Rajan Sharma

Father’s Name Mr. Hari Narayan Sharma
D.O.B : May 25, 19xx
Age : 26 yrs
Sex : Male
Marital Status : Single
Nationality : Indian
Languages Known Hindi, English and Punjabi
Contact no : 981xxxxxxx

Educational Qualifications
S NO EXAM Board/Univ % Year

1 10th CBSE 87 2003

2 12th CBSE 90 2004

3 B.Com DU 72 2007

4 MBA IIM,PUNE 64 2009

Experience : 2 yrs at ICICI bank, Shimla as Management Trainee

Present Emolument : 3.6 lacs p.a
Expected Emolument : 4 lacs p.a
Hobbies : Reading, travelling and playing football.
References : 1. Mr. K.C.Krishnamurthy
Manager
ICICI Bank, Shimla
Mob- 9717865951

2. Mrs Shalini D’souza

Principal
Wilson College
Bengaluru
Mob- 8800567694

Letter to the Editor (5 Marks)

The format of a letter to editor of a Newspaper is as follows –

1. Sender’s address: The address and contact details of the sender are written here. Include an email and phone
number, if required or if mentioned in the question.
2. Date: The date is written below the sender’s address after Leaving one space or line.
3. Receiving Editor’s address: The address of the recipient of the mail i.e. the editor is written here.
4. Subject of the letter: The main purpose of the letterforms the subject. It must be written in one line. It must
convey the matter for which the letter is written.
5. Salutation (Sir / Respected sir / Madam)
6. Body: The matter of the letter is written here. It is divided into 3 paragraphs as follows –
Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself and the purpose of writing the letter in brief.
Paragraph 2: Give detail of the matter.
Paragraph 3: Conclude by mentioning what you expect from the editor. (For example, you may want him to highlight
the issue in his newspaper/magazine).
7. Complimentary Closing
8. Sender’s name, signature, and designation (if any)

Q. You are a resident of Mahalakshmi Apartments, Patparganj, Delhi. Your residential area is flooded with
roadside dwellers who are deprived of the basic civic amenities like light, public toilets and bathrooms. Write a
letter to the Editor of The Hindustan Times, highlighting the problems of these roadside dwellers, and also the
problems posed by them to the public. Give suggestions for improvement.

Mahalakshmi Apartments
Patparganj
Delhi
7th Feb., 20XX
The Editor
The Hindustan Times
KG. Marg
New Delhi
Sir
Sub: Restoring basic amenities to the roadside dwellers of Patparganj
Through the columns of your renowned paper, I would like to request the authorities concerned to provide basic
amenities to the roadside dwellers of Patparganj area.
Due to floods the residential area of Mahalakshmi Apartment, Patparganj has been flooded with roadside
dwellers who are deprived of the basic civic amenities such as light, public toilets and bathrooms. The local
authorities should immediately set up tents for these people, provide medical aid and make available other
necessities at the earliest.

They have lost their huts due to floods. Everything is wet and unusable.
I’m sure these lines in the columns of your paper will awaken the concerned authorities to : take urgent remedial
measures to help the roadside dwellers.
Thanking you
Yours truly
XYZ
A Resident
(Mahalakshmi Apartments)