PART A

( 5 questions, answer all)

1. List FOUR common errors in writing. (Topic 1 pp.9-10 (4%)

a. Confusing language, using words that mislead the reader and cause
communication breakdown (ambiguous, bombastic , etc)

b. Verbosity that is the use of too many words that may interfere, confuse,
antoganise and bore reader ( eg on p.10)

c. Poor Sentence Structure which leads to fragmented writing and choppy

sentences that impede understanding write short sentences

d. Information Overload when giving so much information till you feel

overwhelmed and confused

2. The reasoning process works in two modes, namely DEDUCTION and

INDUCTION.

Explain BOTH modes (Topic 6) (4%)

Deductive reasoning introduces a general principle or premise and draws a

specific conclusion from it

Inductive reasoning supports a general conclusion by looking at specific facts or

evidence
 3. Define sign and symbol. Provide ONE example of each to illustrate your
answer (Topic 2) pp.21-22 (4%)

A sign can be anything that is used to point to, or stand for something else. It
can be used to represent ideas, experiences, images, objects, feelings and
concepts for example words which represent signs eg.sign to a toilet (signage)

Symbols are when signs are used to refer to complex things, have complex
meanings and may have more than one meaning, some of which are culture-
bound for example rice stalk means fruitfulness or fertility in Japan and
Malaysia.

4. Some students are not sure what kind of essays to write when they are asked
to produce a paper for their term project. There are three types of essays:
explanation, argumentative and discussion essays. Briefly describe two of these
essays. (Topic 3) pp. 30 (4%)

i. Explanation essay seeks to clarify or explain issues of the natural and social
sciences and answers Wh- questions.

ii. Argumentation essay provides information and contains supporting and

opposing ideas, the main objective is to persuade readers to side(agree) with the
essay writer.

iii. Discussion essay is similar to the argumentation essay but contains

information and the writer’s personal views, supported by facts and evidence,
should not get too personal and the main objective is to discuss issues
objectively and let the readers think for themselves.
5. What is a feasibility study? State the benefits of a feasibility study. (pp.117-
118) (4%)

A feasibility study is a form of business proposal that aims to an overview of

the primary issues related to a business idea. The purpose is to identify any
“make” or “break” issues that may prevent your business from being successful.
It determines whether a business idea makes sense or not. It is a brief, formal
analysis of a prospective business idea. The goal is to give the entrepreneur a
clear evaluation of the potential for sales and profit from a particular idea and
focuses on market size and shares, competing products or services, the pricing
structure and the likely sales and profits of the prospective business. The aspects
which are the focus are market issues, organisational/technical
issues and financial issues.

6. There are three types of editing: substantive, stylistic and copyediting.

Explain two of these. (4%)

http://www.jeanweber.com/newsite/?page_id=28

Substantive editing (also known as developmental editing and comprehensive

editing) when the editor considers a document’s concept and intended use,
content, organization, design, and style. The purpose is to make the document
functional for its readers, not just to make it correct and consistent. Substantive
editing is almost entirely analysis-based, whether at the document level or at the
paragraph, sentence, or word level. Decisions require judgment, not just the
application of rules, and therefore should be negotiable with the writer.

http://www.editors.ca/branches/toronto/seminars/stylistic_editing.html

Stylistic editing, or line editing as it is sometimes called, is the vital step

between substantive editing and copy edition. It focuses on clarity and
expression. Stylistic editors may reorder paragraphs, sentences and words; get
rid of verbiage and jargon; rework prose into easier-to-grasp lists or diagrams;
smooth transitions; untangle complicated clauses; eliminate bias and internal
inconsistencies; set an appropriate tone; and consider the rhythm of the
language- all while keeping the author's voice.

http://www.writersservices.com/res/ri_copy-editing.htm

Copy editing, or line editing as it is sometimes called in publishing circles, is

the painstaking job of going through a manuscript line by line to correct the
spelling, grammar and punctuation.

7. Written communication is the sharing and exchanging of written symbols

between individuals or groups. In general, a well-written piece of work requires
you to pay attention to the following three stages in the writing process:
planning, writing or editing.

Explain what happens in the planning and editing stage (Topic 1) p.8-9

In the planning stage, all the points are listed down and arranged in logical and
suitable manner.

In the writing stage, all the necessary information is gathered to add substance
to writing. To improve, practise writing sentences and paragraphs in the target
language in plain straight forward style.

In the editing stage, it is important to check for grammatical errors and to ensure
smooth language flow.
 8. When you collect data for your research, you will find two types of data:
primary and secondary. Describe EACH ONE briefly and provide ONE
example.( 4%)

Primary data comes from own investigation and can be obtained through one or
a combination of the following techniques such as questionnaires, interviews,
observations, tests or experiments. On the other hand, secondary data comes
from reading what others have experienced and written.

9. An executive summary, like an abstract, is basically a miniature version of a

comprehensive report or proposal. Identify SIX elements of an executive
summary. (Topic 7(p.101)(4%)

i. An abstract is a concise, single-paragraph summary of your work

ii. It is usually about 200 words in length

iii. It informs readers about the rationale for study, your approach to the
problem, pertinent results, and important conclusions or new questions

iv. It is able to stand on its own without having to refer to any part of the paper.

v. It is well-written, an abstract that makes the readers want o learn more about
the research.

vi. It should be consistent with what is contained in the actual repor