3.2 Writing Skill - Mind Mapping

 What is Mind Mapping?

 A graphical  representation to describe the same idea/facts/situation, is called as Mind Mapping.

In Mind Mapping, we can use different shapes, arrows, lines, connectors, balloons, boxes, scrolls, curved arrows, scribbles, callouts, explosions etc. to describe our point of view. It is a creative and logical means of Note-Taking and Note- Making.

STEPS OF MIND MAPPING

1) Write the main idea or theme in the centre of page.

2) Draw branches of sub- themes from the centre.

3) Write the sub- themes in a very short phrases or in a single word or key word.

4) Topic of lesser importance should be represented as 'twigs' of the relevant branches.

5) Add images to get the message in better way.

Template of Mind Mapping -

Benefits of Mind Mapping 

• Memorizing
• Organizing Ideas
• Brainstorming Sessions
• Attractive Presentations
• Simplify Complex Ideas
• Problem Solving
• Explore New Ideas
• Executing New Projects & Plans

Examples :

1. Prepare a Mind Mapping on Prefix-

2. Prepare a Mind Mapping on Auxiliary-

Marking scheme : 

Presentation.               1mk

Main points.                 1mk

Covering all points.     1mk

              -------------------------------

                                         3mks

2.5 Father Returning Home - Poetic Appreciation

*About the poem / poet / title

*Theme

*Poetic devices, language, style

*Special features - tone and type

*Values, message

*Your opinion about the poem

'Father Returning  Home' is a poem written by a great celebrated bilingual  and the prestigious Sahitya Academy Award winner poet and translator in Marathi and English - Dilip Chitre. This present poem is taken from 'Travelling in a Cage'.

This poem has the theme of man's enstrangement from the materialistic man-made world. This poem has autobiographical touch as the poet Dilip Chitre talks about his father. But beyond that he depicts the loneliness and the feeling of alienation of the grey generation i.e.aged people.

This is a free verse in which there is no rhyme and rhythm.There is the use of  uneven length of lines. This poem is divided into two stanzas - first stanza consists 12 lines and second stanza consists 13 lines. In this poem, the poet depicts the pathetic condition of old father. He portrays the dull, exhausting and equally pitiable daily routine of an old father. The poet uses apt words to describe the father- son relationship and suburban life in this poem.

In this poem, the poet has woven pictorial quality very beautifully to describe the evening of life of old father. He also uses the figures of speech like Transferred Epithet, Alliteration,Synecdoche and Onomatopoeia in this beautiful poem. Simile increases the vividness of the pitiable condition of  father as the poet directly compares the old father with the word dropped from a sentence which indicates the least value of the old father in the society.where his presence or absence does not make any difference . His existance is meaningless. The dullness or monotonous life of old father is depicted  through the colours/words like yellow light, black raincoat,humid monsoon night,grey platform,etc.His solitude has been depicted through 'He goes into the toilet to contemplate' and 'His sullen children have often refused to share jokes and secrets with him'. 

The poet Dilip Chitre wants to give message through this poem that the readers should ponder on this issue. They should take care of this grey generation,should spend time with them and share their daily routine with them so that they (elderly people) should not feel alienated or isolated in the home though they are surrounded by family members.

Marking scheme :

Title, Name of the poet     1mk

Theme.                                   1mk

Poetic devices.                    1mk

Value.                                    1/2 mk

Opinion.                               1/2 mk

                -----------------------------------------

                                              4mks

3.4 Writing Skill - Statement Of Purpose (SOP)

 What is SOP?

- A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is an application made to a university to seek admission to a particular course.

- It is an essay which describes you as a person, your aims and ambitions.

- It speaks about your journey of life and the qualities you have nurtured in the       process. 

- The SOP gives an idea about your innate qualities and is subjective in nature.

- The SOP gives you an opportunity to show the special qualities which make you distinct from others.

- It explains why you want to join the course, what is your liking, how you have developed your liking.

- The SOP is a gateway to your career as the admission committee judges you or screens the applications on the basis of the SOPs received. Hence, it is a very important document.

- The SOPs for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate levels would be different.

FORMAT OF THE 'SOP'

The Statement of Purpose should be written in around 500 words, tentatively

in five/six paragraphs.

I paragraph -- Your introduction,  personal background, your mental make-up and your aim in life.

II paragraph -- Speak about why you wish to join this specific programme/course, your area of interest.

III paragraph --Write about your qualities,  hobbies and extracurricular activities which would be helpful in strengthening your goals.

