Developmental Writing: ELDCSC 2nd Semester

• Introduction to Developmental Writing for ELDCSC (Reading and writing for development), 2nd Semester, S.Y. 2024-2025
• Presented by Abdula, John Mill; Argonza, Queenie Rose; Baltazar, Rosemarie; Datindig, Raida; Delos Santos, Given Gift

What is Developmental Writing?

• Developmental writing involves a structured or goal-oriented approach.
• Developmental writing emphasizes audience-centered messaging, effective communication, and logical organization.
• This writing style is used in fields like technical, journalistic, and academic writing.
• Developmental writing helps to communicate complex ideas in a structured and effective way.

Types of Writing

• Academic Writing
• Journalistic Writing
• Technical Writing

Academic Writing

• Academic writing is a formal style used in scholarly publications and universities
• Aims to transmit scientific or other knowledge through clear and concise means
• The purpose of academic writing is to inform and argue using research-based evidence
• Academic works include reports, essays, and research papers
• Its characteristics involve having a formal tone, structure, and objectivity; also requiring citations
• Issues with academic writing include being too complex or wordy.

Types of Academic Writing

• Descriptive writing focuses on providing summaries, facts, or details without argument or analysis
  • Answers “What is it?" or "What happened?"
  • Jose Rizal was a Filipino nationalist and writer who played a crucial role in the Philippine Revolution. He wrote novels such as Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which exposed social injustices during Spanish colonization
• Analytical Writing goes beyond stating facts: breaks down information, compares ideas, and identifies relationships between concepts.
  • Answers “How?” or “Why?”
  • Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo highlight the struggles of Filipinos under Spanish rule
  • While both novels criticize the abuses of the Spanish clergy, El Filibusterismo takes a more radical approach, emphasizing revolution rather than reform.
• Persuasive writing builds on descriptive and analytical writing; it argues a point of view and is intended to convince the reader to accept it
  • Answers “Why should we agree?”
  • Jose Rizal’s works should be required reading for all students because they promote nationalism and historical awareness
  • Understanding his novels allows young Filipinos to recognize past injustices and apply these lessons to present-day social issues.
• Critical writing evaluates and critiques existing ideas, arguments, or research. It requires not just summarizing or analyzing but also making judgments based on evidence and reasoning.
  • While Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere is widely praised for its role in inspiring the revolution, some scholars argue that its focus on reform rather than direct action limited its impact
  • This will examine both viewpoints and explore how Rizal’s ideas shaped modern Philippine society.

Example of Academic Writing

• Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) has been implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines
• MTB-MLE integrates local languages into early education
• MTB-MLE enhances comprehension, cognitive development, and cultural identity among Filipino students.
• Children perform better academically and learn faster when taught in their first language
• Using the mother tongue allows students to grasp complex concepts before transitioning to a second language like English or Filipino
• Learning mathematics in Cebuano enables a Grade 1 Cebu student to understand number concepts more effectively than if taught in English.

Journalistic Writing

• Journalistic writing shares accurate and objective news coverage and is used by news media organizations and journalists.
• Journalistic writing consists of short sentences and paragraphs to quickly arrive at the article’s point
• To engage, inform, and entertain readers
• News articles, features, and opinion columns are all examples of journalistic writing
• Its characteristics are clear, concise, and fact-based, uses inverted pyramid structure, and uses an active voice that avoids complex language

Types of Journalistic Writing

• News Writing
• Feature Writing
• Editorial Writing
• Sports, Business, and Lifestyle Writing

Example of Journalistic Writing

• Headline: "Fire Destroys 20 Houses in Barangay San Roque"
• Lead: "A fire broke out in Barangay San Roque at 2 AM, destroying 20 houses and leaving 50 families homeless, according to local officials."
• Body: "Firefighters responded quickly but had difficulty due to strong winds. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire."
• Conclusion: "Evacuation centers have been set up, and donations are being accepted for affected families."

Technical Writing

• Technical writing conveys information about industry, specialized topics, and professionals often aim at audiences with some area knowledge.
• The purpose is to guide the reader or to explain a process
• Examples include policy briefs, business reports, and manuals
• The characteristics are that it is detailed, straightforward, structured, and uses bullet points
• Its issues include overly complex language

Example of Technical Writing

• QuickPay Mobile Banking App – User Guide for a mobile banking solution
• Guide walks through steps to transfer funds, register, and troubleshoot common issues.
• Account registration
• Download QuickPay from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
• Launch the app then tap "Sign Up"
• Enter your email address, mobile number, and full name.
• To set a strong password, use at least 8 characters and include letters and numbers
• Enter a verification code sent via SMS to complete registration.

