1 basic writing and composition

BASIC WRITING AND
COMPOSITION
(FIRST OF FIVE PARTS)
Ma. Jezia P. Talavera
BA Linguistics
University of the Philippines Diliman

OBJECTIVES
 For elementary and middle school students to
familiarize with the basics of writing and
composition
 To learn the proper and formal way of writing,
composing, paragraph making, letter writing and
news article writing
 To imbibe the basic concepts of writing that will be
essential when the students reach high school and
college.

1.1. GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION
1. I ate until I could eat no more.
2. I am eating until I couldn’t eat no more.

1. She is sick for quite some time now.
2. She has been sick for quite some time now.

1. Maria, Ana and I went to the library.
2. Maria Ana and I went to the library

1. Maria, Ana and I went to the library.
2. Maria, Ana and I went to the library

1. Our reserves are depleted that is we must
generate new sources of energy for our country
2. Our reserves are depleted; that is, we must
generate new sources of energy for our country.

1. Our reserves are depleted that is we must generate
new sources of energy for our country
2. Our reserves are depleted; that is, we must
generate new sources of energy for our country.

1.2. SENTENCE STRUCTURE
1. Leave me alone.
2. I need a couple of notebooks.

1. Leave me alone.
2. I need a couple of notebooks.
Simple Sentences

1. My father and I watched Eat Bulaga.
2. She went to the store and bought chicken and
cheese.

1. My father and I watched Eat Bulaga.
2. She went to the store and bought chicken and cheese.
Compound Sentences

1. Mother said that I should take my medicine now.
2. Lorraine told me to watch out for the windows.

1. Mother said that I should take my medicine now.
2. Lorraine told me to watch out for the windows.
Complex Sentences

1. Her sister and I made a deal to teach each other
Math.
2. She decided that I should take a break and do
something interesting

1. Her sister and I made a deal to teach each other Math.
2. She decided that I should take a break and do
something interesting.
Compound-Complex
Sentences

ACTIVITY
 Grammar and Punctuation.
 Correct the following grammar and punctuations
1. She swam when my father ate pie.
2. Physics are the subject that I hate the most.
3. This is one of the best books I have read if not the
best.
4. We must prepare beforehand, that is, we must take
precautionary measures on disaster risk management.

ACTIVITY
 Grammar and Punctuation.
 Correct the following grammar and punctuations
1. She was swimming when my father ate pie.
2. Physics is the subject that I hate the most.
3. This is one of the best books I have read, if not the
best.
4. We must prepare beforehand; that is, we must take
precautionary measures on disaster risk management.

ACTIVITY
Sentence Structure
 Compose at least one sentence for each
type of sentence structure.
Simple Sentence
Compound Sentence
Complex Sentence
Compound-Complex Sentence

2.1. SENTENCE FORM: RHETORIC
1. It was our understanding that the committee was
going to take care of the prizes.
2. We understood that the committee was going to
buy the prizes.

1. It was our understanding that the committee was going
to take care of the prizes.
2. We understood that the committee was going to
buy the prizes.
CLARITY AND ACCURACY

1. Hit by a speeding truck, he was thrown against a
concrete wall, cracking his skull open and spilling
his brains and eyes out.
2. He was killed instantaneously by a speeding truck.

1. Hit by a speeding truck, he was thrown against a
concrete wall, cracking his skull open and spilling
his brains and eyes out.
2. He was killed instantaneously by a speeding
truck.
APPROPRIATENESS

1. Print out your report on an ordinary white paper.
2. Print out your report on a letter-sized bond paper.

1. Print out your report on an ordinary white paper.
2. Print out your report on a letter-sized bond
paper.
SPECIFICITY AND
VIVIDNESS

1. At this moment in time, we should start the meeting.
2. We should start the meeting by now.

1. At this moment in time, we should start the meeting.
2. We should start the meeting by now.
FRESHNESS

1. It really can be pleasant and exciting to be by
yourself with nobody else around.
2. It really can be pleasant and exciting to be alone by

1. It really can be pleasant and exciting to be by
2. It really can be pleasant and exciting to be alone by
DIRECTNESS 1

1. Enclosed herewith are the supporting documents
from the honor students for their applications for
scholarships.
2. Enclosed are the supporting documents from the
honor students for their applications for
scholarships.

