The Importance of The Importance of Structure in WritingStructure in Writing

Class 11 EFL 1Class 11 EFL 1

What is Structure?What is Structure?

• Structure refers to the shape and Structure refers to the shape and design of a piece of writing as design of a piece of writing as intended by the author.intended by the author.

• Structure = punctuation + grammarStructure = punctuation + grammar

PunctuationPunctuation

• You’ve all learned the mechanics of You’ve all learned the mechanics of punctuation but now you need to punctuation but now you need to know how it gives know how it gives effecteffect and and lifelife to a to a written piece of work. written piece of work.

• Ex. Comma, Apostrophe, Hyphen, Ex. Comma, Apostrophe, Hyphen, Quotes, Semi Colons, Colons etcQuotes, Semi Colons, Colons etc

Colon ( : )Colon ( : )• The : does one basic thing…it introduces The : does one basic thing…it introduces

something.something.

• The colon gives The colon gives special emphasis to special emphasis to whatever itwhatever it introducesintroduces…you literally have to …you literally have to stop and pay extra attention to the new stop and pay extra attention to the new entry.entry.

- - Ex. Joe has only one thing on his mind: profit Ex. Joe has only one thing on his mind: profit

• The colon is most often used to introduce a The colon is most often used to introduce a list of items in a sentencelist of items in a sentence

- - Ex. This report reviews five main criteria to Ex. This report reviews five main criteria to determine whether to purchase the IBM PC: determine whether to purchase the IBM PC: hardware, software, maintenance agreements, hardware, software, maintenance agreements, service, and customer support. service, and customer support.

Warning about ColonWarning about Colon

• Do not use a colon after a verb in a Do not use a colon after a verb in a sentence, even when you are sentence, even when you are introducing something.introducing something.

• Why? Because the verb itself Why? Because the verb itself introduces making the colon introduces making the colon redundant.redundant.

• Ex. My three favorite friends are: Ex. My three favorite friends are: Mildon, Cleftine, and Stank. Mildon, Cleftine, and Stank.

Semi-Colon (;)Semi-Colon (;)

• The semi-colon has two functions:The semi-colon has two functions:

a)a) Acts as a connector between two Acts as a connector between two complete sentences.complete sentences.

b)b) Acts like a super comma.Acts like a super comma.

Examples of semi colonExamples of semi colon

• A semicolon is an economical way to join A semicolon is an economical way to join two sentences, and therefore two ideas, so two sentences, and therefore two ideas, so that your reader sees the relationship.that your reader sees the relationship.

• Ex. David is a good typist; he makes few Ex. David is a good typist; he makes few mistakes mistakes

• Ex. Ms. Pamela is a successful real estate Ex. Ms. Pamela is a successful real estate salesperson; however, she was unable to salesperson; however, she was unable to sell her own house.sell her own house.

• Sometimes a semi colon can be used Sometimes a semi colon can be used as a as a “super comma”“super comma” especially when especially when the sentence has too many commas the sentence has too many commas that can confuse the reader. that can confuse the reader.

• Ex. Suncom Corporation has subsidiaries in four Ex. Suncom Corporation has subsidiaries in four cities: New York, New York, Wilmington, Ohio, cities: New York, New York, Wilmington, Ohio, Houston, Texas, and San Francisco, California. Houston, Texas, and San Francisco, California.

-Using the semi colon, you get:-Using the semi colon, you get:• Suncom Corporation has subsidiaries in four Suncom Corporation has subsidiaries in four

cities: New York, New York; Wilmington, Ohio; cities: New York, New York; Wilmington, Ohio;

Houston, Texas; and San Francisco, California.Houston, Texas; and San Francisco, California.

Comma (,)Comma (,)• Commas simply indicate that you need to pause.Commas simply indicate that you need to pause.• There are four ways to use a comma:There are four ways to use a comma:

1) 1) When you are listing three or more items in a When you are listing three or more items in a sentence, simply place a comma between each sentence, simply place a comma between each member of the list. member of the list.

ex. Mr. Taylor used the money that he won from the ex. Mr. Taylor used the money that he won from the sweepstakes to buy a house, a car, and a small sweepstakes to buy a house, a car, and a small yacht.yacht.

