SUBJECT: ENGLISH LANGUAGE

SUB-TOPIC: Composition Writing LESSON #: 2 TEACHER: Anthony Simukonde Introduction

A composition can be roughly defined as a piece of writing about a particular

Prefix subject or issue. Writing good compositions is very important in English Language in the sense that it allows the learner to be able to express what is in his or her mind regarding a particular issue. It is also essential for learners when it comes to English Language examinations.

In English Language, compositions or essays happen to be one of the most important aspects of the subject. A typical English Language examination paper is made up of three parts, namely the Comprehension, Grammar, and the Composition or Essay. It therefore goes without saying that before one can pass an English Language paper very well, they must be well-versed in writing compositions or essays.

Parts of a composition

A typical English Language composition is made up of four major parts, namely the heading, the introduction, the body and the conclusion.

The Heading (Title)

The Heading or the Title is obviously the first part of a composition or an essay. About 99 percent Page of compositions 1 4 require headings. A heading is basically the title that you write at the beginning of your composition. Your heading can either be written in block letters or in initial capitals (this is where you make each word of the heading start with a capital letter). When choosing a heading or title for your composition, make sure that the heading that you write utterly relates to the content of your essay. And also, try keeping your headings short and catchy. The latter is not that important when it comes to English Language compositions for examination purposes, but still you should try to make it catch the reader’s interest. A good heading can range from just two words to more than two words. It is never advisable to write very long headings that end up looking like complex sentences.

The Introduction

After the heading, the next thing that we do is to move into the territory of the introduction of our essay. The introduction or the introductory paragraph is a very relevant aspect of your essay because of the fact that it states the main idea of your composition. It basically lets your reader know what your composition is going to be about. It is for this reason that many experts say that your introduction should be good enough to arouse the interest of your reader and make the reader ‘fall in love’ with it so much that they continue reading. If your introduction fails to catch the interest of the reader, then Page you have not done a great job with it.

Your introduction or introductory paragraph should have the following important features:

Should be interesting enough to grab your reader’s interest

Should prepare your reader(s) for what is to follow

Should be able to let your reader know what the subject or topic of the composition is going to be about

Should be concise

You can also decide to define in your

cal introduction one or more of the keywords or key terms that the composition is all about. For example, if you are writing an essay on ‘The Impact of Climate Change’, it Krypton will be a good idea that you take a moment to define what ‘Climate Change’ is all about in your introductory paragraph. This helps your readers get to know what ‘Climate Change’ actually is in the first place.

In an English Language examination, when you give insufficient, your composition carbon monoxide a very will good introduction, you stand a better chance of scoring good marks.

The Body

After the introduction, we make a smooth transition into the body of the essay or composition. We may also call the body of the composition the ‘main content’ because this is where you are going to state the main points of your essay. For instance, consider writing an essay on ‘Early Marriages in Rural Areas’, obviously, you are going to come up with a number of points that discuss in detail this subject. It is always advisable to state and develop as many points as you can. Never settle for less.

In writing and developing your points, you should remember to always make sure that each point (or closely related ideas) you bring out and develop is/are contained within a single paragraph. In essence, if you come up with five points, then you are expected to come up with, at best, five paragraphs, unless or otherwise.

You should remember that the body is where the majority of your marks lie. The body is basically the heart of your essay or composition. It is therefore

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imperative that you make sure that you thoroughly plan and make a draft (rough work) of the things that you are going to be discussing before you transfer the draft into the main work. When you plan your essay and jot down the points you are going to discuss in your draft, you will have a lot of points to talk about. If you do not prepare a draft and jot down your points, 1

when writing the real essay, you are

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likely going to forget some very important points. It is always better to

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plan your essay and write your points

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in your draft before transferring them into the real composition. If you do this, you will always have an edge over one who thinks and writes into the real

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composition at the same time. The lat

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ter is bound to forget some points.

1915 composition, it is extremely important that you take a moment to read over what you have written. No matter how careful you might have been in writing your essay, when you read over it you are bound to find some mistakes such as grammar errors, spelling errors, wrong use of punctuation marks, omitted words and so forth. These mistakes can go a long way in denting the beauty of your composition and making you lose vital marks if they are not corrected. This is a very important thing to do. This is called proofreading.

Example 4

Before I end this lesson, I would like to draw your attention to some more important tips that you should have at the back of your mind whenever you are writing a composition.

Points to Remember

In writing your composition, you must take note PUZZLE of the 38 following:

2 PUZZLE 38 3 4 5

 Keep your sentences short

2 6 3 4 5

and simple so that your readers can 6 easily understand you

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 Page Your 4 of writing 4 should be sharp,

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vivid and clear

Page 4 of 4

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 Use a variety of sentence

9 10

structures

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 Avoid the use of ‘big’ words

16 17 18 13 14

16 and 17 complex 18 20 expressions; your readers 20 and the examiners do not get impressed by

The conclusion is the last but not ACROSS such words DOWN or expressions least part of a good composition. 1 As Begining of digestive tract or 1 otherwise Center

ACROSS unless DOWN

3 Found in Church tower 2 Three sided shape the name suggests, the conclusion 1 is Begining of digestive tract 1 Center

6 Breakfast drink 3 Exit where you are going to conclude. This 3 Found in Church  tower Never 2 Three a word sided shape that

7 Impair usefulness use 4 Every one you do

6 Breakfast drink 3 Exit is basically the ending of your compo8 Gardening implement not 5 Small mechanical understand

7 Impair usefulness thoroughly 4 Every one

9 Hold tightly tablets sition. The conclusion should be in 8 Gardening a implement 5 Small mechanical

11 Night bird 6 Thick dark syrup

9 Hold tightly  tablets not sure of the spellparagraph of its own. It should be 12 a Direction If you are

of ascension 10 Embedded design

11 Night bird 6 word, Thick dark it syrup is

13 Learning Management ing 11 Not enclosed advisable simple summary or a ‘highlight’ of the of a

12 Direction of ascension 10 Embedded design

System (abv) for 12 Utilize another main points of your composition. Your 13 Learning Management to look 11 Not enclosed word or

15 Percieve 14 Missing in action

System (abv) that 12 Utilize means

18 Italian nationa phrase (abv) the same be conclusion produced instead does of carbon not necessarily di have

15 Percieve 14 Missing in action

Broadcasting Company word 16 L to be complex or extraordinary. The 18 Italian nationa as the (abv) you are not sure

19 Enrol in army 17 This __ a cup

Broadcasting Company 16 L

conclusion performs two functions: of (a synonym)

20 Edible root

19 Enrol in army 17 This __ a cup

20 Edible root 

It provides a beautiful PUZZLE way 37 to end Do not use slang or colloquial

SOLUTION your composition by not bringing P E A expressions; D B if A you N use G an inthe composition to an abrupt halt formal word then make sure

L M B L O

that you put it in inverted comExample 3 A B O

It summarizes (or highlights) all mas R D E R L your main points in the body I of E D E L



your essay Employ the appropriate use of

D R E O D D L Y

3 4 as many idioms and phrasal Although the conclusion is simple and verbs F as you possibly E can can be achieved in a couple of senC E R T I F Y T

tences, it is a very vital aspect of your If you will ‘religiously’ follow and make

O H the above E discussion A T on E comessay which you should not take for use of

S U writing, N R you A are V better E L placed granted. position to score high marks in the final exam

U G H T E R M

ination.

Example 2 The Conclusion

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T After you are finished with writing your 11

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