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Effective writing                             Academic Communication for Advanced Secondary Schools

           logical flow, the writer should ensure each paragraph concentrates on a single main idea
           and is organised with a topic sentence, supporting details and a concluding sentence.
           Additionally, standard guideline is that a paragraph should be around 4-6 sentences long,
           though this can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the topic, writing
           style, and intended audience.
          FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
           Following formal writing conventions is crucial in composing paragraphs for academic
           writing. These conventions include correct grammar, punctuation and citation of sources.
           Professionalism and credibility are also communicated using suitable field-specific
           vocabulary and a formal tone. Learning how to write strong paragraphs will help you
           write with greater clarity and persuasiveness and improve the overall impact and efficacy
           of academic communication.

           Steps for writing a paragraph
           Constructing a lengthy writing begins with a sentence and builds up into a paragraph.
           Developing a well-written paragraph involves several key steps, each contributing to
           the overall clarity, coherence, and effectiveness of the writing. Each step of the process
           plays a crucial role in refining the paragraph and ensuring its quality before it is finalized.
           The steps are:

               Pre-writing
               This stage involves steps like brainstorming, identifying purpose and audience. You
               generate ideas and organize your thoughts before you begin to write. This can be
               done through techniques like free-writing, mind mapping, or listing. Pre-writing
               helps in determining the tone, style, and content of the writing.
               Researching

               Where a paragraph to be written requires supporting evidence or information you
               should gather evidence through research from relevant sources including books,
               articles, or credible websites. Importantly, take note of all important points, quotes, or
               data that will be used in the paragraph and ensure to cite sources for later reference.

               Drafting
               This stage involves organization of ideas. You should arrange the information you
               have gathered in a logical order. In doing so make sure you structure the paragraph
               effectively by focusing on lead sentence, cohesion and argument. Don’t worry too
               much about perfection at this stage; the goal is to get thoughts onto paper.

               Revising
               This stage is for paragraph content evaluation. You should review the draft you have
               written to ensure that the ideas are presented logically and cohesively. Additionally,
               check for clarity, relevance, and coherence of the content and enhance your
               paragraph’s overall argument or message.


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           Student’s Book Form Five


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