English 3101A - Department of Advanced Education and Skills

Unit 3Written Communications and Writing ConventionsNotes for Teaching and LearningPrécis Study1. Reference Points 11/12 (pages 28-30)provides a very good explanation of thefunction of the précis in report writing andresearch essays. It also provides a clear stepby-stepprocedure for writing a précis and asample précis. Students may read thisindividually but, ideally, the instructor wouldpresent the material and supplement it withshort practice exercises.Précis Writing Assignment2. The précis writing assignment is based ontwo reports on the development of the Englishlanguage. Students are required to read both,from which they will select one to create aprécis. The reports differ in style andcomplexity but each has particular advantagesin terms of the précis writing exercise. It isimportant that students complete both readingsbefore making their choice.Formal Letters3. Students will have studied Reference Points11/12 (pages 303-307) in English 2101A. Theyshould be encouraged to review it prior towriting their letters for this course. Instructorsshould be aware that Reference Points givesonly one format for formal letters - full blockformat. It is recommended that students beencouraged to perfect this format and use it tothe exclusion of all others.Suggestions for AssessmentPrécisThe précis should be assessed in terms of theextent to which students have followed the 10-step process outlined in Reference Points11/12, page 28-29. In particular, Steps 4-10could be used as an assessment checklist. Theprécis should be, as Step 10 states, “acoherent, smooth-flowing composition withadequate transition between ideas. The ideasshould flow in the same order as the original”.The précis of the selected article should beapproximately one-third the length of theoriginal article.Formal CorrespondenceAt this level, students should be expected toadhere strictly to the conventions of theprescribed format for formal correspondence.The main focus of the assessment of theircorrespondence should be the extent to whichit achieves its purpose. In particular, thefollowing should be assessed:–accuracy–conciseness–tone–languageEnglish 3101A Curriculum Guide Page 23