B A SI C

WRITING
SK IL
SENTENCES ESSENTIALS OF
WRITING OF A
ELEMENTS WRITING
BASIC TYPES OF
SENTENCE TYPES
SENTENCE WRITING
WRITING
SENTENCE DEVELOPMENT
ESSAY WRITING
COMBINATION
FAULTY WRITING
SENTENCES PROCESS
TYPES OF ESSAY
PARAGRAPH
WRITING
 SENTENCES WRITING
The relation of a clause to the rest of a sentence is shown by the position of the
clause or by a conjunction. There are two kinds of clauses:
♥ Main, or independent, clauses and
♥ Subordinate, or dependent, clauses

Sentences is a set of related words that is complete in itself.

♠ containing a subject and predicate
♠ conveying a meaning Features of effective
sentence
♠ begins with a capital letter and ends with end marks
 ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE SENTENCE
Every sentence, short or long, is made up of one or more units
containing two main parts: subject and predicate.
These constitute elements have three types:
† Simple
Example: They run.
† Complete
Example: The teacher is coming quickly.
† Compound
 SENTENCE TYPES (FUNCTIONAL
CATEGORY)

Imperative Exclamation
Declarative
Interrogative
Exclamatory
Imperative sentence
Interrogative sentence:
Declarative sentence:
sentence: :An
An
An
DISCUSS
exclamatory
imperative sentence
interrogative shows
sentence
makes asentence
statement; asks
gives strong
acommand
it agivesquestion.
information,
or
feeling,
Itorder emotion,
usually
to needs answer from
expresses/describes
do something. IONS
and excitement or admire.
another
ideas,
Sometimes body.
things,
the events, ofpersons
subject an
Moreover, this type of sentence ends with a period.
or places.
imperative
D
sentence (you) is understood. C
An
Anexclamatory
interrogativesentence
Example: sentenceends
endswith
withana exclamation mark.
question mark. B
♠ Example:
Example:
Example:
A
Abayneh, try the other door.
♠Look
♠♠♠The
HowTheinhouse
monster
did willthe
youiscloset.
the be built
attacking!
find card?
(You, on ainhill.
look the closet.)
♠ she
♠♠ How
Is They
you will
thecan
new come
solve by tomorrow.
this
teacher? equation!

♠♠ What
Howan
canamazing music!
you solve this equation?
 SENTENCE TYPES (STRUCTURAL
CATEGORY)

Simple
Compound
Compound Complex Complex
Compound-Complex
Complex
SimpleSentence
Compound Sentence
Sentence isisDISCUSS
Sentence is a sentence
isaaa sentence
sentence
sentence which which
consisting
which ofconsists
consists
one
consists of oformain
of subject
one
two and one
more
two independent
clause
predicate,
independent
clauses.
orclauses
and oneclauses
more
either
IONSwithof one
subordinate
orconnected
both
words, is one main clause.
whichor more
byclauses.
a may subordinate
be compound.
coordinating It, in other
conjunction,
D
conjunctive adverbs or separated by a semi-colon. C
B
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example
A
1. The players
1.1.Although I have arrived.
never played tennis, I planned to start
He met a student who left school last year. (adjective clause)
1. I have never played tennis, but I hope to start
taking lessons
2. The next
big tree year; ofI our
in front really need
house is athe aerobic house for
permanent
2. After I took a nap, I felt better. (adverb clause)
taking
exercise lessons
that tennis
thousands
next year.
provides.
of birds.

2.2.Although
I steamed thenever
I have carrots;
playedthen I baked
tennis, I reallythe potatoes.
need the
 Sentences
combinations
 SENTENCE
COMBINATION
In writing, to vary the length of your sentences, you should combine two
or more short sentences in to one.
Two or more ideas can be connected in a sentence by two sentences
combination methods:

Coordination Subordination
Coordination is a method of joining two independent sentences

by using coordinators. In coordination, the status of the sentences

is not reduced when they are combined.

