Unit 5 in 30 seconds: Writing Skills = practical formats the exam tests directly. Six formats to master: (1) Technical/Scientific writing — clear, precise, objective style; (2) Content writing — web-friendly, reader-first basics; (3) Email — formal and informal formats with subject line + salutation + body + closing; (4) Blog — catchy title, intro, subheadings, conclusion; (5) Dialogue — natural conversation format with speaker names; (6) Report — newspaper style with headline, dateline, and inverted pyramid (most important news first). Har format ka FIXED structure yaad karo — exam me format ke marks alag se milte hain.
1. Technical and Scientific Writing
Technical writing explains complex ideas in a simple, exact, and neutral way — user manuals, lab reports, project documentation. Scientific writing reports experiments and findings honestly and precisely.
5 Features — Clarity (simple words) → Precision (exact facts/figures) → Objectivity (no personal opinion) → Logical order (step by step) → Conciseness (no extra words)
Key rules: use short sentences; define every technical term on first use; use headings, numbered steps, and diagrams where needed; write in present tense for facts and past tense for experiments done; avoid "I feel" type personal language — say "The results show".
Exam Tip: Technical writing ke features 5-mark question me "list and explain" form me aate hain — clarity, precision, objectivity, logical sequence, conciseness. Har feature ke saath ek line ka example likh do, full marks pakke.
Technical writing ka matlab hai mushkil cheez ko asaan bhasha me samjhana — jaise mobile ka manual. Paaanch cheezein yaad rakho: saaf likho, sahi figures do, apni raay mat ghusao, step-by-step order rakho, aur faltu shabd mat likho. "Mujhe lagta hai" nahi, "result dikhata hai" likho. Ye style engineer, doctor, scientist sab use karte hain.
2. Content Writing — Basics
Content writing means writing for websites, blogs, and social media — where the reader decides in 5 seconds whether to continue. The golden rule: write for the READER, not for yourself.
Reader-First Rules — catchy headline → short paragraphs (2-3 lines) → simple words → subheadings → one clear message per piece
Basics to remember: headline should promise a benefit; first 2 lines decide everything (hook); one idea per paragraph; use bullet points for lists; end with a call to action (what should the reader do next); check grammar and spelling — one error kills trust.
Content writing me reader raja hai — uske paas time nahi hai, to headline aisi jo rukne pe majboor kare, paragraph chhote rakho, mushkil shabd mat use karo. Har article ka ek hi main message ho. Aakhir me reader ko batao aage kya kare (jaise "comment karo" ya "share karo"). Yehi web writing ka basic formula hai.
3. Email Writing — Format
Emails are of two types: formal (to teachers, officers, companies) and informal (to friends, family). Format is fixed — follow it exactly.
| Part | Formal Email | Informal Email |
|---|---|---|
| Subject line | Clear and specific: "Application for Leave – 12 Oct" | Casual: "Long time, let's meet!" |
| Salutation | Respected Sir/Ma'am, Dear Mr. Sharma, | Hi Rahul, Dear Priya, |
| Opening line | State purpose at once | Warm greeting, ask about them |
| Body | Short paragraphs, polite tone, to the point | Natural, conversational |
| Closing | Thanking you, Yours faithfully, (Name, class/roll no.) | Take care, Your friend, (Name) |
Formal email sample skeleton:
Subject: Request for Leave of Absence
Respected Sir,
With due respect, I wish to state that... (reason in 2-3 lines)... Kindly grant me leave for...
Thanking you,
Yours obediently,
Amit Verma, B.A. I Year, Roll No. 24
Exam Tip: Formal email me subject line LIKHNA MAT BHOOLO — iska alag se mark hota hai. "Yours faithfully" strangers/officers ke liye, "Yours obediently" teacher ke liye. Informal me "Respected" lagana galat hai. Aur email hamesha LEFT aligned, short paragraphs me likho.
