Writing for Communication: Learning to Read & Write from an Early Age - Essay Sample

Introduction

Writing is a medium of communication that involves presenting ideas and thoughts in a readable form. Most people know how to read and write because, in most societies reading and writing are essential human activities that enable individuals to become functional members of different communities. As a result, many educational systems teach children the skills of writing at an early age. However, as individuals grow and continue to interact with more written texts, they adopt both good and bad writing habits. The course has played a critical role in promoting the growth and development of its learners' professional writing skills.

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First, the course has been crucial in helping me avoid the use of political language in writing. The first critical role of the course is the fact that it identifies politics as one of the most common factors with significant impacts on writing. As a writer, it is essential to know how to compose political content without undermining the quality of writing. Political writings have primarily focused on defending or supporting activities of political parties (Orwell, 1946). As a result, writers tend to use a euphemism, question-begging, and vague language in composing and presenting political text (Orwell, 1946). In this case, the language used hides the truth instead of expressing it. An example of such a situation is the elimination of unreliable elements to name things without creating their mental pictures. The impacts of the use of political language in writing are insincere text characterized by long words and exhausted idioms, indicating a gap between writers' real and their declared aims (Orwell, 1946). These practices lead to the decline of language because writers, particularly politicians, try to disguise their intentions by using convoluted and euphemisms idioms. Political language is used in defending what is defenseless by playing around with words to justify an event or occurrence. The course has enabled me to know the negative effect vague political language in writing and avoid them, thus improving my ability to present facts as they are without concealing the truth.

Secondly, the course also equipped me with critical skills and knowledge to compose and present my ideas and thoughts in the form of a written text. The first essential skill when presenting an idea in a written way is, to begin with, a concrete object, then proceed to search for words to describe it. It is essential to avoid using words as long as possible and get present meaning using sensations and pictures (Orwell, 1946). Later on, the writer chooses phrases and words that cover the meaning as intended, thus avoiding mixed or stale images, needless repetitions, prefabricated expressions, vagueness, and humbug (Orwell, 1946). To prevent the negative impacts of poor selection of words, I have learned the following: 1) Avoid using metaphors, figures of speech, or similes. 2) Avoid using long words when shorter versions are available. 3) Stopped using jargon, scientific terms, or a foreign phrase. 4) Reduce words whenever possible. These rules are critical in the presentation of professional texts such as reports and academic works.

From the above discussion, it is evident that the course provides valuable insight into professional writing skills. Essential skills and knowledge imparted by the course is the impact of political language on writing and the insight on how to compose and present a written.

References

Orwell, G. (1946). Politics and the English language. Routledge