WRITING SKILLS

DISCOURSE
Generally, a discourse is a discussion or conversation. More specifically, a mode of expression… originally verbal but now applied by analogy to other forms. In other words, discourse is not an absolute, but relative term which means “the language with which this particular group describes (evaluates, etc.)”. In discourse you can have your audience present or absent. The purpose, the audience, the topic influences the choice of discourse type. There are several types of discourse.

NARRATION
It is a technique which at its simplest means “telling back”. The purpose of narration is to tell a story or to narrate an event or series of events. It may exist in a variety of forms including biographies, short stories, novels and anecdotes. It is created in a constructive format (written, spoken, prose, poetry, images, song, theatre or dance) that describes a sequence of fiction or non fiction events. It is derived form the Latin verb “narrare”, which means to recount. The narrator must have a point to ensure smooth movement of the story. It should be paced to focus only on eventful periods and to ignore all inconsequential stretches in between. The point of view in a narration is the angle from which it is told. This angle may be personal and intimate or an omniscient in which the author is like a camera sweeping over the scene and pausing briefly to focus over the shoulders of selective character. Details are indispensable to narrative writing and can make the difference between boredom and delight in a reader.


MY EXAMPLE ON NARRATION
It was morning and like many girls, Dede was washing the dishes in a hurry so that she would not be late for school. She could no longer endure the pain of Mr. Appau’s cane. Mr. Appau always stood at the school gate with a big cane and whipped all latecomers saying “I’m training you so that you report to work early when you grow up”.
The Pyrex bowl slipped from Dede’s hands and broke into pieces…what’s that? Dede heard her mother’s voice loud and angry. Immediately, she knew the consequences. Before she could answer, her mother rained insults on her and fuming with anger her mother said "I’ll use your pocket money to buy a new one”. Dede dried her tears. Her mother’s harsh words re-echoed as she hurried to school. From a distance Dede could see Mr. Appau this time with a bigger cane. She was given six lashes. She starred at her palms; they were red and threatened to burst. She galloped to her classroom as tears coursed down her bony cheeks. She couldn’t copy any notes in class that day.
What seemed like eternity finally came. School closed and she hurried home. She had to go and sell pure water in her neighborhood as a normal routine. She didn’t like it because her mother spent the money she got from selling on alcohol or a new cloth for funeral. For her illiterate mother, the teachers should use her school fees to buy Dede’s exercise books. Dede carried the pure water. It was heavy but she had no choice.
She remembered one of her customers, Mr. Osei. On opening the gate of Mr. Osei, Dede saw him weeding in his garden. “You look beautiful today” he said and drew Dede, who smiled, putting the water under her feet. He touched her breasts and buttocks. Dede frowned and brushed his hands away with fear and anger.
He raised his cutlass and warned, “You better shut up or I’ll kill you with this”. Before Dede could muster courage to shout, he was on top of her, pulling down her pants while unzipping his trousers.
This is one of her numerous experiences since her childhood. She is now fifteen. She wonders if there exists a safe environment for a growing child like her.

DESCRIPTION
Writers of description want the reader to mentally see, hear, touch, taste and smell what they describe. Focus and concentration contribute more to a vivid description than either the size of the writer’s vocabulary or the heedless splattering of the page with adjectives. An objective description gives a factual, realistic picture of a subject without revealing your personal feelings about it. Subjective description creates a clear picture of the subject with details that also reveal your thoughts and feelings about it. As you describe your subject, look for different kinds of specific details i.e. both sensory, factual, realistic details. Your focus should be on a single dominant impression and constantly deliver it. The dominant impression of your description should be the heart of the person, place or scene you are attempting to describe.