Email ka format fix hai: subject line (kya kaam hai, ek line me), phir salutation (formal me Respected Sir, informal me Hi + naam), phir body (formal me seedha point pe aao, ghumao mat), phir closing (Thanking you + Yours faithfully/obediently + naam). Formal aur informal ka farak bas tone aur salutation-closing me hai — structure same rehta hai.
4. Blog Writing — Structure
A blog is a personal-yet-public article — informative but conversational. Structure is fixed: Title → Introduction → Body (subheadings) → Conclusion.
Blog Structure — Catchy title → Hook intro (question/fact/story) → 3-4 subheadings with short paras → Conclusion with takeaway
Rules: title should be specific and searchable ("5 Easy Ways to Improve English"); intro me reader ko pakdo — ek sawal ya surprising fact se; har subheading ek naya point; personal examples allowed (blog me "I" chalega); end me reader se baat karo — "What do you think? Comment below."
Exam Tip: Exam me blog likhne ko kahein to 200-250 words enough hain. Title UNDERLINE karo ya bold — examiner pehli nazar me structure dekhta hai. Subheadings lagana mat bhoolo, yehi blog ko essay se alag karta hai.
Blog essay jaisa nahi hai — thoda friendly, thoda personal. Title catchy rakho, shuru me ek sawal ya interesting baat se reader ko pakdo, beech me subheadings laga ke 3-4 points do, aur end me apni raay ya reader se sawal. "I" use karna blog me bilkul allowed hai — yehi iski khaas baat hai.
5. Dialogue Writing — Format
Dialogue writing presents a conversation between two or more people on a given situation — natural, realistic speech, not essay language.
Dialogue Format — Speaker name + colon, new line per speaker; short natural sentences; greetings → main talk → closing
Example:
Rahul: Good morning, uncle! Is Rohit at home?
Uncle: Good morning, beta. Yes, he is studying. Come in.
Rahul: Actually, we have a cricket match at 4. Can he come?
Uncle: Only if he finishes his homework first. Go and ask him.
Rules: each speaker on a new line; use contractions (I'm, don't, can't) — real people talk like this; keep sentences short; show feelings through words (Oh no! Really?); no narration paragraphs in between — only speech (a one-line situation setting at the start is fine).
Dialogue me do log baat karte hain — har speaker nayi line pe, naam ke baad colon. Jaise log asli me bolte hain waise likho: "I am not going" ki jagah "I'm not going", chhote sentences, beech me "Oh!", "Really?" jaise reactions. Shuru me ek line me situation bata do (jaise "Rahul goes to his friend's house"), phir sirf baatcheet.
6. Report Writing — Format
A report gives factual information about an event — newspaper reports, event reports, survey reports. News reports follow the inverted pyramid: most important facts first.
Newspaper Report Format — Headline → Dateline (Place, Date) → Opening para (what, when, where, who) → Details (how, why) → Closing (result/future)
Example skeleton:
Fire Breaks Out in City Market
Bikaner, 10 Oct: A major fire broke out in the city market at 2 a.m. today... (what/when/where/who in first para). According to officials... (how it started, damage details). No casualties were reported... (result). The cause is under investigation. (closing)
| Report Type | Special Feature |
|---|---|
| Newspaper report | Headline + dateline; past tense; third person; inverted pyramid |
| Event report (college function) | Title + date/venue; sequence of programme; chief guest, vote of thanks |
| Survey/Factual report | Heading + objective; findings in points; conclusion/recommendation |
Exam Tip: Report me apni raay (I think, in my opinion) BILKUL mat likho — report fact-based hoti hai. Headline short aur catchy rakho, dateline (Place, Date:) mat bhoolo. Pehle paragraph me 4 W's (what, when, where, who) aa jaane chahiye — examiner yahi check karta hai.
Report me kahani nahi, FACTS likhte hain. Newspaper report ka formula: headline (chhoti, tez), phir jagah aur tareekh, phir pehle paragraph me hi bata do kya hua, kab, kahaan, kaun tha. Uske baad detail — kaise hua, kitna nuksaan. Aakhir me result. Apni raay mat do, "mujhe lagta hai" report me banned hai. Past tense me likho, third person me (he/she/they, "I" nahi).