ENGLISH WRITING SKILLS HONOURS 1ST YEAR

Subject Code: 211103

1. What is the controlling idea?
Ans: The controlling idea is the main idea that the writer is developing in a composition.
2. What are transitions?
Ans: Transitions are phrases or words used to connect one idea to the next between sentences, paragraphs, and
sections of your papers.
3. What are signposts?
Ans: Signposts are the words and phrases that tell your reader the purpose, structure, main points, direction of the
argument and signal your conclusion.
4. What is the difference between transitions and signposts?
Ans: A transition is a phrase which indicates that the writer has completed one main idea and is moving on to a different
idea, while signpost is a key phrase or word that calls the reader’s attention to the specific point the writer is covering.
5. What are discourse markers?
Ans: A `discourse marker’ is a word or phrase that helps to link ideas in written language.
6. What is a descriptive paragraph?
Ans: A descriptive paragraph describes a person, or a place or a thing. It includes details that appeal to the five senses:
sight, taste, touch, smell, and hearing.
7. What is an expository paragraph?
Ans: An expository paragraph explains something and informs the reader on a subject.
8. What are the three main types of expository paragraph?
Ans: The three main types of expository paragraphs-
(a) Informative
(b) Cause and effect
(c) Comparison/ contrast
9. What is a persuasive/argumentative paragraph?
Ans: An argumentative or persuasive paragraph is one in which you try to convince the reader of something.
10. What is a cause and effect paragraph?
Ans: It is a method of paragraph development in which a writer analyzes the causes—and/or the consequences of—an
action, event, or decision.
11. What is a contrast paragraph?
Ans: It is a method of paragraph development in which a writer discusses the differences between (at least) two
persons, places, things, ideas, or situations.
12. What is a comparison and contrast paragraph?
Ans: It is a method of paragraph development in which a writer discusses both the similarities and differences
between two or more people, places, things, or ideas.
13. What is a point by point method?
Ans: It is a method of comparing one point of a topic with a point of the other topic right in the same sentence or in
the sentence immediately following. It is also called alternating method.
14. What is a process paragraph?
Ans: It is a method of paragraph development in which a writer explains how to do something or describes or explains
how something is done.
15. What is a block method?
Ans: It is a method of paragraph development in which a writer presents all facts and supporting details about one
topic and it is followed by the facts and supporting details of the other topic.
16. What are the two types of process paragraph?
Ans: Two types of process paragraph are:
(a) How to: This gives the reader directions on how he or she can do something.
(b) Explanation: This tells the reader how a particular event occurred or how something works.
17. What is coherence in a paragraph?
Ans: Coherence is the logical connection of ideas in a text. Coherence means establishing a relationship between the
ideas presented in a paragraph. It is an arrangement of ideas in such a way that the reader can easily follow from one
point to another.
18. What is the difference between coherence and cohesion?
Ans: Coherence means the connection of ideas at the idea level, and cohesion means the connection of ideas at the
sentence level. Basically, coherence refers to the ‘rhetorical’ aspects of writing, which include developing, and
supporting your argument (e.g. thesis statement development), synthesizing and integrating readings, organizing and
clarifying ideas. The cohesion of writing focuses on the “grammatical’’ aspects of writing.
19. What is writing?
Ans: Writing is the activity of composing a text.
20. What is writing style?
Ans: Writing style is how the writer chooses to express himself or herself through writing.
21. What is revision?
Ans: Revision is a process of changing a piece of writing to improve its style or content.
22. What is proofreading?
Ans: It is a process of close reading of your work, when you look for mistakes and try to fix them.
23. What is brainstorming?
Ans: Brainstorming is the process that takes place before your essay writing, when you choose a topic, statements to
talk about, points, etc.
24. What is an essay?
Ans: An essay is a short composition on a particular theme or subject.
25. What are the three basic parts of an essay?
Ans: The three basic parts of an essay are introduction, body and conclusion.
26. What is a thesis statement?
Ans: The main idea of the essay is stated in a single sentence called the thesis statement. The thesis statement states
the aim of the paper and may give insight into the author’s examples and evidence.
27. What is the difference between a thesis statement and a topic sentence?
Ans: A thesis writing trick in the first paragraph of your writing, work, or essay; while a topic sentence guides a
paragraph.
28. What is essay hook?
Ans: It is a writing trick in the first paragraph of your writing used to grab your readers’ attention in order to keep
them reading.
29. What is the “bulk” of the essay called?
Ans: The bulk of an essay is the greater part of the essay. It is contained in the main body.
