WRITING SKILLS

Introduction,
Importance of Writing Skills,
Types of Writing
Key elements of Good Writing,
Common Writing mistakes
The Writing Process
Common Documents that you should know how to write
Introduction to Writing Skills

• Writing is a powerful tool for communication.

• Good writing requires practice and understanding
of key principles.
• Whether academic, creative, or professional,
writing skills are essential.
Why Writing Skills Matter/Importance
• Effective Communication: Writing helps convey
complex ideas clearly, making it easier for others
to understand.
• Personal Expression: Writing allows individuals
to express thoughts, emotions, and creativity.
• Professional Advantage: Strong writing can set
you apart in the workplace, demonstrating
professionalism and attention to detail.
Why Writing Skills Matter/Importance
continued;
• Builds Credibility: Well-written materials
enhance your reputation as an expert or thought
leader in your field.
• Enhances Persuasion: Good writing is crucial in
convincing others, whether in arguments,
proposals, or marketing.
• Improves Learning: Writing forces you to
organize thoughts, which can deepen your
understanding of the subject.
• Establishes Relationships: Writing is often the
primary way of engaging and maintaining
connections in both personal and professional
Key Elements of Good Writing

• Clarity: Ensure your message is easily understood

by avoiding ambiguity and using simple, direct
language.
• Example: Instead of "The process was relatively
uncomplicated," use "The process was easy to follow."
• Conciseness: Avoid unnecessary words or
redundancies; every word should add value to your
message.
• Example: Instead of "Due to the fact that," use "Because."
• Coherence: Organize your ideas logically; each
sentence and paragraph should smoothly lead to the
next.
Key Elements of Good Writing
continued;
Correctness: Check for grammar, spelling,
punctuation, and formatting errors. Incorrect
writing can confuse or lose the reader.
Tip: Use grammar-check tools, but always
follow up with manual proofreading.
Consistency: Be consistent in tone, tense,
and style throughout the piece.
Example: If you start writing in past tense,
stick to it unless there's a reason to change.
Key Elements of Good Writing
continued;
• Engagement: Write in a way that keeps the
reader interested—use stories, examples, and
questions to invite participation.
• Example: “What would happen if we could harness
renewable energy at a large scale?”
• Tone: Adapt your tone to the audience and
purpose—whether formal, informal, persuasive, or
descriptive.
• Example: A job application letter should be formal, while
a personal blog post may use a conversational tone.
• Purpose: Always have a clear purpose or goal for
your writing—whether to inform, persuade,
Types of Writing

• Academic Writing: Research papers, essays,

reports.
• Creative Writing: Stories, poems, plays.
• Business Writing: Emails, proposals,
presentations.
• Technical Writing: Manuals, instructions, user
guides.
The Writing Process
Prewriting: Brainstorming, outlining, research.
Drafting: Writing the first version.
Revising: Improving clarity, structure, and
flow.
Editing: Correcting grammar, punctuation,
and style.
Publishing: Final version ready for sharing
Tips for Effective Writing
• Know Your Audience: Adjust tone and
language based on the reader’s background
and knowledge.
• Be Specific: Use clear examples and details
to avoid vagueness and enhance
understanding.
• Vary Sentence Structure: Combine short
and long sentences for variety and reader
engagement.
• Use Active Voice: Write in a direct and clear
Tips for Effective Writing
continued;
Avoid Repetition: Use synonyms or
restructure sentences to prevent redundancy.
Use Strong Verbs: Replace weak verbs with
more descriptive and action-oriented words.
Organize Your Ideas: Structure your writing
logically with a clear introduction, body, and
conclusion.
Use Transitional Phrases: Help readers
follow your argument with connecting
phrases like “Furthermore” or “On the other
Tips for Effective Writing continued;
Show, Don’t Just Tell: Use descriptive
language to immerse the reader in the
experience.
Read Aloud: Identify awkward phrasing or
unclear sentences by reading your work out
loud.
Take Breaks: Refresh your mind by taking
breaks, improving focus and writing quality.
Seek Feedback: Get constructive criticism
from others to improve your writing.
Common Writing Mistakes to Avoid
Overcomplicating Language: Use simple,
clear language instead of jargon or overly
complex terms.
Being Too Wordy: Eliminate unnecessary
words to make your writing more concise.
Lack of Structure: Ensure your writing has
a clear beginning, middle, and end, with
logical flow.
Ignoring the Audience: Tailor your writing
to your audience’s needs and expectations.
Common Writing Mistakes to Avoid
continued;
Failing to Revise: Skipping the revision
process can leave errors and weaken your
message.
Overusing Clichés: Avoid clichés as they
can make your writing sound stale and
unoriginal.
Inconsistent Tone: Maintain a consistent
tone throughout your writing to avoid
confusing your reader.
Weak Transitions: Ensure smooth flow by
 Common Writing Mistakes to Avoid

