Literary Devices and Effective Writing: A Comprehensive Guide, Summaries of English Language

Download Literary Devices and Effective Writing: A Comprehensive Guide and more Summaries English Language in PDF only on Docsity! Effective Writing - Prepared by: Norhaifah A. Sanday Writing is a craft In any sort of composition meant to communicate ideas the writer must consider his purpose and the needs of the reader. Figure of Speech Any intentional deviation from literal statement or common usage that emphasizes, clarifies, or embellishes both written and spoken language. Simile A simile is a type of figurative language which is used to compare one thing against another. Similes compare the likeness of two things and often feature the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. An example of this would be ‘her smile was as bright as the sun in the sky.’ As strong as an ox. As brave as a lion. As tall as a skyscraper. As hot as hell. As hard as nails. As light as a feather. As tough as old boots. Here are some examples of similes. Metaphor A metaphor is a comparison between two different things, which share something in common. For example: The world is your oyster. She was a shining star. A blanket of snow. She cried a river of tears. My mother-in-law is a dragon. The classroom was a zoo. She is a night owl. Steve is a couch potato. My husband is a pig She is an air head. Here are some examples of metaphors. Idiom An idiom is a phrase which bears no literal meaning to the situation it is describing but it implies the facts or story behind it. For example, ‘there is a silver lining in every cloud.’ This does not mean that there are silver linings inside clouds but it is referring to the fact that in a bad situation, good can always be found. A picture paints a thousand words-which means that a picture can explain something better than many words could. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder-which means that beauty is seen differently according to who is looking. Add fuel to the fire = which means to make a situation worse by your action. As easy as pie-which means that something is very easy. Break the bank-which means to spend more money than you have. Get a kick out of it-which means that someone get a thrill from something. Here are some examples of idioms. Personification Personification is a type of figurative language. It is used to give an inanimate object or item a sense of being alive. The speaker would talk to the object as if it could understand and was intelligent. Please work phone, I need to make a call. Come on you stupid computer, why won’t you turn on? Help me find what I’m looking for dictionary please. Where are you whisk? I need to start baking. Where are you hiding pencil? I could have sworn I left you on the table. Why are you so heavy, suitcase? Come on car, why do you keep breaking down. Why don’t you last long bar of chocolate. Here are some examples of how personification is used in sentences. Symbolism Symbolism is another form of figurative language which is used to express an abstract idea using an item or words. The black death killed many people all those years ago. We had to put out a red alert. We desperately want to get on the property ladder. My son has been in hospital but he has been a lion. After out argument, I offered her an olive branch. Here are some examples to show how symbolism can work in a sentence. Puns Puns are a form of figurative language which create a play on words. They add an extra meaning to a subject and are often seen as a form of joke or to be humorous. An egg in the morning is hard to beat. A horse is a very stable animal. The opinion of an elephant carries a lot of weight. A good pun is it’s own reword. I bet someone a cut of beef the other day, he wouldn’t match me as he said the steaks were too high. Did you hear about the optician who made a spectacle of himself? The helpers of Santa are subordinate clauses. Here are some examples of what a pun would sound like. Synecdoche The figure of speech in which a part represents the whole, as in the expression “hired hands” for workmen or, less commonly, the whole represents a part, as in the use of the word “society” to mean high society. At school we learn our ABCs My little sister is currently learning her 123s. My sister always pays on her plastic when she goes shopping. I am getting my first set of wheels once I pass my driving test. Ge is going to ask for her hand. We need to put some wind in the sails. The employers needed a lot of hired hands to complete all the work that needed to be done. Another form of figurative language is synechdoche. This is when a whole is represented by a part or vice versa. Here are some examples of how synechdoche works in a sentence. Irony A form of figurative speech is irony. This is when a statement made is directly contradictory to the reality. It is also used to convey a style of sarcasm. When he stepped out into the thunderstorm, he exclaimed ‘what lovely we are having.’ The irony of the situation was that the robbers targeted the police station. The marriage counsellor ended up getting a divorce from her husband. I posted on Facebook about how bad Facebook is. He claims to be an animal rights activist but he wears a fur coat. Here are some examples of how irony is used in a sentence. Objectives of Written Communication (1) Future Reference: Written messages can be preserved as records and reference source (3) Measurement of Progress: filing messages serve as a barometer of progress which supplies information for the purpose of preparation of annual reports and other periodic reviews. (2) Record of Evidence: Words of mouth are not believable and in a number of cases, oral messages have no legal sanction. (4) Precedents: They may act as a guide or rule in the future. Objectives of Written Communication (5) Avoiding Mistakes: In transmitting messages, earlier records help in reducing mistakes and errors. (7) Organisational Efficiency: The records are most useful which guide the employees to take decisions to motivate and for effective internal control. (6) Effective Decision- Making: Decision-making processbecpmes easier if old records are available (8) Legal Requirements: There are certain documents which are required to be preserved compulsorily under the provisions of different legislations. Essentials of Effective Written Communication The purpose of writing is to make the recipient to understand the message. Formal communication is mostly written to keep links with officially designed positions in the organisational structure. Essentials (3) Emphasis: The whole message consisting of unity of sentences and unity of paragraphs are of varying degrees of importance. The ideas, facts and figures pertaining to them may have the order of importance or priority. The communication of any written communication should repeat by a note in the case of any corrections. Notes are needed if there is any: (i) Inaccuracy denoting (a) omission or exaggeration of facts; (b) errors of misrepresentation in the data, citations, etc. (c) unreliable mathematical treatment; and (d) discrepancy between the fact and opinion. The communication of any written communication should repeat by a note in the case of any corrections. Notes are needed if there is any: (ii) Inadequacy in presentation denoting (a) omission and incomplete development of the topic; (b) faulty and improper arrangement of materials to substantiate the thought; (c) improperly arranged paragraphs; and (d) inclusion of irrelevant details. Essentials (5) Completeness: The completeness with reference to writing a message means comprehensive coverage of the subject matter to be transmitted. An incomplete message leads to sidetrack, misunderstanding, seeking clarifications and explanations, etc. The writer must consider the receiver's capabilities to understand. Essentials (6) Courtesy: Probably, the best principle for writing a report is the quality of courtesy. Courtesy indicates politeness, considerate and respectfulness in writing. While writing it is necessary to evaluate the readers or users of the report. Time is valuable to the readers like the writers. Whether a message is positive, negative, satisfactory, disappointing, it should courteously be conveyed. For instance: I regret to say - Discourteous I respectfully regret to say - Courteous Essentials (7) Sequency: The manner and the way in which something is presented are more important than something itself. The way a report is represented is also of utmost importance. The material should be arranged so that the reader can pick out the main facts and recommendations easily and quickly. Consistency, continuity, and logical presentation of the message cannot be ignored. Essentials (10) Brevity: The time of the writer and reader is limited and valuable, and hence time should not be wasted on unnecessary details. A writing should be shorter by using few words for many. Brevity can be achieved by using one word or two from many words. Not only it saves time, but brevity also gives grace to writing. Essentials (11) Accuracy: The subject matter of communication must be correct or accurate. The manner in which the message is transmitted must be absolutely correct. Accuracy in writing can be achieved by careful checking and editing. Correctness demands in the case of figures, because decisions may go wrong if wrong figures are given. Essentials (12) Strength: "A letter has strength; is forceful and direct, and has language power, the capacity to produce a potent reaction or effect. What gives this power? All the other qualities mentioned contribute to the total effect of the letter." Clarity gives the writing strength, because it ensures the other to understand easily and quickly, and directness is achieved by the principle of conciseness. Other essentials like correctness and completeness, too, add strength.