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- Herausgeber: Geddes and Grosset
- Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014
Effective, written work that people want to read, and remember, stands out. This book will help you write emails, a CV, a thesis, report, essay or novel. This book shows you to how to attack the piece of writing, from planning to effective communication so people will remember your work and want to come back to it.
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BETTER ENGLISH WRITING
The aim of this book is to help you write clearer and more concise English – whether you are writing emails or writing a thesis.
By the time you have finished this book, you will have learned tips and techniques to improve your written English and make it more readable and interesting. You will be able to write clearly and effectively, and to come across in a memorable and professional way.
The book contains six main chapters. These are as follows.
Better writing for every day
This chapter gives you some general advice to help you write better English – whatever that type of writing is. It covers the importance of plain English, and will help you to apply the principles of plain English to your writing. We have provided some examples of how not-so-plain English can be converted into plain English!
We also focus on the importance of editing and revising your writing in this chapter. Even the most professional and gifted of writers edit and revise their work.
Writing for learning
In this chapter the focus is on writing for learning. You will find out about research and how to tackle writing essays and theses. There are examples of each of these to give you an idea of what is expected.
You can apply this information to writing assignments for all sorts of courses – whether you are at school, college, university or doing a distance learning course.
Writing for work or business
This chapter gives you the advice and support you need to be able to tackle all sorts of writing for work or business – from writing a CV or making a presentation to get the job, through to communicating with customers by email, letter or text.
There are examples of each type of writing.
Writing for the media
Writing for the media involves learning specific writing techniques. If you are interested in writing articles or news items for newspapers, magazines, ezines, websites, TV or radio, then this chapter will help you to understand and apply these techniques.
It also looks at interview techniques and house styles, and provides useful examples.
Writing creatively
This chapter provides an introduction to the different types of fiction and non-fiction writing, and their characteristics. It also gives you advice on composition techniques that you can apply to your own fiction and non-fiction writing.
Again, examples are provided to illustrate these techniques.
Keep reading and writing!
One of the best ways to improve your own writing is by reading other people’s writing. In this chapter, we leave you with some suggestions for material that you should read every day. We also have some suggestions for how you can practise writing regularly – the more you write, the better you’ll get.
We hope that you enjoy using this book, and that it will inspire you to produce clear, concise and memorable writing!
CONTENTS
BETTER WRITING FOR EVERY DAY
INTRODUCTION
PLAIN ENGLISH
What is plain English and why is it important?
How to apply plain English to your writing
Think ahead – plan and structure your writing
Talk directly to your reader – use ‘you’ and ‘we’
Use simple, straightforward words
Words and phrases to avoid
Keep sentences and paragraphs short and concise
Use lists to help you manage information
Be active, not passive
When passive can be useful
Avoid nominalisation
Tell it like it is!
Examples of plain English and not-so-plain English
Before
After
Before
After
Before
After
REVISING AND EDITING YOUR WRITING
Why it’s essential to revise and edit your writing
Leave it and go back to it
Revise the big picture
Edit the detail
AutoCorrect, spellcheckers, grammar checkers and Google Translate – use with caution
WRITING FOR LEARNING
INTRODUCTION
RESEARCH SKILLS
What information are you looking for?
Where can you find that information?
Organising your information
Acknowledging sources/copyright
References
Main text
Bibliography
Beware of cut and paste and plagiarism
ESSAYS
The process of writing an essay
Planning your essay
Structuring your essay
Writing the introduction
Developing the argument
Writing the conclusion
THESES/DISSERTATIONS
The process of writing a thesis
Planning your thesis
Structuring your thesis
Sections within the structure
Title page
Abstract
Acknowledgements
Contents page (can also include lists of tables, illustrations and figures)
Introduction
The literature review
Materials and methods
Results/Findings
Discussion
Conclusions
References
Appendices
WRITING FOR WORK OR BUSINESS
INTRODUCTION
APPLYING FOR A JOB
How to write an effective CV
Personal details
Education and qualifications
Work experience
Further information
Interests
Referees
Example of a CV
How to write an effective covering letter
Role of the covering letter
Do your research before you write
Format
Date
Address
Greeting
Headings
Main body of the letter
Ending
Enclosures
Example of a covering letter for a job application
How to write a reference
Greeting
Main body of the letter
Conclusion
Example of a reference
Presentations
EMAILS AND TEXTING IN THE WORKPLACE
General approach
Style and tone
Text-speak?