30. What is the bing, the bang and the bongo?
Ans: The bing, the bang and the bongo is a method for organizing your thoughts when you write an essay.
31. What is a lead sentence?
Ans: The lead sentence is the sentence that leads the rest of the paragraph. It attracts the reader’ attention and makes
them continue reading the rest.
32. What’s the difference between the topic sentence and the lead sentence?
Ans: The lead sentence is present to capture the reader’s attention, whereas the topic sentence gets straight to the point
of what the essay is about.
33. What is a summary paragraph?
Ans: The summary paragraph comes at the end of your essay after you have finished developing your ideas. The
summary paragraph is often called a “conclusion.”
34. What is the difference between essay and report?
Ans: A report is formally structured but an essay is semi-structured. A report is informative and fact-based while an
essay is argumentative and idea-based. In essay minimal or no use of headings and sub-headings but reports often use
number of headings and sub-headings.
35. What is the difference between an essay and a paragraph?
Ans: Paragraphs and essays differ in their length, Paragraphs are typically between five and six sentences long.
They’re composed of a topic sentence and four or five supporting details. Essays contain at least five paragraphs;
they’re composed of an introductory paragraph (which includes the thesis statement), at least three supporting
paragraphs and a conclusion paragraph.
36. What is a descriptive essay?
Ans: A descriptive essay simply describes something or someone by appealing to the reader’s senses: sight, sound,
touch, smell and taste.
37. What is the difference between narrative and expository essay?
Ans: Narrative essay tells a story while expository essay inform and explain something. While narrative essay allows
the author to be creative and tell a story in a way he or she likes, expository essays follow some strict rules that one
must abide.
38. What is the difference between descriptive and expository essay?
Ans: A descriptive essay is one kind of expository essay.
39. What is a persuasive essay?
Ans: A persuasive essay is an essay in which a writer tries to convince the reader to accept a particular point of view
or take a specific action.
40. What is an argumentative essay?
Ans: Argumentative essay is a type of essays that serves to persuade a reader that some particular point of view is
correct, and the others are wrong.
41. What is the difference between a persuasive essay and an argumentative essay?
Ans: An argumentative essay relies more heavily on evidence, while a persuasive essay can argue from opinion or
emotion. An argumentative essay will usually end with a recap of all relevant facts and an assertion that the writer’s
interpretation is the correct one. The persuasive writer will more “join the cause” presented in the paper.
42. What is a narrative essay?
Ans: A narrative essay is a type of essay that tells a story from the writer’s perspective.
43. What is a formal essay?
Ans: It is an essay using an academic structure, type and style, and absent of creative diversions or poetic license.
44. What is an informal essay?
Ans: An informal essay is a type of essay written in relaxed manner, mainly to amuse both readers and the author.
45. What is the difference between formal and informal essay?
Ans: Informal essay tends to be personal and subjective, while formal essay appears to be objective.
46. What is an admission essay?
Ans: An admission or application essay, sometimes also called a personal statement, is an essay written by an
applicant, usually with the aim of applying to some college, university, or graduate school.

2nd Part
Part-A: Brief Question with Answers
1. What is writing?
Ans. Writing is the activity of composing a text.
2. What is the five-step writing process? Or, Write down the names of stages of writing process.
Ans. The five-step writing process is: Prewriting, Drafting, Revision, Editing and Publishing.
3. What is revising/revision?
Ans. Revising means ‘re-visioning’ or ‘re-seeing’ your paper. Revision is defined as ‘a process of making changes
throughout the writing of a draft, changes that work to make the draft harmonious with a writer’s changing intentions.’
4. What is proofreading?
Ans. Proofreading is the process of reading and correcting typographical errors and mistakes in grammar, style, and spelling.
5. What is editing?
Ans. Editing is the process of correcting and adapting a text.
Paragraph
1. What are the parts of a paragraph?
Ans. There are three parts in a paragraph: topic sentence, body and concluding sentence.
2. What do ‘transition signals’ mean?
Ans. Transition signals are linking words or phrases that connect our ideas and add cohesion to our writing. They
indicate to the reader the relationships between sentences and between paragraphs, making it easier for the reader to
understand our ideas.
3. What is ‘context modulator’?
Ans. Context modulators are sentences that provide a smooth transition between two sets of ideas. It is through a
context modulator the writer passes from one group of developers to the other. It is, therefore, a kind of link between
two sets of ideas.