♥ Coordinating Conjunctions,
♥ Correlative Conjunctions And
♥ Adverb Conjunctions
 Coordinating conjunctions

Note: When you use the above coordinating conjunctions to join complete sentences, use a
comma before the coordinators.
So:
OrShows cause
moreand
DISCUSS
effect relationship.
Nor: :For:
shows
Shows alternatives
Aequality formalor word
of two choices
for ideas.
negative ItItshows
because, has
this the
showssame
a result-cause
an addition of a
meaning as therefore,
relationship
You must
negative point. between
(Note:come asIONS
a result.
two
youearly,
must or you X
independent
reversewillhappened,
the clauses.
miss the bus.
normal so Y verb
It shows
subject- Dlogical
C
happened.
consequence; it has the same
whenmeaning as because, the reason why.
positions in the second clause using nor). B
Azeb studied
Thepatient
driver hard,
couldn’t so she scored
control a good
the speed ofhegrade.
the car,
A
Yet : shows opposition; also shows emphasis (a eat
The didn’t eat his dinner, nor did hisfor
stronger
he was totally
lunch.
but)
drunk.
But: Shows
There areopposition or contrast
many parking between
places in two
Injibara ideas. It has
University, yet the same
no one
Note: When
And: you use
Shows the above
equality coordinating
between
meaning as however, except, onhas the
thecar. two
other hand
conjunctions
ideas. It to addition; it
shows

join has
complete
the samesentences,
meaning as use a comma
in addition, before the
along with
She studied hard, but she failed the examination.
CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTIONS
 ADVERB CONJUNCTIONS
Conjunctive adverbs are other coordination methods that can be moved
to another position in the clause.
Most adverb conjunctions are preceded by a semi colon and followed
by a comma.

The adverbs like still and also are not preceded by a semicolon, and
otherwise and then are preceded by a semi colon but not followed by a
comma.
 Use Conjunctive adverbs

Adding Ideas Additionally, also, besides, furthermore, in addition,

moreover

Cause and Effect Accordingly, consequently, hence, therefore, thus

Clarifying a Point for example, for instance, namely, that is

Comparing Two Ideas Likewise, similarly

Contrasting Ideas However, instead, nevertheless, rather, regardless, still

Emphasizing a Point Again, certainly, indeed, moreover, of course

Alternative Instead, otherwise

Subordination is the joining of an independent clause and a

dependent clause in the same sentence by using subordinators.

In subordination, the status of one of the clause to be combined is

reduced in to dependent one. The linking devices we use in

subordination are:

♠ subordinating conjunctions and

♠ relative pronouns
 because, since, as, as though, even though,
though, even if, whereas, while, although
Subordinatin
g
Conjunction even if, if, as if, as long as, provided that,
unless, provided

who, that, which, where, when, whose

Relative
pronouns
whom, of which, why
 RELATIVE PRONOUNS
Beside combining the two clauses, the relative pronoun acts as the

subject or object of the verb in the relative clause.

Like the other subordinating conjunctions relative pronouns are used

to join subordinate clauses with independent sentences.

 SUBJECT OBJECT POSSESSIVE
For person who/that whom/who/that whose
For things which/that which/that whose/of which

SUBJECT OBJECT POSSESSIVE

For person Who whom/who whose
For things Which which whose, of which
Activities: In the space provided, write an appropriate coordinating
conjunction.
1. Everyone wants a tax cut, __________ no one wants to give up
any government services.
2. The runner admitted taking steroids, __________ he was forced
to give up his medals.
3. You must read the paper every day, _________ you don’t know
what is going on in the world.
In the space provided, use the appropriate conjunctive adverbs. Be sure to
punctuate it properly.
1. Sunshine Construction Company is building a plant in Nazareth ;moreover,
it is planning to build another in Bahir Dar within three years.
2. Most of our customers like our new products___________Tana Wholesale
Trade Corporation has shown a great interest in three of our products.
3. A computer manufacturing plant is opening in Cairo___________there will
be one hundred new jobs available in September.
4. Bahir Dar is growing fast ___________Debremarkos is slowly growing
town.
Complete the following sentences with the appropriate relative pronoun.

1. The doctor _______ examined the child was very cool.

2. I live in Injibara, _______ is a densely populated town.

3. Belay teaches a class of students _______ native language is not

English.