Good practice
EMAILS AND LETTERS
General approach
Style and tone
House style
Good practice
Writing emails to customers
Example of an email to a customer
Writing letters to customers
Example of a letter to a customer
REPORTS
The process of writing a report
Planning your report
Structuring your report
Sections within the structure
Title page
Contents page
Executive summary
Introduction
Findings
Summary and conclusions
Recommendations
Appendix
Staying relevant, objective and factual
PRESENTATIONS
Planning a presentation
Purpose
Audience
Venue
Remit
Structuring a presentation
Introduction
Main points
Conclusion
Delivering an effective presentation
Remember that practice makes perfect
Use body language
Use your voice
Breathe!
Be enthusiastic and energetic
Be prepared!
What type of visual aid?
Flipchart
Handout
OHP
PowerPoint
Video
Whiteboard
Example of a PowerPoint presentation
MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL WRITING
General approach
Audience
Style and tone
Call to action
Writing brochures/leaflets
Example of a leaflet
Writing for websites
Presenting information
Writing content
Plain English
BBC
The Guardian
WWF’s Earth Hour
Social media
WRITING ANNOUNCEMENTS
General approach
Get your facts correct
Presentation style
Beginning: tell the news straight away
Middle: develop the news
End: looking forward and being positive
Style and tone
Example of an announcement
How to announce good news
Example of how to announce good news
How to announce bad news
Example of how to announce bad news
WRITING FOR THE MEDIA
INTRODUCTION
WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT WRITING FOR THE MEDIA?
The five Ws and an H
Example of ‘five Ws and an H’
Media style
Example of two openings
Interviewing techniques
Do your research
Plan and structure
Establish a rapport
Ask open-ended questions
House style
Example of house style
Preferred dictionary
Addresses, ages, dates and numbers
Collective nouns
Hyphens and en rules
Abbreviations, titles, capital letters and royalty
Fonts and layouts
Style of language
Spin
DIFFERENT MEDIA, DIFFERENT STYLES
Newspapers
Tabloids and broadsheets
Examples of tabloid and broadsheet headlines
Tabloid headline
Broadsheet headline
Examples of tabloid and broadsheet report approach
Tabloid news report approach
Broadsheet news report approach
Structure and style
Magazines
News features
Profiles
Lifestyle features
Consumer features
Question and answer
Specialist features
Structure and style
Example of a feature profile
Ezines
Research
Write your article
Resource box
Developing your own ezine
Example of an ezine
Newsletters
Blogs
Why do you want to blog?
How to set up a blog
Writing a blog
Examples of blogs
Reviews
What is the target audience/market?
Include basic information
Don’t give away too much
Example of a review
ACKNOWLEDGING SOURCES/COPYRIGHT
WRITING CREATIVELY
INTRODUCTION
FICTION
Short stories
Impactful opening
Introduction of main character(s)
Introduction of setting
Problem/conflict introduced and developed
Problem/conflict develops to a climax
Effect of this climax on the character
Resolution
Novels
WRITING YOUR OWN FICTION COMPOSITION
Setting
Plot
Exposition
Conflict
Rising action
Climax
Falling action
Resolution
Narrator/voice
Dialogue
Characters
Elizabeth
Darcy
Jane
Bingley
Wickham
Mrs Bennet
Mr Bennet
Mr Collins
Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Themes
Pride
Prejudice
Love and marriage
Reputation
Class and social standing
A good beginning and a good end
The writing process – fiction
First lines
Setting the scene
Prompts
NON-FICTION
Biographies
Examples from two different biographies
Travel
Travel articles
Examples of a travel article
Example of literary travel writing
Travel guides
Example of a travel guide
Cookery
Theme
Structure
Two examples of recipe structure
Photographs
Writing recipes
Example of recipe writing
Introductions and other content
Technical writing
End-user documents
Examples of end-user documents
Traditional technical writing
Example of traditional technical writing
Technological marketing material
‘How to’ writing
Examples of ‘how to’ writing
Reference works
Dictionary
Example of how to use a dictionary
Other types of dictionaries
Thesaurus
Example of a thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Atlas
Directory
Reference for writers
Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook
Rhyming dictionary
Grammar books
Emotional thesaurus
Names books
Inspirational books
Quotations books
WRITING YOUR OWN NON-FICTION COMPOSITION
Research
What information are you looking for?
Where can you find that information?
Accuracy
Organising your information
Acknowledging sources/copyright
References
Beware cut and paste and plagiarism!