4. What is Terminator in a writing composition?
Ans. Terminators are sentences that conclude the ideas in the paragraph and bring it to a close. They summarize the
contents of a paragraph logically and signal the completion of one aspect of the presentation.
5. What is a contrast paragraph?
Ans. A contrast paragraph is one that shows dissimilarities of differences between two persons, places, things, ideas,
of situations. A contrast paragraph compares two subjects and discusses how they are different.
Essay
1. What are the parts of an essay?
Ans. Traditionally, an essay is made up of three parts: (i) the introductory paragraph or introduction, (ii) the body
paragraphs, and (iii) the concluding paragraph.
2. Write down the names of four types of essays.
Ans. There are four major types of essays: Narrative Essay; Descriptive Essay; Expository Essay and Persuasive
Essay.
3. What do you mean by thesis statement?
Ans. The main idea of an essay is expressed in the introductory paragraph. The sentence in which the main idea is
expressed is called thesis statement.
4. What is the difference between a topic sentence and a thesis statement?
Ans. A topic sentence guides a paragraph while a thesis statement guides an essay.
5. What is a narrative essay?
Ans. A narrative essay is an essay that tells a story about a specific event or experience. In a narrative essay an event
is chronologically narrated that has taken place.

Report
1. What is a report?
Ans. A report is a means of conveying information to others. It is a spoken or written account of something that one
has observed, heard, done, or investigated.
2. What is the purpose of report writing?
Ans. The purpose of report writing is to convey some information to others.
3. What is an executive summary/abstract of a report?
Ans. An executive summary is the abridged version of a long report. It includes the aims of the report, what was found
and, conclusions, and recommendations. An executive summary is neither background nor introduction to the report.
4. What is a formal report?
Ans. A formal report is a document that is written following a fixed procedure. A formal report contains information
with more detail and content than the shorter report forms.
5. What is an informal report?
Ans. An informal report is usually in the form of a person to person communication within an organization. It is
written without following any rules and procedure directed by an organization.
Letter
1. What is a letter?
Ans. A letter is a written message from one person to another or one party to another party containing information.
2. What are the types of formal letters?
Ans. There are different types of formal letters such as: Inquiry letters; Sales letters; Cover Letters; Invitation letter;
Application; Resignation letter; Complaint letter etc.
3. How many parts are there in a formal letter?
Ans. In a formal letter there are six parts.
4. What are the parts of a formal letter?
Ans. The parts of a formal letter are: Heading, Inside address, Salutation, Body, Complementary Close, and Signature.
5. What is an informal letter?
Ans. An informal letter is a letter which is written to a friend or family.
Notice
1. What is a notice?
Ans. A notice is a written or printed announcement giving information that something is going to happen.
2. What are the characteristics of a well-written notice?
Ans. The well-written notice has: Proper heading/ title; Date of issue; Name and designation of the issuing authority;
and Relevant content.
3. What is the aim of a notice?
Ans. The purpose of a notice is to announce or display information to a specific group of people.
Memo
1. To whom memos are written?
Ans. Memos can be written both to the junior and to the senior and even to the employees of equal rank.
2. What are the basic three plans of memo writing?
Ans. The basic three plans of memo writing are: Direct Plan, Indirect Plan and Combination Approach.
3. What purpose does the first sentence of the body of a memo serve?
Ans. The first sentence of the body of a memo states the purpose of the memo and/or what action the reader needs to
take.
4. What is a memo?
Ans. The word ‘memo’ is short for memorandum. It is ‘a message or other information in writing sent by one person
of department to another in the same business organization’.
Notes
1. What is a note?
Ans. A note is a statement of facts describing the issue under consideration, suggesting course of action to reach a
decision. It is prepared to settle a matter while remaining in the framework of Rules and Regulations.
2. When is noting required?
Ans. Whenever a condition arises that a matter is to be decided by Senior Officer, a note is recorded in file.
3. Why is a note recorded?
Ans. The working of the government is a continuous affair. The officers may come and go, but the policy of the
Government has to remain uniform in a given set of circumstances. It is, therefore, necessary to have a written record
of the reasons for adopting a particular course of action in a case so as to ensure identical treatment to a similar case
coming up in future.
4. What is a case?
Ans. ‘Case’ means a current file or a receipt together with other related paper, if any.
5. What is a current file?
Ans. Current file’ means a file action on which has not been completed.
Minutes
1. What are minutes? Or, Define minutes?
Ans. Minutes are an official record of what is said and decided in a meeting. It is brief but a complete record of the
proceedings at a meeting.
