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PRE-WRITING SKILLS
Pre-writing skills are those techniques which we have to consider before writing a report, a brochure, an assignment, an advertisement or any other piece of technical writing. Some of these techniques are also used in creative writing and in others but they are mainly used to provide a base or behave like pillars on which the building of technical writing builds. The word pre-writing gives us a clear idea of the topic that they should be covered before actual writing and these skills help a lot in this regard. There are some types of prewriting skills, described as under:-

BRAIN STORMING:
It is the mostly used technique that Judges the thinking power of a writer. Before writing some technical, we must be aware of what we have to write. We should know all the possibilities and aspects related to the concerned topic. It means that we have to think about the best related sub-topics of a specific topic. This skill of pre-writing is difficult for new writers but on practice, it becomes a very helpful tool afterwards. The process of brain storming is quite easier. In this technique we just write our topic in the middle of the paper and think about the things that relate to the topic. We should be calmed and relaxed. Tension and hurry can cause trouble for us. More relaxed we are, more ideas come to our mind. When a sub-topic or information related to our main topic is clicked our mind, we simply write it nearby our main topic, encircle and joint with main topic by an arrow sign. We must think about negative as well as positive point or reactions of our writing. This process continues and after sometimes, we will have a list of information. The next step is to eliminate the irrelevant and unnecessary information from the list. There are two examples of brain storming: Examples:

LOCATION

WRITING MATERIAL S

LANGUAGE

CLOTHES SPORTS PUNJABI CULTURE LIVELIHOOD BEHAVIORS

FOOD

HOUSES

RITUALS

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INAPPROPRIATE PARKING CARTS, HEAVY MACHINERY CORRUPTION OVERLOADING

VIP MOVEMENT TRAFFIC PROBLEMS

UNNECESSARY SPEED BREAKERS STREET BAGGERS

ILLITERACY ILLEGAL BUSINESS BESIDE LADY DRIVING NARROW ROADS ILLEGAL CHALLANS

NOTE TAKING
This is process of gathering of information from any resource in an unorganized and unstructured manner. They are actually the key point that covers the main information relating to some specific topic. It usually involved writing down the information that we hear or read from anywhere, without processing it any way. It is not necessary to cover all the points of certain information. But it is a good practice (as a technical writer) to touch them as possible as you can. Its process requires a healthy listener and a healthy researcher. We can take notes by researching on our topic by the means of internet, encyclopedia etc. We can also take them by listening or watching a documentary. But if we concern to the machines then we have to gather them by testing the machines and noting down the results. In all the above steps to search is a most popular way to take notes because it promotes the experience and the mental power of a man to understand the things by his own. Examples: When we have to prepare a report about a beautiful valley, then we visit it, meet the people there and ask them about the specialty of the place. We also ask about their rituals, food and many other things related to their

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area. We make notes at the spot in irregular manner and after that we organize them. If we are asked to check the design, functioning and output of a machine then the first thing we do, is to check its design from different aspects by applying different logic. Then we check its functions and output by giving it some values or by testing it. Besides these steps, we keep on making our notes.

CLUSTERING:
This technique includes putting the information (having same idea, tone or point of view) in the form of cluster or a group, as we are inferred from the name. The benefit of this skill is also to keep the tone of our writing balanced. Same things occur at the same level in our report. In the process of clustering, we simply identify the same things or information by thinking with healthy mind and by write down them in a separate manner. On writing our report, we place all these things in one or two paragraphs consecutively. It is also called the next step of brain storming where we re-arrange the information in the form of clusters. The same clusters give us the same information relating to the topic. Examples: Let us we consider that we have to prepare a report about a technology. Then first step will be note taking by initializing, testing, observing and concluding the results of that technology. Then we make an arrangement of information in the form of clusters like its advantages in one group, disadvantages in another group, process in a separate group etc. So, clustering provide us an initial arrangement of our notes by putting same things in the same group which we can use in our report later, without loss of any information. If we have done brain storming of any topic on which we have decided to write a documentary or an essay. Then we consider all the branches very carefully and find out those branches that relate to each other by more than one or two aspects. Then we write them again, but now, in the form of a group. So, when we use them, their co-relation provides us a base to discuss them easily and it gives a taste to our writing.

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BRANCHING:
It is an important way to simplify our notes and it helps very much in the preparation of writing material. As the branches are attached to the stem of the tree, the same thing happens here. Stem is the main topic or main idea and branches are the sub-topics that mainly relate to their parent topic. This technique is very useful, if we want to go in the depth of our topic because it gives us all the possibilities that can be related to that. We use them in the form of paragraph, where their main idea has to be discussed in the report. In this process, we actually divide the topic into its further possibilities that can occur. We write them in the form of branches and on writing, we combine them by writing one by one. This results the birth of a paragraph having same tone of writing. So, our work becomes quite easier. Examples: Let us we consider that we are making notes of our report relating to the culture of any village or city. Then, firstly, we make the main topic i.e. culture, location, atmosphere etc. Now, our next step will be of branching in which we resolve our main topics into more than one sub-topic. Here, we consider our main topic is CULTURE as an example. We can make its branches like clothes, food, rituals, language and a many more things relating to their culture. So, we can handle the main topic by its branches. We can also use them in brain storming. As we have described traffic problems before, we can make the branches of any one of its topic. For example, we take the main topic as CORRUPTION. Now, we can describe it by branches as unnecessary challans, officials late on duty, Sifarish, to threat the people etc. So, this technique makes brain storming easier.

