Preface
Technical Report-Writing Skills, first edition, has been developed to assist college and university students as well as professionals studying English as a foreign language at an upper-elementary or lower-intermediate level. While the BOOK is specifically intended for learners who already have basic competence at sentence-level writing, it is, however, flexible enough to be used by almost anyone wanting to improve their writing skills. It provides enough material for about ninety-eight class-hours of classroom instruction; it is, in other words, a fifteen-week writing course.
Description
This BOOK DEALS with principles of effective writing. After a review of sentence-level writing, students are assisted to acquire the skills necessary to produce various types of compositions. Students develop effective writing skills by focusing on format, mechanical accuracy, and clarity of expression.
In addition, students learn to collaborate with others on producing written assignments.
Fourteen practical and academic-writing topics are covered in fourteen units. These are:
the mechanics of writing
sentence structure
transition signals
writing an effective paragraph
contrast and comparison
report-writing
argumentative writing: making generalizations and drawing conclusions
note-taking
business letters
covering letters
formal and informal emails
email JOB applications
memos
resume-writing
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
write using grammatically- and mechanically-correct language appropriate to the type of report specified.
differentiate between effective and ineffective written communication by understanding and identifying the criteria that describe effective report-writing.
identify the context, purposes, audience, and process of formal written communication.
EMPLOY developed pre-writing skills by brainstorming, choosing, consulting other people and sources or information, and scanning material appropriate to the type of report required, as well as taking relevant notes.
further develop their writing skills by making use of notes, writing first drafts, and consulting dictionaries and other reference BOOKS.
proofread their own and classmates’ written WORK.
produce formal written communications targeted towards varied and specific audiences.
develop and use effective strategies for participating in collaborative WORK aimed at the preparation and completion of written business communications.
Contents
Unit 1: The Mechanics of Writing
Part 1: CAPITALIZATION
Part 2: Punctuation
Part 3: Articles
Indefinite Articles: a/an
The Definite Article the
The Zero Article
Unit 2: Sentence Structure
Part 1: Parts of a Sentence
Part 2: Prepositions of Place: in, on, at, from, to, with
Part 3: Kinds of Sentences
Simple Sentences
What is a simple sentence?
Subject-Verb Agreement
Compound Sentences with And, But, So, and Or
Complex Sentences
Unit 3: Transition Signals
What are transition signals?
Common Transition Signals
Using Coordinators, Sentence Connectors, and Subordinators to Combine Sentences
Unit 4: Writing an Effective Paragraph
Part 1: What is a paragraph?
Part 2: Topic Sentences & Main-Idea Sentences
Part 3: Irrelevant Sentences
Unit 5: Argumentative Writing: Making Generalizations and Drawing Conclusions
Part 1: The Argumentative Paragraph
Part 2: Expressions of Advisability
Part 3: Writing an Argumentative Paragraph
Unit 6: Brief Reports
What is a report?
Why are reports written?
Structure of a Report
An Overview
Background Information
Discussion of the Problem or Solution
Conclusion
Unit 7: Business Letters
Information and Requests
About Business Letters
Formatting for Business Letters The Inside Address or Letterhead Date The Addressee’s Address
The Greeting or Salutation
The Subject Line
The Body
The Closing
Signature and Sender’s Identification
Enclosures; Carbon Copies
Grammar: Information Questions
Unit 8: Contrasting and Comparison
What are contrast and comparison essays?
Contrast and Comparison Terms
Comparison Terms
Contrast Terms
Compare-and-Contrast Writing Methods
The Block Method
The Alternating Method
Comparing and Contrasting
Contrasting
Comparing
Creating Thesis Statements
Contrasting
Comparing
Unit 9: Cover Letters
What are covering letters?
In what situations are covering letters used?
What are the characteristics of a good covering letter?
How is a covering letter formatted?
Covering Letters for University Applications
Covering Letters for Internship Applications
Covering Letters for Job Applications
Unit 10: Writing Formal and Informal Emails
Introduction
Formal Email Formatting
Formal Email Writing
Informal Email Formatting
Informal Email Writing
Unit 11: Memos
What is a memo?
Why write a memo?
Parts of a Memo
The Heading
The Body
Introduction
Details
Conclusion
Carbon Copies
An Example Memo
Unit 12: Note-taking
What is note-taking?
Short Forms of Words
How can I take good notes?
Identifying the Topic
Opinions
Facts
Supporting Details
Putting a Fact into Action
Summarizing Information and Supporting Details
How can I identify the main idea of a reading?
Writing a Summary
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