2. What is the purpose of minutes?
Ans. The purpose of minutes is to provide a permanent, and publicly accessible, record of what passed at a particular
meeting.
3. When are minutes final?
Ans. Minutes are final when they are approved by the members of the group to which they relate, generally in the next
meeting, and signed by the chairperson.
 Part-B: Short Questions
1. What are the basic stages of writing process?
2. What is brainstorming?
3. What is drafting?
4. How does one gather ideas in the pre-writing stage?
Paragraph
1. Define a paragraph.
2. What are the essential parts of a paragraph?
3. What is a topic sentence in a paragraph?
4. What are the functions of a topic sentence?
5. Define cohesion in writing.
6. What is context modulator?
7. What is the five-step process of paragraph development?
Essay
1. What is an essay?
2. What are the differences between the thesis statement and the topic sentence?
3. What are the three basic parts of an essay?
4. What is a narrative essay?
5. What is a descriptive essay?
6. What is an expository essay?
7. How is an expository essay different from a narrative essay?
Report
1. What is report?
2. What makes a good report?
3. Give a format of a report?
4. What is an executive summary/abstract of a report?
5. What is formal report?
6. What is an informal report?
7. Write a short note on news report.
Letter
1. What is a letter?
2. What is a formal letter?
3. What is informal letter?
4. Write down the structure of an informal letter?
5. What is a business letter?
6. What are the qualities of a good business letter?
7. What is a cover letter?
Notice
1. What is a notice?
2. What are the purposes of notices?
3. How can you draft a notice?
4. Give the format of a notice.
5. What are the differences between a memo and a notice?
Memo
1. What is a memo?
2. What are the functions of the memo?
3. Show the structure/format of a memo.
4. Write down the basic three plans of memo writing?
5. What is the four-point plan of memo writing?
Notes
1. What is office noting?
2. Show the format/structure of the note.
3. What do you know about notes?
Press Release
1. What is a press release?
2. Show the format of a press release.
3. What are the common parts of a press release?
Minutes
1. What are minutes?
2. Write about the importance of the minutes.
3. Give the format of the minutes?
4. Show the differences between press release and minutes?
5. What are the differences between job application letters and job offer letters?
6. Write a topic sentence for each of the following topics :- (a) Mobile Phone; (b) Female Education; (c)
Patriotism; (d) E-mail.
 Part-C: Broad Questions
Paragraph
1. Internet
2. Child Labor
3. Life without a computer today
4. Abuses of Mobile Phone
5. Global Warming
6. Facebook
7. Food Adulteration
8. Role of Women in Our Society
9. Importance of Reading Good Books
10. Study of English Literature
11. Good Manners
12. Hazards of City Life
Essay
1. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
2. Facebook
3. Digital Bangladesh/ Vision 2021
4. Metro-Railway
5. Responsibilities of Media
6. Trial of the War Criminals
7. Empowerment of Women
8. Higher Education in Bangladesh
9. A Memorable Journey
10. The Celebration of Pohela Boishakh
11. Moral Education
Report
1. Write a report on the celebration of the annual prize giving ceremony in your college.
2. Write a report for a daily newspaper on the collapse of a multistoried garments factory.
3. Write a report on the kidnapping of a baby boy.
4. Suppose you are a staff correspondent to an English national daily. Now, write a news report about a
launch accident.
5. Suppose you are a staff correspondent to an English daily. Now write a news report on the increase of
anti-social activities in your locality.
6. Suppose a blood donation program was held at your college. Now write a report on that program to be
published in the newspaper.
7. Suppose a woman commits suicide for dowry in your locality. Now write a newspaper report on that
incident.
Letter
1. Write a letter to your brother advising him to read daily newspaper and listen to the news as well.
2. Write a letter to your father asking him to send money for buying a laptop computer.
3. Write a letter to your younger brother/sister advising him/her on the importance of having good friends.
4. Write a letter to your friend inviting him to attend your sister’s marriage ceremony.
5. Write a letter to your pen friend describing the natural beauty of Bangladesh.
Application
1. Write an application to the Chairman of the department seeking permission to use the seminar library in
the afternoon for drama rehearsals.
2. Write an application to the Chairman of the Department of English of your college to arrange an English
debate competition.
3. Write an application to your Principal to enhance facilities on your college campus.
4. Write an application to the head of your department seeking permission to Celebrates the birthday of
William Shakespeare in your department.
5. Write an application to the Principal of your college requesting him to establish free Internet (Wi-Fi) zone
in the college campus.