2) 2) Between two sentences with a conjunction (and, but)Between two sentences with a conjunction (and, but)ex. The Suncom Corporation has just acquired the ex. The Suncom Corporation has just acquired the

OILCO company, OILCO company, andand it has agreed to sell OILCO’s it has agreed to sell OILCO’s oil-drilling rights in Texas as soon as possible.oil-drilling rights in Texas as soon as possible.

Comma(,)Comma(,)3) 3) To Attach Words to the Front or Back of Your To Attach Words to the Front or Back of Your

SentenceSentence - when you add information to the front or back of when you add information to the front or back of

a sentence, you will want to alert your readers in a sentence, you will want to alert your readers in order to help them clearly understand your order to help them clearly understand your message. message.

- Ex. Although she flunked chemistry and barely Ex. Although she flunked chemistry and barely passed math, Joan is a good student.passed math, Joan is a good student.

- Ex. In order to help save the company from Ex. In order to help save the company from bankruptcy, we sold shares in the company at bankruptcy, we sold shares in the company at discount prices.discount prices.

4) 4) On Both Sides of a Nonessential On Both Sides of a Nonessential ComponentComponent

- in this case, you have to decide - in this case, you have to decide whether the sentence component is whether the sentence component is essential or non essential to the essential or non essential to the clarity of the sentence.clarity of the sentence.

- if non essential, then add the - if non essential, then add the commascommas

• Ex. Ms. Johnson, who is the company Ex. Ms. Johnson, who is the company president, will present the award at our president, will present the award at our annual dinner.annual dinner.

• Wrong use of comma:Wrong use of comma:

• Banks, which hold over a billion dollars in Banks, which hold over a billion dollars in assets, are rare. assets, are rare.

• (this says that banks are rare which is not (this says that banks are rare which is not true!)true!)

Dash or Hyphen (-)Dash or Hyphen (-)

1)1) Separating Words in the Middle of the Separating Words in the Middle of the Sentence Sentence

-the dash is the big brother of the comma…it -the dash is the big brother of the comma…it adds more emphasis than the comma adds more emphasis than the comma itself.itself.

Ex. Linda Simpson, the president’s most Ex. Linda Simpson, the president’s most trusted economic advisor, will resign her trusted economic advisor, will resign her office during today’s press conference. office during today’s press conference.

Ex. Linda Simpson—the president’s most Ex. Linda Simpson—the president’s most trusted economic advisor—will resign her trusted economic advisor—will resign her office during today’s press conference. office during today’s press conference.

2)2) Adding Words to the End of a SentenceAdding Words to the End of a Sentence

- The dash can be used to attach material to The dash can be used to attach material to the sentence when there is a clear break to the sentence when there is a clear break to the continuity in the sentence.the continuity in the sentence.

Ex. The president will be unable to win Ex. The president will be unable to win enough votes for another term of office—enough votes for another term of office—unless, of course, he can reduce unless, of course, he can reduce unemployment and the deficit unemployment and the deficit simultaneously.simultaneously.

Ex. Ex. Generally, the president’s economic policies Generally, the president’s economic policies have proven ineffective—although, it’s true have proven ineffective—although, it’s true that he has lowered inflation considerably. that he has lowered inflation considerably.

GrammarGrammar

• Grammar helps you understand the components of the Grammar helps you understand the components of the sentence and its meaning.sentence and its meaning.

• Grammar includes:Grammar includes:a)a) NounNounb)b) VerbsVerbsc)c) AdjectivesAdjectivesd)d) AdverbsAdverbse)e) ConjunctionConjunctionf)f) PronounPronoung)g) PrepositionPrepositionh)h) GerundGerundi)i) InterjectionInterjection

AudienceAudience

• Whatever you write or read, you must Whatever you write or read, you must keep in mind about the audience…who is keep in mind about the audience…who is this writing being directed too and how?this writing being directed too and how?

• What is the point of the piece? What is the point of the piece? • What purpose does it serve?What purpose does it serve?• Why does the author want me to read it?Why does the author want me to read it?• Remember, the author is trying to Remember, the author is trying to

establish a relationship with you!establish a relationship with you!

Final Preparation: Your English Final Preparation: Your English Weapon ChestWeapon Chest

• GenreGenre

• Writer’s PurposeWriter’s Purpose

• ToneTone

• VocabularyVocabulary

• Figures of SpeechFigures of Speech

• StructureStructure

• AudienceAudience