WRITING ACTIVITIES

Obanya (1981:19) lists some of the purposes of writing which include:

-         To persuade – argue, campaign rally, court.

-         To express doubt, sorrow, joy, annoyance or other emotions.

-         To describe a person, place, object, experience or situation.

-         To inform, warn e. g. road sign.

-         For identification – labels on bottles in laboratory, badges.

-         To instruct – how to use drug, electronic gadgets.

-         Letter for employment, to friends, business.

-         Our achievements, collections, event, etc i. e. in a diary.

-         Report of events, meetings, incidents, experiments, projects, etc.

 

Features of Writing

1.       Because the writer would not always be with the readers to explain things or use gesture to drive home his points, any piece of writing requires that the writer writes exactly what he intends to communicate to avoid confusing the readers.

2.       The grammar should be appropriate.

3.       Spellings and punctuation marks should be in order.

4.       A writer must have his readers in mind by adapting to their levels.

5.       The purpose must be stated and the language should tilt towards that.

6.       Paragraphing should be in order and coherent i. e. ideas should be in good paragraphs that are well linked.

 

All the above features if not followed constitute problems in writing and reduces candidate’s marks were it an exam issue. It should also be noted that there are different types of writings and a writer has to follow the features of each while writing.