4. Yesterday, I ran into an old friend _______ I hadn't seen for years.
SENTENCE
S ERRORS
Faulty sentences are those happened in the sentences

writing that may create communication barrio among

the communicators.

There are numbers of sentences error that may

Fragments: A sentence fragment is a group of words

that: lacks a part of sentence or is a dependent clause

unattached to independent clause.

To spot such sentences errors, there are several methods

those are by adding the missing part of the sentences,

A run-on sentence consists of two or more complete

thoughts placed within the same sentence without any

punctuation to separate them.

To correct run-on sentences, we may use five basic

ways of correcting a run-on sentence.

Comma Splices is a frequently committed type of

grammatical error. It contains two independent clauses

joined by a comma (the coordinating conjunction is

missing).

To spot such sentences errors, there are several

Dangling Modifiers is a phrase or clause which says

something different from what is meant because It is

not clearly and logically related to the words it

modifies. A modifier that opens a sentence must be

followed immediately by the word it is meant to

A misplaced modifier is simply a word, a phrase, or a

clause describing something, but not placed near

enough to the word it is supposed to modify.

To correct this error the writer should rearrange the

place of the modifiers.

Subject-verb agreement errors often occur with

compound subjects, when the verb comes before the

subject, when a word or phrase comes between the

subject and the verb and with indefinite pronouns

(everybody, someone…).
Parallelism means that words, phrases or clauses in a

series should have similar grammatical form.

Keeping corresponding parts of a sentence parallel in

structure and length will make your writing clearer

and easier to read or understand.

Incorrect: My sister likes wearing crazy hats, dressing in funky
A shift in a sentence can be described as an

unexpected, unneeded change in subject, voice, tense,

mood, person, number.

There are five different shifts to watch out for three for

verbs (tense, voice, mood), two for pronouns (person,

Shifts in verb tense: except for special Shifts in voice: When a sentence contains
cases where the intended meaning requires a two or more verbs, both verbs should
change in tense, maintain the same tense maintain the same voice.
Example: When the children
within a sentence.
Example: She caught the ball and
turned the TV, a buzzing sound
then throws it to the catcher for
was heard.
the out.
Shifts in mood: often occur Shifts in person: unless the
with directions, where the mood meaning of a sentence clearly
shifts from indicative to requires a change, keep person
imperative or from imperative to consistent within a sentence.
If someone wants play games, you must
indicative.
Take tablet and you should call me in the
follow the rules.
 UNIT
TWO
PARAGRAP
 PARAGRAPH WRITING
A paragraph is a distinct section of your writing that deals with a

single topic or point. It is indicated by a new line and an indentation

(most of the time).

They usually start with a main idea and then give evidence to support

that main idea. Paragraphs offer coherence and organization to your

 CHARACTERISTICS EFFECTIVE
PARAGRAPH
 presents a single idea

 contains support in form of sentences that convey the single idea

 is strategically organized to maintain flow

 maintains your essay’s objective

Elements of
paragraph
 ESSENTIALS OF A
PARAGRAPH

Unity Coherence

Completeness

verity
Economy
 UNIT THREE

ESSAY
An essay is a piece of writing that is written to convince
someone of something or to simply inform the reader about a
particular topic.
In order for the reader to be convinced or adequately
informed, the essay must include several important
components to make it flow in a logical way. The main parts
to an essay are the intro, body, and conclusion.
In a standard short essay, five paragraphs can provide the
Introduction: An introductory paragraph is the first paragraph of
an essay.
Introduction should
♠ contain an attention grabber for the reader or at least make the
essay sound interesting, may begin with a quote about the
particular topic
♠ Ensure that the introduction moves from the general to the
specific in regards to the topic
♠ Provides the reader with a “road map” of the essay in a logical
Thesis Statement: The thesis statement concisely states the main idea,

limits on the topic, and organization of the essay.

Supporting Paragraphs: most essays have three supporting points,

developed in three separate paragraphs. These details can include

support from research and experiences, depending on the assignment.

Conclusion: the conclusion brings together all the main points of the

essay. It refers back to the thesis statement and leaves readers with a

final thought and sense of closure by resolving any ideas brought up in

the essay.