IV paragraph -- Mention your experience, internship/ project you have done. State something which makes you distinct from the other applicants.

V or Concluding paragraph --State how admission to this particular course, university would be beneficial to you and how you look at it from a long term career perspective.

Dos and Don'ts -

Dos :

1) Use clear and lucid language.

2) Should be convincing

3) Clear purpose of choosing a particular course or programme.

4) Personality should be reflected.

5) Highlight your qualities and life experiences.

6) Prefer typed SOP.

7) Edit and Re-edit.

Don'ts :

1) Do not make spelling or construction mistakes.

2) Should not be too small or too Lengthy.

3) Avoid complex sentences.

4) Don't copy.

5) No exaggeration.

  

3.5 Writing Skill - Drafting a Virtual Message

 Virtual Communiction 

 A mode of communication that includes the use of technology-audio and video to communicate with people who are not physically present in front of us. Although virtual communication started way back with the invention of telephone, the advent of webcams, video conferencing and instant communication made virtual communication a big hit. Today we use virtual communication in almost every walk of life-within family, friends, and office, to name a few.

Virtual Message

A virtual  message comes in the form of a telephonic conversation between two people. The virtual  conversation is to be converted into a message for a third person. 

Format 

1)Date

2) Time

3)Name of a person to whom the message is directed

4) Body of the message

5) Name of the writer / sender

Layout

Dos and Don'ts

Dos

1)Write the most important details.

 2) Use grammatically correct sentences.

3) Use Indirect or reported speech.

4)Use simple language. and without any abbreviations.

5) Have a friendly and polite approach.

6)Check your message before you submit and send it.

 

Don'ts

1) Don't add new information.

2)Don't use any abbreviations or short forms.

 3)Avoid pun/ambiguity/ words that would create confusion.

Examples:

1) Read the following conversation between Aashna and Mr Singh.

Aashna : Hello, may I speak to Ranajit, please?

Mr Singh : Ranajit is getting ready for school. May I know who is speaking?

Aashna : My name is Aashna. I am Ranajit’s classmate.

Mr Singh : Hello, Aashna. I am Ranajit’s father. Is there any message?

Aashna : Yes. Please ask him to bring his biology notebook to school today. I was absent from school due to illness. I would like to see the notes which our biology teacher gave to the class during my absence.

Mr Singh : I will definitely do that.

Since Mr Singh had to go for his morning walk he left a message for Ranajit. Draft

that message in 50 words.

Ans:

                  22nd Jan, 2021      11.30am

                  Ranajit

                                 Your classmate Aashna called for you to bring

                  Biology notebook to school as she wanted to see the notes

                  which your Biology teacher had given to the class during 

                  her absence.

                  Mr. Singh

2) Rajat comes home from school and finds the door locked. Since he has a

duplicate key he enters and finds a note from his mother kept on the table. In

it she explains that she had to rush to the hospital with Mrs Manohar, their

neighbour, who had met with an accident. She has also written that he should 

have the rice and curry kept on the dining table for lunch. He could heat the

food in the microwave oven if he wanted to, but he should be very careful while

handling the switch.

Draft the message which Rajat’s mother left for him.

Ans:

                 23rd Jan, 2021         5.35pm

                 Rajat

                                    I had to rush to the hospital with Mrs. Manohar as she 

                 had met with an accident. I had kept rice and curry on the dining

                 table for lunch. You could heat the food in the microwave oven

                 if you had wanted to ,but be careful while handling the switch.

                 Mamma

Marking scheme :

Content.                              2mks

Sequence/flow of ideas    1mk

Appropriateness.              1mk

                                     ------------------

                                            4mks

2.1 'Song of The Open Road'- Poetic Appreciation

With the help of the following points, write a poetic appreciation of the poem 'Song of the Open Road'. 

* About the poem/ poet and the title

* The theme 

* Poetic style

* The language / poetic devices used in the poem

* Special features

* Messages, values, morals in the poem

*Your opinion about the poem

The " Song of the Open Road " is a poem written by a great American poet, essayist and journalist Walt Whitman. He is known as 'The Father of Free Verse'. This present poem 'Song of the Open Road' is taken from 'Leaves of Grass'. It is a beautiful blend of self-awareness , free will and tenderness of heart. It denotes poet's realization about the journey of life along with a test of wisdom.