DESCRIPTION OF HELL.
Hell is a dark channel and stinking prison, an abode of demons and lost souls, filled with fire and smoke. This prison is expressly designed by God to punish those who refuse to be bound by His Laws.
In earthly prisons, the poor prisoners have at least some freedom of movement, only within the four walls of his cell or in the gloomy yard of his prison. Not so in hell. The prisoners are heaped together in their awful prison, the walls of which are said to be four thousands miles thick.
The prisoners are not even able to remove from the eye a worm that gnaws it. All the filth of the world runs there. Our earthly fire again, no matter how fierce or widespread it may be, has always limited extent but the lake of fire in hell is boundless, shoreless and bottomless.
In hell all laws are overturned: there is no thought of family or country of ties or relationships. The prisoners in hell are helpless and hopeless; it is too late for them to repent.


DEFINITION
A definition explains the meaning of a term. It is where there is an explanation of a term, phenomenon in your discourse. It is normally, at the introduction of the discourse. There are two ways of presenting definition: The dictionary definition and personal definition. Definitions also depend on the purpose for writing. Precise definition are given to reduce hazy or vagueness of word. Explanatory definition attempts to disclose, explain, and illustrate an important aspect of a difficult concept. Stipulates definition introduces a new meaning to a familiar word. Rhetorical definition is normally philosophical. It is given to influence the behaviour and attitudes of readers. Here, the writer wants the reader to look at the definition in a certain direction not the mainstream.


DEFINITION OF A GENTLEMAN
A gentleman is one who never inflicts pain. The true gentleman carefully avoids whatever may cause a jolt in the minds of those with whom he associates. He has his eyes on all his company; he is tender towards the bashful, gentle towards the distant and merciful towards absurd. He guards against topics which may irritate him. He is too well employed to remember injuries and too laid-back to bear hatred. If he engages in controversy of any kind, his disciplined intellect preserves him from the blundering discourtesy.


COMPARE AND CONTRAST
In comparison you emphasize on the resemblances and in contrast you emphasize on the differences. It can be two or several things, ideas, problems or events. There are two classical organizational patterns of a comparison or contrast discourse. One is block arrangement of ideas ; the other point by point or alternating arrangement of ideas. Supposed you are interested in showing the differences between vacationing in the mountains and vacationing at the beach.
Block arrangement (four paragraphs)
1. Introduction, in which you state your purpose which is to discuss the differences between vacationing in the mountains or at the beach.
2. Mountain 3. Beach 4. Conclusion
a. Climate a. climate
b. Types of activities b. types of activities
c. Location c. location
Point by point or alternating arrangement (5 paragraphs)
1. Introduction

2. Differences between mountains and beaches is climate
a. Mountains
b. Beach
3. Differences between mountains and beaches is the types of activities
a. Mountains
b. Beach
4. Differences between mountains and beaches is the location
a. Mountains
b. Beach

5. Conclusion.



COMPARISON AND CONTRAST. (CONSUMING FRESH FOODS INSTEAD OF CANNED FOOD)
Eating is an activity that we as humans do at least two times a day. We live in a world where the variety of food is immense and we are responsible for what we eat. We decide what we are about to eat and how it will affect our bodied. The purpose of this writing is to compare and contrast eating fresh foods instead of canned foods. The three main differences are flavour, health benefit and cost.
The most notable difference between the two kinds of foods is their flavour. Fresh foods have great flavour and taste because they keep all their natural conditions. Canned foods however, lack a lot of its flavour characteristics because there are some other chemical products added to the natural foods. It is logical that the fresh foods will have a greater taste and flavour when consumed just because of the time in which they have been prepared.
Comparing both types of foods we notice another difference. There is a health factor that affects both of them when stored and also it has to be timed with much conservation and chemical factors that prolong the shelf life and apparent freshness of the food but could also become toxic if consumed often.
Yet another difference between these two types of foods is the cost. Canned foods are much more expensive than fresh food. Hence the benefit of buying canned foods is that they are easier to find. Example in a supermarket instead of selling fresh foods , they prefer canned foods which require less work to prepare (just open and serve) than fresh foods.
Here, the main three differences between buying fresh foods and buying canned foods. As we can see it comes down to a personal choice, based on the time each person has, the money and the importance he or she gives to his or her nutrition and health. Therefore it is important that you consider your possibilities and choose the best type of foods for your convenience and lifestyle.

