General Writing

A Comprehensive Guide to Writing

Authentic, real life communication typically requires learners to write mails,

reports, directions, summaries, etc. All of these are continuous pieces of text
comprising of a number of interlinked sentences, flowing logically from one to the
next, and creating a holistic piece of communication. Since the reader is often
separated from the writer by time and space, the need to communicate one’s
ideas clearly and concisely in writing forms the most important criteria of written
communication.
This document will give you a detailed explanation of how to approach any type
of writing. It is a precursor to all the tips and suggestions that you will receive
through the i-osmosis evaluations. You can refer to this document for all kinds of
writing—whether an General Writing assignment or something you have to write
in your daily life. All forms of written work need to follow some steps to be
effective and reader-friendly, and this document will help you to understand and
apply your learning to all forms of writing.

Prewriting

Read the topic carefully:

If not assigned a topic to write on, do not begin writing before writing out a clear
topic statement. This statement should include all aspects of the topic you
intend to write about. Then make sure the piece you write covers all those
aspects.

If given a topic, read it carefully and pinpoint all the aspects you are required to
write on. Ensure that you understand the topic perfectly.

Consider the topic, “Which is more of an influence on a person's life—

genetics or environment?”

If you were to look up a dictionary, the word “environment” would have two
meanings: “one’s surroundings, e.g., a room, a house, a street, etc.” or “the
natural features of the world in which all living things exist, e.g., forests, water,
etc.”

How do you know which one the topic is referring to? Look for clues. The topic
requires the writer to compare “environment” with “genetics.” Evidently, one
cannot compare plants and animals to genetics (meaning 2). What is
comparable to genetics is the opposite—the physical environment in which a
person is raised and its comparative effect on a human being’s development
(meaning 1).

Once you have understood the topic precisely, consider its scope. The topic only
requires the writer to compare the effects of genetics and environment. Thus,
the piece should restrict itself to comparable points of difference between the
two.

The topic could have been worded as follows: “Explain the terms ‘genetics’
and ‘environment,’ explaining which one is more of an influence on a
person’s life.”

In this case, the topic does not only demand a comparison but also a slightly
lengthier explanation of the meanings of both terms, compared to the first topic.
A piece without these definitions would be incomplete and would address only

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General Writing
A Comprehensive Guide to Writing

one aspect of the topic. In case of the first topic, any piece that defines the
terms in depth would be providing extraneous information.

Ideation:
This is the first step of writing as it reflects the writer’s ability to think about,
analyze, and understand a particular topic. After doing so, brainstorm for ideas
to frame a skeleton of the piece you intend to write. Jot down a list of points
that are relevant to the topic, and then rearrange them in a logical order to form
the various components of the piece.

Develop a structure. Build an outline for each component—the introduction,

body, and conclusion. Bear in mind which ideas will be included in which of the
components.

Writing

Writing is a very effective way of learning a language. It also helps a writer

showcase his thoughts on the topic. While a writer’s ideation is hidden from his
reader, his writing is what is visible and judged.

At this stage, convert the ideas you have jotted into complete sentences and
cohesive paragraphs. Decide which point will best support the main idea of your
essay and begin with it. Every other idea should reinforce and draw the reader’s
attention to your main idea. Ensure a smooth transition between these ideas that
are linked together by maintaining a logical flow of content. Deploy appropriate
transition devices—words and phrases—for this purpose. This involves a number
of steps:

Step 1: Writing the Introduction

Purpose: To grab the readers’ attention, introduce them to the topic of

discussion, and persuade them to read the rest of the piece. The more creatively
an introduction is written, the better it will serve its purpose.

Remember:
o Be general: The introduction should give a general background of the topic.
It should be a broad and general interpretation of the topic without delving
into specific details (e.g., examples, proof, detailed explanations) pertaining
to it.
o Include a thesis statement: This is a sentence introducing the main
purpose or topic of the piece. It should be your interpretation of the topic, not
a word-to-word repetition of the topic statement, and could appear anywhere
in the introduction.
o Close well: The closing line of the introduction should lead into the details
that will follow in the body paragraphs.

For instance, in an opinion/argumentative piece on whether genetics influences a

person more or the environment, the introduction could be structured as follows:

General background:
a. Short definitions of the terms “genetics” and “environment.”
b. Generic references to how both these factors influence a person in various
ways.
Thesis statement:

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General Writing
A Comprehensive Guide to Writing

c. Your opinion on which one influences a person more.

d. A brief reason supporting your opinion. This reason will be elaborated upon
and explained in the body.
Closing:
e. A transition sentence introducing the example or ideas to follow in the body.
This initiates the reader and prepares him for your detailed argument in the
body paragraphs.

Step 2: Writing the Body

Purpose: To describe your views on the topic in as much detail as possible

(usually dictated by the specified word count and audience). Depending on the
nature of the piece, the purpose of the body can be one of the following:
o To convince the reader of your point of view (opinion/argumentative writing)
o To narrate an incident (narrative writing)
o To describe a person/object/place/situation (descriptive writing)
o To compare two people/objects/places/situations (compare and contrast
writing)
o To write out the process required to achieve a specific goal (process writing)

Remember:
o Word count: Creative writing does not prescribe a standard structure. It
allows writers to compose their piece as per their preference. However, the
classic structure for a 200-300-word piece of writing is a paragraph each for
the introduction and conclusion along with three body paragraphs. This should
adequately cover all points relevant to the topic.
o Transition: There should be a smooth flow of information—each point should
logically arise from the previous one and lead to the next. This shows the
reader the relationship between various facts and ideas mentioned. To do so,
use connecting words or phrases such as “although,” “moreover,” “therefore,”
etc.

