The Sunday News
Charles Dube
“You win some and lose some,” so goes the old adage. O-level candidates who wrote their English Language examinations this month would be saying: “Why did this not come earlier before we sat for our examinations?”
Today’s subject would have been relevant to them as it is also relevant to those who are about to sit for their mid-year examinations as well as the end of year final examinations. There is nothing new in this subject except that at times approaches vary.
For example choice of subject is key in composition writing. Good matter in a composition is essential, for if you have no thoughts worth expressing, your essay will not be of much value.
We are beginning this discussion with what many might consider as repetition as it has been drilled to many students by teachers. But repetition at times is necessary for emphasis and helps students understand concepts put before them.
The first thing to do is to choose a subject in which you are interested, or a subject that will make you think for yourself.
Choose a title that is about a subject within your own personal experience. Here I am talking about such topics: The happiest day of your life, your favourite living author, the people next door, a School Prize-Giving Day. Do not choose to write on difficult topics, for after writing a few words, you will come to an abrupt end and fail to proceed after that.
It is therefore imperative for students to first study the titles before they start writing. Do not plunge headlong into one, then find that after half a page, you must try another subject. Time is invaluable in examinations. Some points are worth mentioning about the choice of subject. Students should not choose a particular title because they think it will please their teacher or the examiner. Always make your choice personal and sincere.
Another point to note is that sometimes a topic is very appealing to the writer because she or he knows so much about it. This could prove a disadvantage, for often they have so much to say that they write it all down as fast as they can, with little regard for planning. Then they find that at the end they have omitted some important general statements. The common advice given to students is for them to always plan their work. They should select their material.
Remember compositions could be classified as follows: descriptive, narrative, expository, reflective or imaginative, argumentative (discursive) or opinionative, general. A descriptive subject is quite clear, whether it is about people, places, things or events. For example, under this heading such titles come as:, A busy scene, The qualities of a good teacher or a village fete. A narrative as shown before, requires a story to be written, true or imaginative.
On this one students should be careful not to write a story when the title does not demand it. For example, they may write a story if the title so indicates in its wording: Write a story which ends with the following words, I promised myself never to do it again or write a short story containing a key, a lock of hair and a broken mirror. Expository means explanatory. All what happens here is to explain how a certain process works or how you would perform a certain activity. This demands clarity and simplicity.
Titles such as: How to bake a cake, or How to teach someone to ride a bicycle. If we treat a subject in a reflective or imaginative manner, we write what we think or reflect about it, or what we imagine it will be like. In doing so we express personal thoughts and feelings about it. The subject requiring argumentative treatment is usually set with a question mark at the end as an indication that the topic is controversial, and that the reader wants to know what your opinion is pertaining to that subject.
“Topics which come to mind in this class are: Pupils should have a greater say in the running of the schools”. How far do you agree with this view? Or “Money is the root of all evil.” Do you agree with this statement? However, it should also be noted that there are other controversial topics for discussions which do not end with question marks. Statements such as the following come to mind: Too much emphasis is placed on competition at school. Discuss your views.
Speech writing is similar to that of a composition. It is in their style that they are different. Paragraphing of a speech is similar to that of a composition. A speech is closely similar to an argumentative composition, but it is more powerful. In a speech you are trying to convince people as much through their emotions as through their minds. Speeches are made to inform and convince the audience on the topic set out in the examination.
A speech should be written in conversational style, that is, write the same way you speak. Start by greeting the audience. The degree of formality and tone of speech depends on the speaker’s relationship with the audience and the topic. Quite a number of speakers go the usual way where they start by saying, “Good morning or afternoon depending on the time or Good morning ladies and gentlemen . . .”
Depending on the situation the greeting may be followed by a self-introduction even if speaker has been introduced. You might also want to remind your audience of the occasion, maybe it is a fundraising dinner dance or speech and prize giving day. Always state the purpose of the speech. Expand the given points in essay question adding relevant material of your own experience. More was discussed on speech writing in earlier articles.
For views link up with charlesdube14058 @gmail.com or sms only to 0772113207.