Style and tone
Planning your composition
Structuring your composition
Biography
Recipe collection
Operating instructions for a communication camera
Staying relevant, objective and factual
The writing process – non-fiction
KEEP READING AND WRITING
KEEP READING
Newspapers
Magazines and ezines
Fiction
Non-fiction
Textbooks and ‘how to’ materials
Blogs
Newsletters
KEEP WRITING
Diary
Blog
Letters and cards
Essays and compositions
Newspapers
Magazines and ezines
Good luck and keep writing!
REFERENCES
Better writing for every day
Writing for learning
Writing for work or business
Writing for the media
Writing creatively
BETTER WRITING FOR EVERY DAY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we are going to look at what we mean by plain English and why it is so important. We will then discuss the principles of plain English, and how to apply these to everything you write, whether it’s a letter, an email, a marketing brochure or a dissertation.
There are a number of examples to show how not-so-plain English can be transformed into plain English. It really does make a huge difference when you can read and understand something easily the first time round.
Finally, there is a section on the importance of editing and revising your writing, and the role of AutoCorrect, spellcheckers, grammar checkers and Google Translate in this process.
PLAIN ENGLISH
In this section we are going to look at what we mean by ‘plain English’.
What is plain English and why is it important?
Plain English writing always keeps the reader in mind, so it is clear and concise and uses the appropriate tone.
Some people think that plain English is oversimplified and that it talks down to readers, as if they were children.
Some people think that writing good English means writing long, convoluted sentences, with lots of clauses, which have, or try to have, impressive, indecipherable words, with regard to making lots of grandiose points in a pompous and grandiloquent way and it would seem not really going anywhere with them at all and, quite frankly, leaving the reader confounded, disconcerted and bewildered, and not understanding at all what the sentence is about because regarding this they go and on and don’t seem to know when to stop and in order to get to the end of the sentence the reader has to read the sentence over several times and endeavour hard to understand it, which is quite egregious, don’t you agree?
Confused? You should be. This sentence shows why plain English is so important.
Think about why we write in the first place. We write to communicate a message to our reader – not to show how clever or educated or well-read we are. If we can’t communicate our message to the reader in a way that they understand then what’s the point? We are excluding them, rather than including them.
And apart from anything else, plain English is faster to write and faster to read. People understand your message more easily and respond more positively if it is written using a straightforward and friendly tone, rather than a stuffy and bureaucratic one.
How to apply plain English to your writing
Here are some plain English principles. Apply these to your writing and notice the difference. It can take a while to retrain yourself to write this way, but it’s well worth the effort.
Think ahead – plan and structure your writing
Ask yourself the following questions before you start to write. If you do this, then you are more likely to produce a well-structured and effective piece of work. If you don’t, then your writing is more likely to ramble on, go off at a tangent and not make sense because you don’t really know what you want to say.
• What do I want this piece of writing to do?
• What are its aims and outcomes?
• Who are my readers?
• What do I want them to learn/know?
• What do they need/want to learn/know?
• What is the simplest and most effective way of passing on this information?
Make a plan of the structure of your work. How you do this is up to you. Some people think of their piece of writing as a story, and write out main headings and subheadings. Some people make out a list of points, in a logical order. Some people use mind maps. Use a method that you feel comfortable with.
For example, look at the contents page of this book. The writer used this as a plan for the structure of the book.
Talk directly to your reader – use ‘you’ and ‘we’
Writing doesn’t have to be formal and intimidating. You wouldn’t speak to your reader that way, so you don’t need to write that way. Try to address your reader personally, and call them ‘you’ – it will make your writing seem less bureaucratic and intimidating.
Here’s an example. If you were applying for a job, which of the following would you prefer to read?
It is suggested that job applicants submit a handwritten form and hand it in prior to the interview. Applicants will be notified by telephone of their success or otherwise.
or
Please fill in your job application form and hand it in before the interview. We will phone you to let you know if you have been successful.
In the same way, you should also use ‘we’ or ‘I’ if you are talking about your business or organisation. It gives a much more direct and positive tone to your writing.
Use simple, straightforward words
People sometimes make the mistake of thinking that by using simple, straightforward words, you are patronising your reader. Quite the opposite – if we’re honest, we all prefer to read clear and straightforward text rather than difficult, convoluted text.
There will possibly be times when you have to use technical or more complicated vocabulary because that’s what your reader requires, and they will understand the terms and phrases you use. That’s fine, as long as your writing remains clear and direct.
