Directed Writing Guide - Language

What do we mean by language?

What do you need to write well?

Think about this for a moment. When your teacher returns a piece of written work after having corrected it, what do the markings indicate? What comments does the teacher make?

Your teachers’ underlining, cancellation, corrections and comments would mostly touch upon elements of writing such as vocabulary, sentence, grammar, spelling and punctuation.

All these elements would be used to compose a text to achieve the purpose of the task.

VOCABULARY

Appropriateness

When we talk about vocabulary, we refer to the use of words or expressions which are considered most suitable, acceptable or correct in certain circumstances.

For example, in the sentences below, although both words are correct, the second word would be more appropriate:

• If we are to get / achieve this status, it is important that Malaysians check the decline in the standard of English.
• Make the library a place to visit every time you find the chance / opportunity.
• Newspapers contain many / a variety of articles on topics ranging from current affairs to sports.
• Do not join the ranks of the unemployed who have not got/secured jobs because they are not proficient in English.

Let us also look at the use of formal and informal language.

When you apply the 5Ws, make a note of the sender and the receiver (the audience) because this affects the tone and style of the language.

Do not think that if your audience is your peer/friend/relative, you can use conversational language which contains a lot of informal expressions, slang or colloquialisms.

For example, the opening paragraph of a formal letter cannot include greetings such as “How are you?” or “Hi” but these can be used in a letter to a relative/friend/sibling etc.

What is formal and informal language?

Formal – a style of writing that is very correct and suitable for official or important occasions. (Abbreviated as fml in the dictionary.)

Informal – not formal, relaxed and friendly. (Abbreviated as infml in the dictionary.)

Colloquial – used in normal conversation but not formal writing.

Slang – very informal words and expressions that are common in spoken language but not thought suitable in formal situations. (Abbreviated as sl in the dictionary.)

Therefore, depending on the circumstance of the task, you will have to decide which of the two you want to use – formal or informal.

Under no circumstances can we use slang or colloquial language because if the task is a piece of writing, the English has to be standard English.

Read the following extract, taken from an article in a school magazine. Look up the meanings of the expressions in italics. Which of these expressions do you think are appropriate for an article in a school magazine?

One of the best ways to improve our English is by reading materials written in the English Language. As students, we are surrounded by reading material in school. Make the library a place to visit every time you find the opportunity. I am sure our parents and teachers will freak out when they find us here. In fact, we will look pretty cool to our friends! If you do not find anything suitable in the library, you can always buy them. But that does not mean you must have a splurge on books. There are many second-hand bookshops where books are going for a song. However, we must not get this starry-eyed notion that our English will improve overnight. You need practice to become proficient. Remember that Rome was not built in a day! So start reading today if you do not want to be on the blink.

LANGUAGE FORMS

Directed Writing is special. Unlike Continuous Writing, there is a purpose to the task. The purpose of the task can be any one of the following, or a combination of the following:

• to inform
• to persuade
• to instruct
• to seek permission
• to request
• to make suggestions etc.

If you are asked to write an article entitles “Suggestions on how to improve your English”. You must know that the main purpose of your writing is to persuade readers to adopt suggestions on how to improve their English. To achieve this purpose, you have to use the correct language form.

You cannot command or order your readers. That tone would be inappropriate.

Avoid using imperatives such as the following:

Join a club!

Read more books!

Listen to songs!

Practise in front of a mirror!

The task says “give suggestions”, so you may use polite forms of suggestions such as “Why don’t you”, or include modal auxiliaries to express ability and possibility like “can”, “might”, or offer advice by using words like “should”, “must”, “ought to”.

IDIOMS AND PROVERBS

The use of idiomatic expressions and proverbs are encouraged but only if they blend naturally into the writing and are relevant. They are used for effect and help to demonstrate fluency at using expressions natural to native speakers of a language. Do not try to squeeze all the idioms

you know into one answer. An example of a proverb in the article is: Remember that Rome was not built in a day!

SENTENCE

Structure

There are three basic sentence patterns you can use.

They are simple, compound and complex.

The most basic type is the simple sentence.

If you combine two simple sentences, you get a compound sentence.

If you combine an independent clause with a dependent clause, you get a complex sentence.

Example:

Simple: My friend invited me to a party. I do not want to go.

Compound : My friend invited me to a party, but I do not want to go.

Complex : Although my friend invited me to a party, I do not want to go.

Of course, you can use the same sentence pattern because you are more confident of a particular structure. But varied structures make more interesting reading. It is also proof that you are capable of constructing sentences with different structures.

Look at the sentences below.

Can you name the types of structures they are?

1. Newspapers contain a variety of articles ranging from current affairs to sports.
2. The English Language has become the language of the world and is the lingua franca most widely used in science and mathematics, technology, business and the mass media.
3. Students who prefer humour can choose to read jokes and cartoons.

Length

Sentences can also come in different lengths.

Of course, a longer sentence suggests you have greater control over the language.

I should remind you that you are not wrong if you choose to write only short sentences.

However, it would help if you can vary the length of your sentences so that reading your answer will not be monotonous.

Variety

You will notice that four of the six sentences below begin with the same structure.

(1) You are not alone.

(2) Always ask your teachers and friends for help.

(3) You may not understand every thing you read or know the pronunciation of every word you

come across.

(4) I doubt any teacher or friend will refuse to help a student who wants to learn.

(5) You can make an appointment with your teacher so that they can plan their schedules to

help you.

(6) You can also form a self-help group who can meet once a week to discuss problems.

Sometimes you want to do this for a purpose.

In this case, the writer has used it to achieve a direct relationship between herself / himself and the reader. It sets a conversational tone and sounds less impersonal.

A repetition of such a pattern can also be for emphasis.

However, you can improve on the paragraph below by changing the structure, for example,

Original: (5) You can make an appointment with your teachers so that they can plan their

schedules to help you.

Revised: Why don’t you make an appointment with your teacher so that they can plan their schedule to help you.

Original: (6) You can also form a self-help group who can meet once a week to discuss

problems.

Revised: Alternatively, you can form a self-help group who can meet once a week to discuss problems.

Remember, style of writing varies depending on the task.

Although the guidelines given here may not be appropriate for all the writing tasks, the rules of grammar apply across the board.