EXEMPLIFICATION
It is very essential to support your generalizations with example. The use of examples in writing is necessary because language is ambiguous and circular. By giving an example the writer creates a context specifying more exactly what is meant by ‘a particular word’ and avoids the circularity inherent in language. In exemplification, you can introduce examples without the use of preratory transitions such as “my first example is” or “my second example is” instead a paragraph can be devoted to each era and aligns every example with the era to which it belongs. The example you cite must appropriately support your generalization. A writer needs to consider their subject, determine their purpose, consider their audience, decide on specific examples and arrange all the parts together when writing an exemplification essay. It means to provide examples about something. Writing an exemplification essay typically involves offering many examples to support generalization about something. In this type of writing examples act as supporting material to explain or clarify the generalization.

EXEMPLIFICATION (LIFE IN GHANA INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM “GIJ”)
Life on GIJ is so labourious.
One has to wake up early in the morning to get to school on time since the school does not provide housing facilities. On your way to school, you are caught up in traffic and you get to school extremely tired.
The first lecture starts at exactly 8:30 till 10:30, one is offered just ten minutes of break and then the second lecture starts at 10:40 till 12:40. Students force their way out through this lectures only to be piled with numerous assignment with short duration to submit. Some of the books for these assignments cannot be gotten from the school library and again one has to roam everywhere to look for books to accomplish the assignment.
During weekends that the student would rest, other lecturers schedule lecture, of which a serious student would not want to miss. A student in the Diploma class offers at least nine courses and is given only two weeks to write end of semester examination as if in BECE examination. Life on GIJ Campus is just like secondary school life, so tiresome and labourious.

REFERENCES
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://eslbee.com
http://eslbee.com/academy
A Collection of Readings for Writers Sixth Edition
The Springboard to the future October- December, 2008

Three Definitions of Knowledge Society

The term Knowledge Society refers to any society that believes that knowledge is more powerful and important than money.
SOURCE: http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/1252

A knowledge society is one which places an explicit and principal value on knowledge as means to achieve economic and social well being.
SOURCE:http://www. Eclac.cl/socinto/noticias/noticias/6/26546/ictpol06/pdf

Knowledge society refers to any society where knowledge is the primary production resource instead of capital and labour.
SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA

ASHAIMAN POLYCLINIC RECORDS HIGH RATE OF MALNUTRITION

The health promotion officer and health educationist at the Ashaiman poly clinic Mrs. Martha Lamptey has disclosed the alarming situation of malnutrition in the Ashaiman community.
According to her, cases recorded for malnutrition especially among children is threatening. She hinted that one thousand one hundred ad ninety five (1,195) under zero to eleven (0-11) months, two hundred and seventy seven (277) under twelve to twenty three (12-23) months and thirty six (36) under twenty for to fifty nine (24-59) months children have been recorded just within half of the year for malnutrition with one hundred and seventy five (175) cases for severe malnutrition.
Mrs. Lamptey disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Sena news.
Mrs. Lamptey however intimated that malnutrition is the mis-distribution of nutrients in the body, adding that, it is not only under nutrition but also over nutrition (obesity). Outlining the causes of this alarming situation to Sena news, she noted that inadequate knowledge about food, poverty, poor personal hygiene and traditional beliefs and taboos are contributing factors to the problem.
She has therefore called on the Mills administration to come to the aid of Ashaiman Community and organize health programme to advice parents especially mothers to pay attention to the well being of their wards.

Report by: Regina Asamoah.

RESEARCH REVEALS GENERALLY LOW REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN DECISION MAKING IN ASHAIMAN MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY.