Example
Disconnected sentences: Clichés are expressions that were coined and first
used many centuries ago. They are relevant today because they are rooted in
reality. Clichés become clichés because they are based on universal truths.
Sentences with transition: Clichés are expressions that were coined and first
used many centuries ago. However, they continue to be relevant today
because they are rooted in reality. In fact, clichés become clichés because they
are based on universal truths.

o Logical order: Begin with the general and move to the specific. Raise a point
in support of your stance and substantiate it with examples. Examples from
one’s own experiences or books always enhance the credibility of writing.

Step 3: Writing the Conclusion

Purpose: To summarize the ideas and information presented in the body so as to

reinforce the main idea of the piece.

Remember
o The conclusion is a tool for the writer to remind and repeat his stance to the
reader. Although it may be a reiteration of thoughts and ideas mentioned in
the other components, care should be taken to rephrase them in such a way

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General Writing
A Comprehensive Guide to Writing

that they do not seem repetitive, i.e., the choice of words and expressions
should be such that it does not appear monotonous.
o Depending on the nature of the piece, the summary could serve one of the
following purposes:
• To repeat your opinion on the topic (opinion/argumentative writing)
• To describe your final thoughts on an incident you narrated (narrative writing)
• To summarize a detailed description provided in the body (descriptive writing)
• To state a final analysis of comparison between two things (compare/contrast
writing)
• To give your last few thoughts on a process previously described (process
writing)

Post Writing

Any good piece of writing must undergo at least two, if not more, drafts or
versions. This is because errors always creep in as we write. Even minor errors
(formatting, typos, etc.) can detract from a piece of good writing or make it
difficult to comprehend.
Once you have finished writing your first draft, you need to proofread it. A final
proofread helps correct errors with the piece’s content and language.

Tips for Proofreading:

o Always proofread on paper: When you read text online, you only read it one
part at a time—the part visible on your screen. On paper, one can spot
mistakes in formatting or flow easily.
o Read it out aloud: After proofreading it once on paper, reading out loud will
not only help you catch typographical errors but will also make incorrect or
awkward phrasing apparent.

Use the following checklist to prune common errors:

o Check punctuation: Check for quotation marks, periods, commas, etc., that
you may have missed or misused.
o Run a spelling and grammar check: Most text processing software has
inbuilt checks for spelling and grammar. Use these tools. Software, however,
will not catch some mistakes. For instance, if you have written “their” for
“there.” Thus, be careful when proofreading.
o Check content: Ensure that all ideas relevant to the topic have been included
with proper examples where required. Inadequate explanations of facts could
make writing seem abrupt and incomplete.
o Check for repetition: Repetitive phrases and ideas are clearly avoidable as
they could make writing unimaginative and detract from its overall
effectiveness.

Things to remember to make writing more effective

o Be concise: Make writing less wordy.

o Replace phrases with words wherever possible to make writing succinct.
o Replace noun forms with verb forms as they often make the construction less
wordy.

Example:
Avoid: These facts will help you to make a decision. (Noun form)
Better: These facts will help you to decide. (Verb form)

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General Writing
A Comprehensive Guide to Writing

o Use the correct vocabulary: Using a dictionary improves vocabulary, helps

to express the same idea in different words, and thus improves the quality of
writing. It also helps verify doubts regarding the spelling of words. Always use
an English-to-English dictionary as it will help you learn the exact meaning
and connotation of words and increase your vocabulary in the process.

Example: “Obtain” means “getting something by effort.” “Achieve” means “to

succeed in something”; hence, it has a more positive connotation and thus, more
appropriate in the context.
Incorrect: They have already obtained success.
Correct: They have already achieved success.

o Be politically correct: When writing for an audience, avoid biases in your

writing. For instance, when making a general statement, avoid using a
gender-specific pronoun.

Avoid: A student can use the library until the end of his term.
Better: Students can use the library until the end of their terms.

o Know your audience: Format, level of information, tone, vocabulary, and

style of writing vary for different type of readers.

Example: If writing a research paper in a journal read by medical professionals,

the writer will not provide the full form of the term “AIDS.” However, he would
refer to it as “Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome” at least once in the piece if
the audience consisted of young students.

o Format your piece well: Maintain consistency of font, type size, alignment,
spacing, etc. An ill-formatted piece drastically lowers a paper’s grade or the
credibility of writing.
• When presenting a piece to a publication or university, one must check what
the acceptable format is and style the piece accordingly.
• If no style is specified, ensure uniformity in font, size, alignment, etc.,
throughout the writing.

Unformatted text
A Changing America
The 1920’s, one of the most important era’s in American history. It carried high
prestige because of the fact that the 1920’s changed everything, from the way people thought
about themselves to the way people had fun and kept themselves entertained.
The first major change in American society was the change that occurred in America’s
political attitude.
The most major change in political attitude was due to Americans newfound hatred of immigrants.
Formatted text
A Changing America
The 1920’s, one of the most important era’s in American history. It carried high
prestige because of the fact that the 1920’s changed everything, from the way
people thought about themselves to the way people had fun and kept themselves
entertained.
The first major change in American society was the change that occurred in
America’s political attitude. The most major change in political attitude was due
to Americans newfound hatred of immigrants.

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