Many of us think writing effectively is grammar, punctuation, spelling and many of us think speaking is communication. This is not true. Writing is an equally important communication skill that we need to acquire.

  • Effective writing involves a number of aspects:
  • Developing ideas
  • Organizing ideas in a logical order
  • Using complex grammatical structures for focus and emphasis
  • Ensuring accuracy, both grammatically and in conveying meaning
  • Using vocabulary and sentence structures to suit the subject


Characteristics of improving effective writing.

Clear - Write in a way that the reader always understands what you’re saying. Clear writing only has one interpretation. That makes it effective. 

Credible - Reader believes what you’re saying if you write credibly. If you ramble or are dishonest, a reader will be able to sense it immediately. 

Persuasive - An effective writing may inspire readers with their words. When you write persuasively, it causes your reader to respond. readers are moved by effective writing themselves.


Writing Paragraphs

A paragraph interprets ideas in detail and supports the expansion of an overall topic. The basic paragraph consists of three parts. Paragraph format helps you write and organize one paragraph and transition to the next. 

Topic Sentence - Introduction sentence or first sentence of a paragraph. It displayed the main idea of each paragraph.

Supporting Details - The supporting sentences interpret more about the topic sentence by showing some facts, stats, or examples regarding the topic. 

Concluding Sentence - this is the end of the paragraph which is also known as last statement about the topic. It unites all of the paragraph's concepts and reiterates the key theme.


Identify the main features of a well-written paragraph

  • a paragraph has a topic or a main idea which is expressed in one sentence.
  • a good topic sentence has both a topic and a controlling idea (or controlling ideas).
  • topics need to be expanded with supporting ideas.

Let us now learn how to write a paragraph which develops an idea clearly
and logically.


Organizing ideas in a paragraph

A key feature of good writing is that it has a logical ‘flow’. This means that sentences are not isolated and that one sentence follows the one before it in a logical manner.


Linking words and phrases

An important feature of a paragraph or a longer piece of writing is coherence. Coherence means the logical arrangement of ideas to make them flow smoothly. This is achieved by using linking words and phrases called transition signals.


Combining ideas 

Good writing also means the ability to produce complex sentences having more than one idea.


Transitions 

Transitions, as you know, are the words and phrases we use to connect ideas. They act like traffic signs that tell your reader when to go forward, slow down, turn and stop. Using transitions makes it easier for the reader to follow your ideas and gives coherence to your writing.