A survey reveals generally low representation of women Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA), disconnection between citizens and sub- structures, great degree of mistrust, suspicion and very little co-operation between the assemblies and citizens in the Ashaiman Municipality.
These key findings were brought to the fore front at the Baseline Validation Workshop, in Ashaiman. The workshop was intended to ascertain the present levels of citizen’s engagement in local development planning processes and explore available mechanisms that could enhance citizen’s participation in the municipality.
Speaking at the workshop, the Senior Research Officer of the Institute for Democratic Governance –IDEG, Peter Fiamor , intimated that out of sixteen (16) member Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, only four (4) are women, representing twenty five percent (25%). He added that, with the low level of representation of women in the assembly, the power of the government to appoint representatives to the assemblies remains the most viable leverage in increasing the representation of women in ASHMA.
Mr. Fiamor also hinted that the seven zonal councils in the newly created ASHMA are yet to begin operation, hence the assurance of greater voice to citizens in the development and governance of their communities.
He however traced the mistrust, suspicion and minimal cooperation to lack of communication between citizens and the assemblies in the administration of the districts.
Mr. Fiamor has therefore recommended the need for effective increase in advocacy for the appointment of women and people with disability into the local government structures or other forms of affirmative action to ensure fair effective representation and the need for confidence building in short term which must be initiated by providing a platform to discuss the broad range of issues.
…………………………………………END…………………..

Filed by: Regina Asamaoh

PRE-MARITAL SEX- IS IT NECESSARY?

Pre- marital sex is generally defined as “sex before marriage”. Sex is an activity performed by a male and female or sometimes persons of the same sex. It happens between a male and female in order to create babies or between same sex for pleasure.(But be mindful that Christianity abhors same sex- this is sex between female and another female which is refer to as lesbianism or between a male and another male which is refer to as sodomy or gay ). Even though sex is a physical act, it is as much a spiritual mystery.
God Almighty created sex as part of his divine institution- marriage. Modernity is however, gradually violating this commandment and has made pre-marital sex seems to be a necessity; based on the scientific aspect of sexual compatibility.
Apart from pre-marital sex being a sin in the sight of God, it has spiritual, physical, emotional or mental and social consequences.
God’s Word stresses on the purpose of our physical bodies and consequences of defiling them; “do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God? You are not of your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body”- 1 Corinthians 6:19&20.
1 Corinthians 6:18, also tells us to “flee from sexual immorality”. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body”.
Pre-marital sex can create a spiritual doorway for the entry of demons into one’s spirit and life. Demons bring about spiritual marriage, which reflects in physical life through relationship problems, marriage divorces, infertility and sometime giving birth to deviant children - one feels very impure and dirty inside- out. The eternal consequence of pre marital sex is that; “nothing impure will enter into HEAVEN, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful” revelation 21:27
Physically, one stands the chance of being infected with HIV/AIDS, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND HYPERTITIS B.
Pre marital sex may bring about teenage pregnancy and possible death if termination of pregnancy is attempted.
Permit me to add that, under the laws of Ghana there are some aspects of sex that are not acceptable and can be termed as criminal offence. (Criminal code 1960, Act 29), some of these are RAPE, DEFILEMENT, CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, and INDECENT ASSAULT (Sexual harassment) INCEST.

RAPE:
Having sex with a girl or woman who is 16 years and above without her consent. If one is found guilty of the above, the punishment is a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment and maximum sentence of twenty-five years imprisonment.


DEFILEMENT:
This is defined as the natural (normal way of having sex,) carnal knowledge of a child under sixteen years or unnatural sex through the anus, oral sex, inserting objects in private parts, etc.
If found guilty of the offence, one faces a minimum imprisonment of seven years and a maximum of twenty five years.

CARNAL KNOWLEDGE:
It is an offence for anyone to have natural or unnatural sex with an idiot, imbecile or mental patient in or under the care of a mental hospital with or without her consent. If it is proved that the accused person knew at the time he was having sex with the mental patient that she was an imbecile idiot or mental patient, he would be charged for the offence punishable by a minimum of five years and a maximum of twenty-five years imprisonment.
INDECENT ASSAULT:

It is the making of any sexual bodily contact with another person or sexually violating the body of another person, example: touching, fondling, etc. this offence is punishable with a minimum offence of six months imprisonment.
INCEST:

This is when a male of sixteen years and above have sex with granddaughter, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother. It is punishable by a minimum of three years and a maximum o twenty-five years imprisonment.