'Song of the Open Road' is a free verse as it does not have rhyme or a regular rhythm. The unrhymed and varying length of lines show the complexities and ups and downs in the life of protagonist. It is an inspirational poem. As this is a dramatic monologue, the poet has deliberately used personal pronoun 'I' in this poem.

Freedom ,Joy(happiness), and an Optimistic Approach towards life are the major themes of this poem. The poet encourages the readers to be true to themselves and live a free and happy life. Though his life is full of problems and troubles, he encourages everyone to live their dreams, and become the architect of their own life. 

'Song of the Open Road ' consists four separate stanzas. Each stanza contains four lines of verse except the first stanza. The first stanza contains only three lines.

The special feature of the poem is the addition of last four lines i.e. parentheses given in brackets. It seems this thought has suddenly came in his mind.

Marking scheme :

Title, name of the poet.       1mk

Theme                                     1mk

Poetic devices.                       1mk

Value.                                      1/2 mk

Opinion.                                  1/2mk

                        ---------------------------------

                                                  4mks

Direct Indirect Speech

 Read the following sentences.

1) The stranger said," I have some questions to   ask."(Assertive(Affirmative))

2)"I will not wait for you, today." Ram said to Shyam.(Assertive ( Negative))

3) The astrologer said," Will you give me five rupees ?" (Interrogative (Verbal question))

4) Soapy said," Why don't you call a policeman?"(Interrogative (Wh type))

5)"Get busy and call a cop", said Soapy.(Imperative)

6)"Don't keep a gentleman waiting", said Soapy.(Negative Imperative)

7)"What an attractive picture it is!" she exclaimed.(Exclamatory)

Read the following indirect speech sentences-

1)The stranger told that he had some questions to ask.

2)Ram told Shyam that he would not wait for him that day.

3)The astrologer asked whether he would give him five rupees.

4)Soapy asked why they did not call a policeman.

5)Soapy suggested to get busy and call a cop.

6)Soapy pleaded not to keep a gentleman waiting.

7)She exclaimed that it was a very attractive picture.

The above examples are of four types of sentences:

1) The Assertive sentence

2) The Interrogative sentence

3) The Imperative sentence

4) The Exclamatory sentence

1)THE ASSERTIVE SENTENCE :

Rules : 

1) Use Reporting Verb 'said ' or 'told'.

('told' should be accompanied by an object.)

2)Use Conjunction 'that'.

3) Change of pronouns.

4) Change of tenses --If the reporting verb is in PAST TENSE ,all the tenses in the reported speech will be changed .

  The Simple Present--> The Simple Past

  The Present Continuous -->The Past Continuous

  The Present Perfect --> The Past Perfect

  The Simple Past --> The Past Perfect

  Shall --> should

  Will --> would

  Can -->could

  May --> might

5) Words expressing 'nearness' will be changed into words expressing 'distance'.

  This --> that

  These -->those

  Here  -->there

  Now -->then

  Ago  -->before

  Come --> go

  Today --> that day

  Tonight -->  that night

  Tomorrow --> the next day or the day after.

   Yesterday -->  the previous day or the  day before.

  Last night --> the night before or the previous night.

Ex.

1)"I know these are heavy boots," the conductor said.

2)"I picked it up this morning in a restaurant,"said the umbrella man.

3) "I wouldn't give up my four thousand of the bet," said Andrew Stuart.

4)"Your statement is most interesting,"said Sherlock Holmes.

5) "I have them here," she answered.

Ans:

1) The conductor told that he knew those were heavy boots.

2)The umbrella man told / informed that he had picked it up that morning in a restaurant.

3)Andrew Stuart declared that he would  not give up his four thousand of the bet.

4)Sherlock  Holmes told that his statement was most interesting.

5)She answered that she  had them there.

2) THE INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE

Rules:

1) Use Reporting verb 'asked','questioned','enquired'.

2) Use conjunction-- if 'wh' question -- use 'wh' word.

                    If 'verbal' question -- use'if 'or 'whether'.

*(The interrogative sentence will become the assertive sentence.)

3) Rule 3, 4 and 5 will remain the same as given in the Assertive sentence.

Ex.

1) " Where do you want to go?"asked the conductor.

2)"Where's the man that done that ?" inquired the officer.

3) "What are you doing here?" asked the officer.

4)Mr. Fogg  said to Aouda,"Is our marriage still agreeable to you?"

5)"Had he any friends in town?"asked Holmes.

Ans:

1) The conductor inquired where he wanted to go .

2) The officer inquired where the man was that  had done that .