FREE WRITING:
This is a famous free writing skill in which no any rule for organizing the words, usage of punctuations and to keep the tone same. But in this skill, we only have to write what comes to our mind. The main purpose of skill is same as that of brain storming that it broadens our minds and make us able to click more ideas and key points relating to our topic. In this one, we usually pick a piece of paper and keep on writing what we have observed or what we require in our report. We dont write the entire sentence but we use key points, and on finishing the free writing, we organize them and complete our report easily. Hence, its main purpose is to give more and more ideas about a topic but it does not concern with the results. We can also call it a process of warm up exercise of a technical writer.

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Examples: If we have to write a broacher about a new firm, then we make initial key points by free writing which includes our goals, requirements and the main idea of writing. From these key points, we select the important one & write them in orderly and organized manner. If we want to write a report on POLLUTION then we write only the key points of the topic like causes, obligations etc. but, during this, we do not pay attention to our sequences & orders. We just write them down and do arrangements after wards.

OUTLINING
This technique not only provides a base to our writing but also gives them an order in which the information has to be written. Usually, it stars from less important thing of the topic & approaches towards the principle idea of the topic. This skill is widely used in all the types of writing with the same purpose. In this process, we first understand the happening carefully (usually we do free writing as an initial step for this skill), arrange them in our mind & then write them down on the paper. We do not need to write each and every thing onto the paper but we just write a set of two or more authentic words that can describe the main thing. Usually, we call this set, is as Heading. On writing, we use one heading or outline for only one or two paragraphs. So, in this way, we can also analyze the length of our report which is an important factor in the Technical Writing. If we arrange the outlines in a good order, then the tone and the interest of our report will not be lost. Examples: During writing a report on the CAUSES OF LOAD-SHEDDING, we can make its outlines as introduction, definition, causes, effects, solution & conclusion. By these outlines, our task (to make a report) becomes easier & not time-consuming because we have all done before, now we just have to explain the things. Another way of outlining is that if we have to write some technical, then first of all, we have to outline our steps. For example, before writing a brochure, we outline our task as picking the important information, arranging them for the fixed space available, place them in better order and last one is to give necessary information by using common words.

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SKIMMING:
It is a technique that requires a healthy and a sharp mind that can understand the things well and can take the important things in good manner. Usually it proves to be difficult for new writers due to lack of experience but on practicing, he can achieve his goals easily. In this technique, we have to overview or read a passage carefully and have to take out the important information relating t our topic by neglecting the unnecessary one. We write the information (that has been taken) separately. But reading a paragraph more than once, we have a plenty of important information i.e. used in writing a report. By this skill, we understand the main idea of the passage and by using this main idea, we can develop a worth reading report easily. For these reasons, many technical writers use this technique to do their tasks and by promoting their skills, they excel in their job. Some of the examples of this technique are as under: Examples: If we are given to write a summary of any report, then first of all, we read it carefully; understand its meanings and purpose of writing, then underlining the important points of the report. After doing this step, our next task will be of taking out the key points and to write them separately. This skill is known as skimming. Another example is that if we have to prepare a documentary or thesis on any hot topic, then we collect its important points from any source like internet, books etc. After finding out appropriate facts and figures, we arrange them and read them carefully line by line. Anything we find important, we highlight it. On finishing, we separate out the highlighted points and make suitable structure by using these key points. And this is all done by using the technique of skimming.

TIME MANAGEMENT:
In all the fields, time has its value. To provide a scheduled time to something is known as time management and it is very important. Pre-writing skills include because if fail to give time, to the things in writing, properly then all the other pre-writing skills will have no any importance. In this way, time management plays a role of back bone in these skills. Before writing, everything should be scheduled and an appropriate time is given to it. In the connection of pre-writing skills, we have to estimate the time required for doing other pre-writing skills as well as the time that would be consumed in writing a report. There are some examples as following:

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Examples: When we are asked to write a report within a day, then we have to make a time table for doing observation, collection of facts and figures, testing, concluding the results and doing other types of pre-writing skills. If we do not consider time, then we will fail to cover our task. If we have to make a brochure of new NOKIA set then we have to launch it within a limited period of time. So, we have to fix time for different tasks. Its printing and proof reading also require some time. Hence, by giving proper time, we can do job in time.

SCANNING:
This is also an important technique that requires a sharp mind. We are also informed from the name that it requires a scanning of the whole topic thoroughly. In this technique, we concern only with the important information. For this purpose, we overview the whole document, read it not by deeply view point but just for searching our required material. Once the material is detected, underline it or highlighted and after that write it separately. The separate material does not give proper information. To make it useful, we have to consider this entire material, think about all the possibilities relating to it and then again write it in our words in orderly arrangement. Sometimes, this technique is very time consuming because we have to read and write a lot. It also requires strong thinking power. For these reasons, we have to give it a proper time and do it with relaxation. More you are relaxed, more the things you understand. Examples: If we have to find out the real cause of population from a surveyor report, firstly, we have to read it carefully and repeat the procedure as described above. At the last point, we will have proper information that we will use in our writing. If we done free writing on any hot issue, then this material must contains unnecessary information. To eliminate it, we must do this useful technique. By doing this, only the relevant topics would be discussed in our report.

REVIWING:
It is a pre-writing technique i.e. usually done at the last of all techniques. The main purpose of this one is to scan the errors and mistakes present in the report. When we find it,

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we fix it. This requires time because we have to pay keen attention on every line, every word. In technical writing, words are very important because they can have two meanings. If this happens, our report will fail. So, we should avoid these words and should be clear in our reports. To check it, this technique is used. If there is an imbalance in the tone of writing material, it can also be removed by this technique. There are a few examples of this technique. Examples: If we are writing a report on the proposal of any building, we must re-read the facts and figures we great care because any wrong reading can cost money loss as well as human loss. For these reasons, this technique is applied. If we are asked to write a quotation of any multinational company, then we should be careful about our words because our words can create many troubles in the business relationship of two companies. So, we must check the information before we write it. Hence, it is the base of pre-writing skills.