ELCS LAB 12

ELCS LAB – 12

DATE: 15-04-2020

ACTIVITY:

A.  WRITING SKILLS - CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE LANGUAGE

B. PRECIS WRITING

A.  WRITING SKILLS - CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE LANGUAGE

There are six main characteristics of effective language.

Effective language is: concrete and specific, not vague and abstract

Concrete language includes descriptions which create tangible images with details the reader can visualize. Abstract language is vague and obscure, and does not bring to mind specific visual images.

Consider the two sets of statements below. The statement at the top is abstract, but the statements become increasingly concrete and specific toward the bottom.

He is untidy and unclean

He doesn't clean up his own messes

He leaves his dirty dishes on the kitchen counter    

(1) concise, not verbose

     A hallmark of effective writers is the ability to express the desired message in as few words as possible. Good writers, in other words, use language which is straightforward and to-the-point.

 (2) Familiar, not obscure

     Familiar language is that which the readers easily recognize    and understand because they use it on a regular basis.

(3) Precise and clear, not inaccurate or ambiguous

    The use of appropriate language is a tricky matter because the meaning of words is relative and situational. For this reason, it is important to choose language which is as precise and clear as possible. The more precise and clear one's use of language becomes, the fewer the number of possible interpretations for a message.

(4) Constructive, not destructive

Constructive language phrases a potentially negative message in a positive way, whereas destructive language directs blame and criticism toward the reader, creating defensiveness. Readers are likely to become defensive when the writer's language expresses any or all of the following:

• Superiority over the reader
• Indifference or apathy about an issue of importance to the reader
• Negative evaluation or judgment of the reader (as opposed to neutral descriptions or observations)
• Command or control over the reader

(5) Formality of Language

The formality of the language one uses should match the formality of the situation and the relationship between the writer and reader.

Very Formal: Exceedingly large segments of the population are expressing their discontent with medical practitioners who appear to more engrossed in amassing financial assets than in providing efficacious care to people with health disorders. 

Formal: A large number of consumers are complaining about medical doctors who are apparently more interested in making money than in providing effective health care.

B.               WRITING PRECIS

recis is a short summary of a paragraph. But writing Précis is more than just making the paragraphs short. Writing précis requires skill so that you do not miss out a point and capture all the main essence in one single small paragraph.

The motive of writing a précis is to make the reader understand the main essence of the paragraph in a shorter format. For precis writing there are certain do’s and dont’s which will guide you into writing a better precis. Below are do’s and dont’s of précis writing.

Do’s of Précis Writing

• Start your précis with the main idea so that reader can quickly understand the essence of the précis.
•  He/she will know beforehand as to what they should expect in the written précis.
•  While writing a précis, make a suitable environment where all the points can be described and discussed equally.
• As the main idea or the essence is established, you can follow it up with some methods, facts, points, etc.
• As a precis is concise, compress it and make sure that the length is available for you to retain the important data, keywords, and the concept.
• Removing the irrelevant data or sentence is as important as writing the relevant points.

Dont’s of Précis Writing

•  Précis writing is a formal way of writing a shorter form of the given paragraph.
•  So, even though you have read and understood the Precis well, do not form your own opinions.
• You cannot insert your own remarks and criticism in a précis.
•  Always take the fact and data that is given in the paragraph only.
• Also, during a precis writing, you cannot insert a question. If for any reason you need to insert make it in the form of a statement.
• For précis writing, avoid using contractions and abbreviations.
• Write the full form of any given words only.
• Avoid being jerky. This will show that you have not understood the passage properly and have started writing a précis.

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