3)The officer asked what he was doing there.

4)Mr. Fogg asked Aouda if their marriage was still agreeable to her.

5) Holmes asked whether he had had any friends in town.

3) THE IMPERATIVE SENTENCE

Rules:

1)Use Reporting Verb 'ordered','requested','commanded','shouted','pleaded'etc.

2) No conjunction (Use infinitive form of the verb)

3)Rule 3, 4 and 5 will remain the same as given in the Assertive sentence.

Ex.

1) "Do not bring police."said he.

2)"state your case," said Holmes.

3) "Finish this activity in time ," said he. 

4) "Tell me more." said the stranger.

5)"Tell me something worthwhile," said the stranger.

Ans : 

1) He requested not to bring police.

2) Holmes suggested to state her case.

3) He ordered to finish that activity in time.

4)The stranger pleaded to tell him more.

5)The stranger requested to tell him something worthwhile.

4)THE EXCLAMATORY SENTENCE

Rules:

1) Use Reporting Verb 'exclaimed','applauded','uttered in sorrow or wonder ','cried in joy' etc.

2) Use conjunction 'that'.

*( The exclamatory statement becomes assertive statement, the sign of exclamation is removed.)

3)Rule 3, 4 and 5 will remain the same as given in the Assertive sentence.

Ex.

1)What a strange compensation!"exclaimed he.

2)"How interesting it is to be a blogger!" said she.

3)The teacher said,"How nicely you have done your work!"

4)"What a stupid fellow you are!", she remarked.

5) Ram said Shyam,"How clever you are!"

Ans : 

1) He exclaimed in surprise that it was a very strange compensation.

2) She exclaimed that it was really very interesting to be a blogger.

3) The teacher cheerfully exclaimed that they had done their work very nicely.

4) She exclaimed in disgust that he was truly a stupid fellow.

5)Ram merrily told Shyam that he was very clever.

Degrees of Comparison

There are three degrees.

                  1)The Positive degree

                  2)The Comparative degree

                  3)The Superlative degree

1)Positive :No other ---------as+adj.+as---------.

               No other ---------so+adj+as ---------.

2)Comparative: -----------more+adj+than any other ----------.

                      ------------adj+er+than any other --------------.

3)Superlative : -------------the most+ adj ------------------.

                     ------------the adj+est ----------------------.

 * Do as directed :

1)He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers. (Change into Comparative degree.)

Ans :His innocent customers were not more stranger to the stars than he was./him.

2)These internet giants provide the greatest data about people.(Begin the sentence with 'No other -----.')

Ans :No other data about people is as great as the one provided by these internet giants.

3)These internet giants provide the greatest data about people.(Use 'greater than'and rewrite the sentence.)

Ans : The data provided by these internet giants about people is greater  than any other data .

4)No other diagnosis is as good as the diagnosis done with the help of Big Data.(Use 'best' and rewrite the sentence)

Ans : The diagnosis done with the help of Big Data is the best one.

5)No other diagnosis is as good as the diagnosis done with the help of Big Data.(Use 'better than' and rewrite the sentence)

Ans : The diagnosis dine with the help of Big Data is  better than any other diagnosis.

*If '---- one of the most -------' construction is used in Superlative degree then ---

1)Positive : Very few ------ are as + adj + as ---------.

                  Very few ------ are so + adj + as ---------.

2)Comparative : ------------more + adj + than many (most)other -------.

                           ------------ adj + er + than many (most)other -----------.

3)Superlative : ------------one of the most + adj -----------.

                        ------------one of the adj + est  -----------.

*Do as directed :

1)Advertisers are one of the biggest players in Big Data.(Begin the sentence with 'Very few --------.')

Ans :Very few players in Big Data are as big as advertisers.

2)Advertisers are one of the biggest players in Big Data.(Use 'bigger than' and rewrite the sentence)

Ans : Advertisers are bigger players than many other players in Big Data.

3)Big Data has provided a solution to one of the biggest pitfall in the education industry. (Begin the sentence with 'Very few ---------.')

Ans : Very few pitfalls have provided a solution  in the education industry are  as big as Big Data.

4)Big Data has provided a solution to one of the biggest pitfall in the education industry.(Use 'bigger than' and rewrite the sentence)

Ans :A solution provided by Big Data is bigger than many other  pitfalls  in the education industry.

5)Social practice is more sacred than any law. ( Begin with 'No other ---------.')

Ans : No other law is as sacred as social practice.