Newspaper Page Text
Spelman Spotlight September 24, 1979 Page 8
Study Tips
How To Build Your Writing
Skills From AAP Student Ser
vices
Writing, even to the most ac
complished of authors, is hard
work! Like any skill worth
mastering, it takes practice and
preserverance. But the process of
improving your writing can be
fun and challenging, and the
benefits well worth the effort.
For class notes, reports, exams,
letter writing, or later in your
working career, your ability to
commit words to paper will be a
mark of your ability to think and
communicate clearly.
A review of the main elements
of grammar and the principles of
good composition can help your
build your writing skills.
Choose Words Carefully
Man’s ability to communicate
effectively depends upon a
familiarity and facility with wor
ds—the raw material of language.
In other to feel confident in your
use of words, it is important to
understand the parts of speech
(nouns, pronouns, adjectives,
verbs, adverbs, prepositions, con
junctions and interjections) and
the particular function of each.
Through practice you will
learn how to use words ac
curately and effectively. You will
know, for instance, to rely on
concrete nouns and on strong, ac
tive verbs for impact. You will
learn to use passive verbs less
frequently since they lack
strength and character. You will
come to understand that if you
are precise in your choice of
nouns and verbs, you will use
fewer adverbs or adjectives to
make yourself understood.
A cdmpetent writer is one who
uses qualifying words, or phrases,
sparingly. More forceful writing
uses the positive rather than the
negative and avoids colloquial,
foreign, or slang expressions.
An ever-increasing vocabulary
is one of the best ways to improve
writing skills. A dictionary near
at hand can define new words
and give you tips on how to use
them correctly.
Punctuate, Capitalize, and Spell
Correctly
Punctuation, capitalization,
and correct spelling are used to
make writing as readable and
clear as possible. These visual
aids are integral parts of our writ
ten language, so it is important to
know the basic rules that govern
them.
Punctuation clarifies meaning
and gives expression to writing.
Properly used—not over Used—
punctuation marks help readers
understand what is before then
be separating or setting off
related words, phrases, or
clauses. They identify the point at
which one complete thought, or
parts of one, begins or ends.
Capital letters aid a reader’s
understanding by denoting, for
instance, a proper name or title,
the beginning of a sentence, a
line of poetry, or a quotation.
Capitals also reinforce the usue
of punctuation marks. They
signify a pause or change of
thought.
Spelling is vital to correct word
usage. Most English words are
derived from Latin or Greek
roots. A spelling error, therfore,
can indicate inaccurate
knowledge of a word. If you do
not understand the meaning it is
best to look the word up in the
dictionary and should always be
close at hand. Most people find it
helpful to use new words as soon
as possible in order to remember
them better.
(This article on writing is ap
pearing here in two installments
and is one of a series of AAP
STUDENT SERVICE articles
developed by the college text
book publishers to help students
improve their use of study time
and learning materials. A com
plimentary booklet will be sent to
your if you write to AAP
STUDENT SERVICE, Associa
tion of American Publishers,
Inc., One Park Avenue. New
York, NY 10016.
Selecting A Major
By Josie Pearson
Perhaps you are confident that
you are college material but you
might be a little confused as to
which field of study to pursue.
Here are several steps you should
take under consideration before
you declare a major and some
suggestions about courses you
should take regardless of your
major.
During your freshman year
register for courses in a variety of
areas so that you will be exposed
to numberous fields.
Allow yourself to explore areas
of study other then those you per
formance is best in.
After you discover several sub
jects that are of special interest to
you, check to see what courses
the school has to offer in that
major.
If a liberal arts major is of in
terest to you then do not be
afraid to declare that as a major.
Even though you might be in
terested in a technical area such
as engineering do not forget
about business and com
munications courses as electives.
Although some electives might
seem irrelevant, enroll yourself
anyway to strive to become a
more well-rounded person.
If you dislike the major you
have chosen, do not be afraid to
switch majors, unless you are
well into your third year of study.
Tell-A-Prob
roommate isn’t sensitive to your
hints, sit her down and break the
news to her gently. Being too
harsh or insensitive will not solve
the problem and keep in mind
that feelings are involved. She
will probably appreciate sugges
tions or advice from perhaps
your own personal experience.
Have A Problem?
Let Tell-A-Prob Handle It
Send to:
Tell-A-Prob
Box 50
Spelman College
Black History Essay Contest
The Atlanta Public Library’s
Fourth Annual Black History
Essay Contest will be held this fall
and winter. The theme will again
be “The Afro-American(s) In My
Community Who Has (Have) In
fluenced My Life.” All entries
should contain the writer’s name,
age, address and telephone num
ber. Essays become the property
of the Atlanta Public Library.
The three age divisions for
judging are I-I unior and High
School Students, ages 13-17; n-
Young Adult, ages 18-25; Ill-
Adult, age 26 and over. Entries
will be judged by a panel of area
I ournalists and educators. Prizes
will be given in each division.
Send or bring entries to any bran
ch of the Atlanta Public Library
or to the Central Library at 10
Pryor Street between November
26 and January 18. Prizes will be
awarded in February. For further
information call the Atlanta
Public Library at 688-4636, ext.
212.
Remember the Tea Kettle.
It’s up to its Neck
in Hot Water.
It Still Continues to Sing
( 3
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Compiled by The Chronicle of Higher Education from information
supplied by college stores throughout the country. September 3,
J