1. Enclosed herewith are the supporting documents
from the honor students for their applications for
scholarships.
2. Enclosed are the supporting documents from
the honor students for their applications for
scholarships.
DIRECTNESS 2

1. This is not yet going to be the end of it all.
2. But the end is not yet.

1. This is not yet going to be the end of it all.
2. But the end is not yet.
CONCISENESS

1. My mother gave me gift. It was a teddy bear I had
wanted for years for my birthday. My father was
very happy for me. I was not able to buy it earlier
because my parents didn’t have enough money.
2. My mother gave me a teddy bear for my birthday.
Dad also made me happy because he bought it.
We couldn’t buy it because we had no money at the
time.

1. My mother gave me gift. It was a teddy bear I had
wanted for years for my birthday. My father was
very happy for me. I was not able to buy it earlier
because my parents didn’t have enough money.
2. My mother gave me a teddy bear for my
birthday. Dad also made me happy because he
bought it. We couldn’t buy it because we had
no money at the time.
CONSISTENCY

1. My father and I are very close. My father and I
always watch Eat Bulaga every afternoon. We
always laugh at the comedian’s jokes. We are like
best friends.
2. My father and I are like best friends. We watch TV
together, eat lunch together and clean the house
together. I consider him not just as my father but
also as my best friend.

1. My father and I are very close. My father and I
always watch Eat Bulaga every afternoon. We
always laugh at the comedian’s jokes. We are like
best friends.
2. My father and I are like best friends. We watch
TV together, eat lunch together and clean the
house together. I consider him not just as my
father but also as my best friend.
VARIETY

ACTIVITY
 Directions: Identify the more appropriate sentence
in the following.
1. While sketching the scene, rain poured down on
me.
2. While sketching the scene, he was overcome by
the pouring rain.

ACTIVITY
in the following.
1. While sketching the scene, rain poured down on
me.
2. While sketching the scene, he was overcome by
the pouring rain.
CLARITY AND ACCURACY

ACTIVITY
in the following.
1. It was difficult to make him comprehend the
situation.
2. It was difficult to make him get the situation.

ACTIVITY
in the following.
1. It was difficult to make him comprehend the
situation.
2. It was difficult to make him get the situation.
APPROPRIATENESS

ACTIVITY
 Directions: Choose the most appropriate word for
the following sentences.
1. Dave worked ______ at the task that was very
challenging.
a. conscientiously b. for three hours
1. I guess your little ______ walked right through my
flower bed last night.
a. child b. nuisance.

ACTIVITY
 Directions: Choose the most appropriate word for
the following sentences.
1. Dave worked ______ at the task that was very
challenging.
a. conscientiously b. for three hours
1. I guess your little ______ walked right through my
flower bed last night.
a. child b. nuisance.
SPECIFICITY

ACTIVITY
 Directions: Identify the parts of the sentence that
should be deleted due to indirectness and redundancy.
1. Breaking his wrist, he found out that it was a painful
experience for him.
a. for him b. he found that it
1. The owner will confirm next week as to whether he will
sell his house within this month.
a. as to b. confirm next week

ACTIVITY
 Directions: Identify the parts of the sentence that
should be deleted due to indirectness and redundancy.
1. Breaking his wrist, he found out that it was a painful
experience for him.
a. for him b. he found that it
1. The owner will confirm next week as to whether he will
sell his house within this month.
a. as to b. per request
DIRECTNESS

ACTIVITY
 Directions: Identify the parts that should be deleted
and replaced in the underlined sentence to make it
more concise.
1. Still alive and kicking, the old man pushed the
children out of his yard.
a. strong b. angry
1. She gave a warning that once and for all she is
through with him.
a. for once b. finally

ACTIVITY
 Directions: Identify the parts that should be deleted
in the underlined sentence to make it more concise.
1. Still alive and kicking, the old man pushed the
children out of his yard.
a. strong b. angry
1. She gave a warning that once and for all she is
through with him.
a. for once b. finally
CONCISENESS

WORDS TO PONDER
KISS:
KEEP IT SHORT AND
SIMPLE

WORDS
TO PONDER
EXPRESS, DO NOT
IMPRESS

REFERENCES
 Sentence Structure 101. Retrieved from
http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/online-writing-
workshops/form-and-composition/
 Malicsi, J. (2005). The ELP Written Communication
Strategies. 3rd ed. The Classics Foundation.

1 basic writing and composition

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