In the conclusion, new topics or ideas that were not developed in the

paper should not be introduced. Conclusion should:

♠ This section should wrap all of your arguments and points

 Persuasive Essays (Convince Me): While like an expository essay in its
Narrative Essays
Descriptive
Expository Essaysthe
(Just (Telling
Facts):a aStory):
(Painting The In aAnarrative
Picture):
expository cousin ofessay,
paragraph is the
an writer
the narrative tellsaa
essay,
informative
presentation of facts, the goal of the persuasive essay is to convince the
story ofabout
descriptive
piece a real-life
essay
writing paintsTYPES OF
aexperience.
picturea with
that presents It words.
is concerned
balanced A writerwith
analysis a atopic.
ofmight sequence
describe
In an aof
reader to accept the writer’s point of view or recommendation. The writer
happenings
person,
expositoryplace, over
object,
essay,
PARAGRAPH
the awriter
orperiod
even of time.
memory
explains or of The aauthor
special
defines writesfacts,
significance.
topic, using to record
However, thisan
statistics,
must build a case using facts and logic, as well as examples, expert opinion,
event/serious
type
and of essay isofnot
examples. events usually for
description in the order they occurred
description’s sake. Theor in chronology.
descriptive essay
and sound reasoning.
Narratives
strives can be either
to communicate simple-narratives
a deeper meaning through of facts/events-which
the description. Inhave a
The writer should present all sides of the argument, but must be able to
occurredexpository
descriptive
Because really such
essay, the as diary,
writer
essays should autobiography,
show,
are based onnot tell,and
facts adventures
through the use
not personalandof feelings,
historical
colorful
communicate clearly and without equivocation why a certain position is
incidents
words
writers and orreveal
don’t plotted-fictional:
sensory details. novel,
The best
their emotions shortinstory,
ordescriptive
write andperson.
essays
the first novella.toItthe
appeal can also be
reader’s
 TECHNIQUES OF WRITING DEVELOPMENT
Definition: It is a process of explaining concepts or terms or ideas or
giving meaning. It is a method of restricting, making clear or

identifying the meaning of a word/phrase. Purposes of Definition

are :

♠ To identify the scope or meaning of concept

♠ To avoid ambiguity (not to be interpreted in different way)

♠ To illustrate clearly the meaning that you intended to transmit.

Exemplification: is a technique used to support a controlling idea by

giving example of what we mean. Examples can be either factual or

fabricated, but the purpose is to develop illustration.

Types of examples
♠ Single key-example (one example)
♠ Multiple examples (several)
♠ Explanatory
Classification: It is a process of putting people or things into a group

according to characteristics they have in common.

It explains how several things are similar based on one or more

characteristics they have in common.

It is a process of clustering or grouping or categorization based on

certain qualities.
Compare and contrast: Comparison and contrast shows similarities

and differences between two or more persons or things or groups.

There are two types of Compare and contrast: point by point

and block

♠ Point by Point: write one similarity then one difference.

♠ Block: after writing about similarity or differences the other

Cause and effect: the reason; the situation created or the consequences.

Process: A technique that is used to shows the steps or procedures to do

something.

There are sequence markers such as first, second, then, next, following
that, after that, finally…etc.
 WRITING Selecting a topic
PROCESS Narrowing the
PRE-WRITING topic
Outlining
DRAFTING
Gathering
EDITING Information
Free-writing
PROOFREADING

POST WRITING PHASE

Logical ordering of ideas: 3 types of order

Chronological order---order of time, good for narratives
Spatial order-----good for descriptions of locations; top to bottom
Emphatic order----least important to most important; most common for
እግዚአብሔር ይስጥልኝ
WRITING PROCESS
The composing/writing process is a routine that comes naturally and
is not a step-by-step guide to which writers refer. There are five main
steps in writing:
† Pre-writing
† Drafting
† Editing
† Proofreading
† Post Writing Phase
PRE-WRITING: in writing process the first step is called prewriting.
Prewriting is a way to get ideas. In this step, you choose a topic and
collect ideas to explain the topic. Even during this initial step, writers
must identify the task, the audience for whom they will be writing, and
the purpose for writing.