continued;
Neglecting Grammar and Punctuation:
Small errors in grammar or punctuation can
distract readers and hurt credibility.
Not Providing Enough Detail: Lack of
specifics can make your writing unclear or
unconvincing.
Repetitive Sentences or Ideas: Repeating
the same points can bore your audience and
make your writing seem less engaging.
Not Proofreading: Failing to proofread often
leads to overlooked mistakes that can affect the
Writing Practice: Improve Your Skills
Write Regularly Different Genres
Read Often Track Progress
Seek Feedback Rewrite and Revise
Imitate Good Writers
Set Clear Goals
Use Writing Prompts
Join Writing Groups
Experiment with
Important writing skills to have
By end of this unit, you should know how to
write the following;
1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Reports
3. Cover Letters
4. Memos
5. Emails
6. Letters
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A résumé is a one-page or two-page
summary of your training, skills, and
accomplishments.

The eight most common components are. 1.

Personal details. Provide your name,
address, and telephone number(s), email,
gender, age, and optionally marital status,
religion, nationality.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
2.Job/career objective. Describe your
goals in employment you are seeking.

3.Education. Begin with your highest

degree and continue in reverse order.

 4. Professional training. List any

specialized training, courses, and so on.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
5.Employment history. List both paid and
unpaid work experience, beginning with the
most recent.

Include:
 employment dates/period
primary job responsibilities
accomplishments and awards.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
6. Professional affiliations. List
professional groups to which you belong and
any offices you have held.

7. Special interests and skills. List

interests and skills that are related to the job
for which you are applying.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
8. Referees. These are individuals who know
your work, your abilities, and your character.
NB:
As you construct your CV, think in terms of
how your education, training, skills, and work
experience can fit the requirements of the
advertised job.

Presentonly those skills and

accomplishments that show you can do the
job
Letter Writing (Letter of application)
In the cover letter, you should
include:
 how you found out about the
position,
your primary reasons for being
interested in the position,
and how your specific
qualifications (education, training,
work-related experiences, and
skills) meet the needs of the
Nb: - Block format- all information on left
side.
Business letter
Electronic mail (E-mail)
Content:
To.,(who are you sending it to)
Cc., Bcc., (Carbon copy, Blind carbon copy)
(used mostly for group emails. BCC – each
recipient can see that they received the email
but cant see who else got it)

Subject

Salutation,
Electronic mail (E-mail)
Body,
complementary close, name (and
designation)
Attachment
Memos
A memo (short for memorandum) is used
only for communication within the
organization.
It may be from one person to another or to
several persons.
Memos
The purpose of a memo may be:
To ask for information
To request decision or action
 To convey information about action or
decision
Memos
Memos have the name of the
organisation,
The title ‘Internal Memo,
Ref. No.,(Reference number)
 To., From.,
Date,
Subject,
Body,
Name of Sender,

Minutes- Importance
Record keeping- incase of conflict, future
references

Memory aid

Meeting minutes state ownership

Time saving
Facilitates smooth implementation of
decisions

Transparency

Accountability
Report writing
A report is a logical presentation of facts and
information.
It provides feedback to the managers on
various aspects of the organisation.
A report presents information needed for
reviewing and evaluating progress, for
planning future course of action and for
taking decisions.
Report writing
Every organisation has a system of routine
periodical reporting on the progress and the
status of different activities..
Role of Reports
To review performance of a unit in an
organisation
To keep a check on a continuing activity in an
organisation
To plan for the future needs of the
organisation
Role of Reports
To survey the market needs for products or
services of an organization

Tosubmit standardized information to the

management of an organization etc.
Types of Reports
Oral report
Written report
Management reports
Operation procedures
Structure of a report
A report generally includes the following
sections.
The essential sections marked with an
asterisk (*);
the other sections may be included
depending on the type, length and purpose of
the report.
Structure of a report
• Letter of transmittal
• Title page*
 • Table of contents
• List of abbreviations and/or glossary
 • Executive summary/abstrac
Structure of a report
Introduction *
• Body*
• Conclusion*
• Recommendations
• References
 • Appendice
Summary
Writing is a skill that can be improved with
time and effort.
Clear and effective writing opens doors in
many areas of life.
Continue practicing to become a better
writer.