THOUGHT FOR TODAY

about the subject.

Study Success

Dear Student,

Welcome dear friend. Good speech habits and voice improvement boost speaking effectiveness. Analyse your voice. Do not be prejudiced and deceive yourself about how you express thoughts. Listen honestly. Resolve to hear yourself as others hear you. Also believe what teachers and friends who have keen ears tell you about your speaking voice.Know that charm and personality are reflected in your voice and can play a large part in your employment and social pursuitslater. Be wise.

Love you.

Improving Writing

Doing discursive writing

A discursive composition is one in which you arrive at a conclusion by reasoning. You consider in order the various aspects of your subject-matter and then proceed to make a statement of your own carefully-thought-out-opinions

Discursive writing has other names associated with it: ‘argumentative writing’, ‘and controversial writing’. Those names indicate what kind of subjects are set by examiners and what kind of treatment is expected in each case.

You can be asked to respond to subjects like the following two:

“The advantages and disadvantages of organised and packaged all-year-round hinterland tours.”

“Do you think that potentially dangerous animals should be kept in a zoo in a small city?”

Examiners and moderators of course work are looking for certain qualities in discursive compositions. They are:

√a genuine interest in the subject under discussion and an adequate amount of information about the subject;

√ the ability to see both sides of an argument and to present your chosen views clearly, coolly and fairly;

√the disposition with which you give account of objections beforecalmly and rationally concluding witha carefully-thought-out opinion;

√the determination to move steadily through opposing arguments and to present a clear conclusion at the end.

The problems. The problem can be technical. Or the problem can play on your temperament. The latter being considered a more personal matter. Any which way, you need to manage your writing skillfully:

●Always conclude your thoughts on the matter.

●When the response is to be done one-sidedly show an awareness of the arguments that are used against the matter.

●Always temper your anger in a controversial matter with cool, reasonable judgement.

A successfulapproach to handling the presentation depends upon your skills at producing ideas and ability to deal with prejudice.

A. Keep these THREE things in mind:Conclusion –Choice – Coolness

♦ Discursive writing depends upon bringing matters to a conclusion.

♦Argumentative writing requires expounding the arguments for and against and making a reasoned choice between them. (Our Caribbean examination requires its candidates to either take a stand for OR stand against the topic.)

♦ Controversial writing demands coolness and clarity when dealing with topics that stir the mind.

B.Three things to plan on paper: Head – Body – Foot

♥ Introduction: Briefly head into the subject, stating its importance, topically and, perhaps, an aspect of its history.

♥Body of composition: a series of paragraphs each dealing with a relevant topic of subject matter for OR against. Three points are ideal.

♥Conclusion: This bottom-line should deliver the considered opinion based on cool, rational appraisal of the argument.

C.Three things when writing: A-B-C

☻ Attractive-sounding arguments. Listen to yourself as you write.

☻Be simple in your approach. Try to avoid complications.

☻Clarity of expression. Clarity matters most.

Something to Do

Do discursive writing on one of the following subjects:

1. Do you think smoking should be banned by law?

2. Do you think tex - ting while driving should be treated like drunken driving?

3. Is school a place for self-expression?

4. What are the most important things students should learn in school?

5. Should boys and girls sports teams compete in the same league?

6. Should technology in sports be limited?

Improving Word Usage

Dealing with letter writing: sense of purpose and sense of audience

Success in using words depends on having: a) a clearly thought-out purpose; b) a clear sense of audience.

Students, do get into the good habit of asking yourself: a) Why am I saying/ writing these words?b) To whom am I saying/ writing these words?

Always survey the questions you choose at an examination for an idea of the kind of word choice. The question-wording helps.

Something to Do

Write a letter suitable to the circumstances described in one of the following situations:

(a) As secretary to your school current free-writing society you have been instructed by the committee to write to the chairman of your local secondary school education authority asking him or her to speak at a meeting of your social-educational association. Write the invitation, remembering to give full details of time, place, data, and suggested topics.

(b) You read in a local newspaper that the stepmother of a friend of yours has been awarded a degree by a notable Caribbean university. Write a letter of congratulation that conveys a sense of admiration for her achievement and that shows your understanding of the hard work and determination called for by the years of study.

NOTE: The tasks are letters to be written by a younger person to an older reader. Do throw yourself into your choice and be good at it. Among other tipsare:you need to draw on different areas of your vocabulary according to which letter you choose. Use crisp, clear-cut business-like language. One audience is a stranger; the other is a well-known person to the reader. Maintain a suitable, warm tone.