In general, always imagine that you are talking to your reader, and stick to straightforward English where possible.
Words and phrases to avoid
Try to avoid using words that most people wouldn’t know. For example, you might know what ‘egregious’ means (outstandingly bad) but it’s not a common word, so you’re probably safer to use ‘shocking’ or ‘extremely bad’ instead.
There are a number of words and phrases that are overused. They don’t add anything to your text, but they do give it a vague and woolly feel.Here are some examples – try to avoid them where possible or use the suggested alternatives.
word/phrase
suggested alternative
as mentioned previously
as we have already said
a number of
some
as regards to/with regards to
about
by means of
by
commence
start
consequently
so
for the purposes of
for
in excess of
more than
in order to
to
in relation to (for example, ‘my
on or about (or
thoughts in relation to’)
just leave out)
in the event of
if
inform
tell
necessitate
cause
prior to
before
until such time as
until
utilise
use
whilst
while
with reference to
about
Keep sentences and paragraphs short and concise
Sentences containing lots of clauses (not to mention parentheses – and this is an example) are difficult to read. Many readers give up before they get to the end of long, multi-clause sentences.
Experts on plain English think that an average sentence should be between 15 to 20 words long, although not every sentence has to be the same length. In fact, you can vary them to great effect. Be creative. (Like this!) Try to stick to one idea in each sentence, or at the most one idea and one related point.
It can be quite difficult to keep to short sentences when you are trying to explain something that is complicated. In that case, write your long sentence, then look at ways you can break it up.
The same principles apply to paragraphs. There’s nothing more daunting than a long paragraph that deals with so many points that you’re lost by the time you reach the end.
Like a sentence, a paragraph is a small, self-contained unit. You state your idea, develop it and then link it to the idea in the next paragraph. If you have planned your writing carefully, your reader will be able to understand each paragraph quickly and easily because they are clear, concise and logical.
Use lists to help you manage information
Sometimes you can’t avoid having to cover a lot of information in one section. Lists with bullet points are an excellent way to deal with this. It is easier to take in chunks of information rather than wade through a page full of information that appears to go on and on.
There are two main types of lists.
Here is an example of the first type. It has an introductory statement, followed by a list of separate points. Each point is a complete sentence that begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.
Emma wanted to go on a gap year. She had several reasons for this.
She didn’t know what she wanted to study at university.
She wanted to travel around the world.
She would never have another chance in her life to take so much time off.
Here is an example of the second type. This list is part of a continuous sentence. Each point starts with a lower case letter, and there is a full stop at the end of the list.
Emma wanted to go on a gap year because she:
didn’t know what she wanted to study at university
wanted to travel around the world
would never have another chance in her life to take so much time off.
Remember that each point in this list has to relate to the introduction. Try reading it to yourself if you’re not sure.
For example, does this sound right?
Emma wanted to go on a gap year because she:
what she wanted to study at university
travel around the world
would never have another chance in her life to take so much time off.
Be active, not passive
An active clause is where adoes something to b. In other words, the order is subject, verb, object. The verb is active.
For example:
The candidate completed the job application.
A passive clause is where b is done by a. In other words, the order is object, verb, subject. The verb is passive.
For example:
The job application was completed by the candidate.
You’ll notice that when you use the passive voice, you have to introduce the words ‘was’ and ‘by’, and this can make text more clumsy and long-winded. Passives also de-personalise the text and can sometimes be confusing.
And finally, because you are not talking directly to your reader, you lose your friendly and approachable tone.
Try to use active verbs in the majority of your writing. The passive voice isn’t wrong. You need to use it sometimes, but it can be a wordy and unclear way of expressing yourself.
Here are some examples of how to turn passive sentences into active ones:
The land was farmed by student workers. (passive)
Student workers farmed the land. (active)
The screenplay was written by a famous author. (passive)
A famous author wrote the screenplay. (active)
The criminals were chased by the police. (passive)
The police chased the criminals. (active)
When passive can be useful
However, there are times when using the passive can be useful.
• It can sound softer: The cup has been broken. (passive) sounds less accusing than You broke the cup. (active)
• You might not know who or what the ‘doer’ of the sentence is: The soldier was awarded a medal for bravery. The corner shop has been robbed.
• If it is unclear who or what did something, or if you want to deliberately make it unclear for effect, then you use the passive voice. Where are all the sweets that I bought? Erm, all those sweets have been eaten. (passive) You ate all the sweets, didn't you? (active)
