OUMH 1203English for Written Communication

Tutorial 2

What are essays?

A short piece of writing on a particular subject usually written by a student.

Structured- needs a clear planHas an audienceHas a purpose – to inform, to persuade, to

illustrate (a process)

Planning an essayPre-writingDraftEditingFinal draft

Discourse markers (pg 32-34)As a sign post To direct the discussionOr to re-direct the discussionTo show the intention of the writer – show

agreement / disagreement

Different types of essays1. The explanation essay explain things or process in sequential order

(pg 40 – 42)3 structural stylesa) Temporal sequentialb) Cyclicalc) Cause & Effect

2. Argumentation EssayHave a standProvide reasons to support your standPersuade others to agree with youEssay layout 1-3-1 (introduction, 3 points of

arguments, conclusion)

3. Discussion EssayDiscuss both sides of an issueLet the readers decide for themselves

Types of evidence1. Primary source contemporary accounts of an event, written by

someone who experienced or witnessed the event in question.

original documents - are often diaries, letters, memoirs, journals, speeches, manuscripts, interviews and other such unpublished works.

published pieces such as newspaper or magazine articles (as long as they are written soon after the fact and not as historical accounts), photographs, audio or video recordings, research reports in the natural or social sciences, or original literary or theatrical works.

2. Secondary sourceinterpret primary sourcesat least one step removed from the event or

phenomenon under reviewinterpret, assign value to, conjecture upon,

and draw conclusions about the events reported in primary sources

usually in the form of published works such as journal articles or books, but may include radio or television documentaries, or conference proceedings.

Evidence can be in the form of:Facts - statisticsQuotes – comments from credible sourcesOpinion of experts – experts on the subjectAnecdotes – stories related to the writingExamples Charts / diagrams – clarify complex concepts

LOGICAL FALLACIESWhen you try to persuade others to agree

with you using a bad piece of reasoning / evidence to support your claim

Hasty generalisationsAssumption about an entire group based on a

small sampleBased on stereotypesi.e: My child is naughty and my sister’s child

is naughty. All children are naughty!

Post hoc (False cause)“After this, therefore because of this”Assuming that one event comes after another

and making the first event as the causei.e: The government increased the taxes on

cigarettes, and then the number of smokers have also increased. The government is responsible for the rise in number of smokers.

Ad populum“to the people”Bandwagon fallacyClaiming that because it is popular, it must

be true.i.e: 90% of Malaysians have computers at

home. Malaysians are technology savvy people.

Appeal to pityMake the reader feel sorry for someonei.e: Although the professor has written many

books and is a respected member of the faculty, he is a crippled and sits on the wheelchair. His condition just got worse when his wife left him last month. This is why we must accept all his ideas.

Look at the other fallacies on pages 50 - 61

Which ones do you normally commit?How to avoid them?

AssignmentDue date:

9 – 11 March 2012

Steps in writing argumentative essaysThe question – what is required for you to do?Underline the keywords in the questionDetermine your stand – for or against?Pre-writing – draw a mind map, list, chartCreate an outline (draft) – introduction, main

body, conclusionWrite Edit

Q1Claude Shannon’s model of communication does not explain the written communication problems that I experience. Do you agree? Discuss.What is the question requirement? Argumentative

essay & choose agree or disagree or to a certain extent.

What is the theory?In which areas does Shannon’s model fail to address

the problems you might have when you are writing?Are there any problems that you might be facing while

communicating through writing?Agree – why? Meaning / relationship / purposeDisagree – why? The theory fulfills all the

communication requirements.

Q2: An old friend who now lives overseas had lent you some money to help start a small business. Your business has been growing well. Write a report to your friend to tell him how you have progressed.What is the question requirement?About what topic?Content of report:1. What kind of small business?2. What happened in the beginning? Duration for

success?3. Any challenges or problems faced?4. What is the current situation with the business?

Q3: Malaysians are highly political but they often miss each other’s points. Discuss.

Argumentative essay : agree or disagree to the statement?

Is it true about Malaysians? Are all Malaysians highly political?

When do they miss each other’s points?What could be the causes?What are the effects?

Q4: Your friend’s child has a serious congenital illness. You are starting a website to collect funds to help the child. Write an introduction to the child which contains an appeal for help.

An introduction in a website to collect funds.Appeal to the audience to help the child.Describe about the child:1. Who is the child?2. What illness is she having?3. When did she have it?4. How long has she been suffering?5. What kind of help can the public offer?

Q5: You have just opened a café and now you plan to promote your café in the papers. Write a promotion piece to be placed in the newspaper to promote your café.

Write a promotion pieceDescribe about the café5 wives, 1 husband – wh questions1. What2. Where3. When4. Why5. Who6. How

Q6: Write a brief proposal to build a shed in front of a school so that the school children will not get wet while they wait for their buses.

Write a proposalTo whom? By whom?Why? To ask permission? To request?Why is the shed important?Describe the shed:1. Cost2. Location3. Duration to build4. Who will pay for the cost

Q7: Write a brief essay on a current affair issue of your choice.

Descriptive writing – describe a current phenomenon – local or international issue

Choose topic with a clear structure to describe

Use 5 wives, 1 husband rule to guide youAvoid controversial topicsNarrow down the angle of topic to avoid the

essay becoming unstructured