CONCLUSION
My fellow young people, why don’t you save yourselves the troubles of arguments and misunderstandings involved in denial of ownership of pregnancies? Why don’t you spare yourselves from being social outcasts, black ships and object of ridicule? Abortion is illegal; it is murder in the sight of God as well.
Furthermore, one undergoes stress; guilt lingers on your mind until you confess your sins to God. Your conscience never frees you and your sexual misbehavior wars against your very soul, you will have no peace.
In some instances, those involved get married; however apart from the spiritual and physical consequences there is gross mistrust between spouses. Those who do not end up marrying each other feel used, cheapened and cheated. They are never able to forgive themselves, or regain their self-esteem and pride and often lose concentration, focus and opportunities in life.
Abstinence is the best. One enjoys being single or have a better marriage when he or she abstains from pre-marital sex, spare yourselves all these consequences.
Stay Holy, stay pure, enjoy life before and during marriage to the fullest.

Thank you and God bless you.

Presentation by: Mrs. Mercy S.A Amponsah- Kwatia.

DEBATE - MOTION: THE ADULT EXHIBIT MORE MATURITY THAN THE YOUNG

POSITION: FOR THE MOTION

Mr. Chairman, Panel of Judges, Co- Debaters, Accurate Time Keeper, Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to today’s debate. I stand for the motion that the adults exhibit more maturity than the young.
Mr. Chairman, psychologically maturity is a term used to indicate how a person responds to the circumstances or environment in an appropriate and adaptive manner. It also encompasses being aware of the correct time and place to behave, knowing when to act in a serious or non – serious ways. It could also be defined as a personal character or how one in a stressful or difficult situation behaves because then a person’s true ability to react to a situation can be seen.
Panel of judges, ladies and gentlemen if maturity is in this perspective, why should my fellow co- debaters refute the assertion that the adult exhibit more maturity than the young. In our African culture there is and adage that the more you grow the wiser you become.
Furthermore, a psychologist B.W Roberts emphasize on this adage in an explicit personality model. According to her one’s personality must be viewed form both the perspective of the actor and the observer. By this, it is important that an individual gains a certain level of maturity as he grows older.
Mr. chairman, it is an undeniable fact that some young people exhibit maturity to some extent likewise some adults do not exhibit maturity as expected of them. It is true, but percentage wise I strongly assert that the adult exhibit more maturity than the young.
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I would like my opponents and all of you gathered here to note that even the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana, chapter 8 article 62 clearly states that, unless one is 40 years and above he or she cannot stand for the presidency. So, if the young exhibit maturity more than the adult why is it that the young are not is allowed to contest for that enviable position. This hints that maturity in some way goes with age. It would also interest you to know that in Islam before one is regarded as matured unless the person is forty years and above.
Mr. Chairman, a young person cannot always boast of maturity in every social situation but an adult is likely to do so. It is certain that David (in the bible) the youngest son among his brothers was appointed to rule the people of Israel but I beg to differ if my opponent would cite that as an instant of maturity since Abraham was also called in his old age.
Let’s all analyze this circumstance – when a girlfriend of a young man calls to tell him that she is pregnant – picture his reaction as compared to an adult who faces the same situation.
Mr. chairman , panel of judges, co-debaters accurate time keeper, ladies and gentlemen with the above detailed information I call on you to join me and strongly assert that the adults exhibit more maturity than the young.

Thank you.

INFORMATION SOCIETY

Information Society constitute the beginning of a truly professionalized and caring society,while to others it represent a tightening of control over the citizenry; to some it heralds the emergence of a highly educated public which has ready access to knowledge.
SOURCE: Theories of the information society by FRANK WEBSTER


A society that brings about a general flourishing state of human intellectual creativity instead of affluent material consumption.
SOURCE: The information society as post industrial society by YONEJI MUSADA


A society in which the creation, distribution, diffusion, use, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic, political, and cultural activity.
SOURCE:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_society