Types of Writing

• Academic Writing
  • Objective: To analyze, explain, and contribute to knowledge on development issues
  • Expectation: Objective, evidence-based, and well-researched
  • Audience: Researchers, academics, policymakers, and students
  • Tone & Style: Analytical and formal, structured
  • Structure: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, and Conclusion
  • Use of Evidence: Cited sources, research studies, and data
• Journalistic Writing
  • Objective: To inform, engage, and raise awareness about current events and social issues
  • Expectation: Factual, accessible to the public, and timely
  • Audience: News readers, general public, and community members
  • Tone & Style: Engaging, often narrative-driven, and direct
  • Structure: Inverted pyramid (most important details first)
  • Use of Evidence: Official reports, witness accounts, and direct quotes
• Technical Writing
  • Objective: To instruct, guide, or provide technical explanations for specific audiences
  • Expectation: User-friendly, concise, and clear
  • Audience: Stakeholders workers, professionals, and practitioners,
  • Tone & Style: Precise, instructional, and clear
  • Structure: Step-by-step, organized into sections with headings
  • Use of Evidence: Technical data, guidelines, and manuals

Activity

• Analyze the type of writing being used
• "The steady decline in rice production in the Philippines has raised concerns among policymakers, economists, and farmers. Recent studies indicate that erratic weather patterns, land conversion, and rising production costs are major contributors to the issue (Santos, 2023). According to the Department of Agriculture, local farmers struggle to compete with imported rice, which is often sold at lower prices. As a result, some experts propose policy interventions, such as increased subsidies for local producers and stricter regulations on rice importation."
  • Answer: Academic Writing
• "An effective social media campaign requires careful planning, strategic content creation, and audience engagement. First, businesses should define clear objectives, such as increasing brand awareness or driving sales. Next, they must choose the right platforms based on their target audience. For example, Instagram is effective for visually appealing content, while LinkedIn is better suited for professional networking. Lastly, using performance analytics helps marketers track engagement rates and adjust strategies accordingly."
  • Answer: Technical Writing
• "A powerful storm surge swept through several coastal towns yesterday, displacing thousands of residents. Emergency response teams have been deployed to provide aid, but local officials warn that resources are limited. According to meteorologist Dr. Eliza Cruz, climate change is likely to increase the frequency of such disasters. 'We need to improve our disaster preparedness,' she emphasized. Meanwhile, residents recall the terrifying moments as they struggled to escape the rising waters. One survivor, 56-year-old Maria Lopez, described how she lost everything in the flood: 'I had to swim to safety while holding my grandson.'"
  • Answer: Journalistic Writing

3 C's of Writing

• Clarity
• Coherence
• Conciseness

Clarity

• Clarity in writing means using simple, precise, and easily understandable words to ensure the audience fully grasps the message.
• Example:
  • Unclear: The aforementioned technological advancements serve to facilitate the augmentation of productivity
  • Clear: Technology helps improve productivity

Key Aspects of Clarity in Writing

• Use familiar and simple words
• Avoid jargon and technical terms unless necessary
• Be specific and direct
• Vague: The project helped many people in the community
• Clear: The project provided clean drinking water to 500 families in Barangay San Isidro.
• Use Active Voice instead of Passive Voice
  • Passive: A new law was implemented by the government to support farmers
  • Active: The government implemented a new law to support farmers

Coherence

• A coherent paragraph has a logical structure in which ideas flow smoothly from one sentence to the next
• Sentences should relate to the main idea and make the message easy to follow by the reader
• Example:
  • Unclear: Development communication is important. Many people do not understand social issues. Writers must simplify information.
  • Clear: Development communication is important because it helps the public understand social issues. Writers simplify information to make it more accessible.

Key Aspects of Coherence in Writing

• Stick to one main idea per paragraph
  • Every paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that summarizes the main idea
  • Supporting details should relate directly to the topic sentence
  • Example
    • Topic Sentence: Climate change threatens food security in rural areas
    • Supporting Details: Rising temperatures reduce crop yields. Unpredictable weather patterns cause droughts and floods, damaging farms
    • Ending Sentence: If these issues are not addressed, rural communities will struggle with hunger and poverty.
• Use Logical Order
  • Chronological order (time-based): First, next, finally
  • Cause-and-effect: Because, as a result, therefore
  • Comparison-contrast: Similarly, on the other hand, however
• Use Transitional Words & Phrases
  • To Add Ideas: Furthermore, in addition, moreover
  • To Show Contrast: However, on the other hand, in contrast
  • To Show Cause & Effect: As a result, therefore, consequently
  • To Show Example: For instance, for example, such as
• Avoid Jumping Between Unrelated Ideas

Conciseness

• Good writing should be short and direct, with every word serving a purpose
• Unnecessary words or phrases should be removed
• Concise writing makes the message easier to understand, read, and remember
• Example
  • Wordy: At this point in time, we are currently experiencing difficulties
  • Concise: We are experiencing difficulties

Key Aspects of Conciseness in Writing

• Avoid redundancy(saying the same thing twice)
  • Instead of: The reason why → The reason
  • Instead of: Free gift → Gift
  • Instead of: In close proximity -→ Near
• Eliminate unnecessary words
  • Instead of: Due to the fact that → Because
  • Instead of: It is important to note that → Note that
  • Instead of: In order to → To
• Example:
  • Wordy: She is a person who is highly intelligent and creative
  • Concise: She is highly intelligent and creative
• Cut out unnecessary modifiers
  • Instead of: Absolutely essential → Essential
  • Instead of: Completely finished → Finished
  • Instead of: Very unique → Unique
• Combine Sentences When Possible
  • Wordy: The project was delayed. The reason for the delay was the lack of funding
  • Concise: The project was delayed due to a lack of funding

Outlining

• An outline helps in the writing process of an essay or a formal paper
• Outlines are created to organize the thoughts of the author before rough drafts, in order to ensure a cohesive and well-formatted paper.
• Three outline types:
  • Alphanumeric
  • Decimal
  • Full sentence

Alphanumeric Outline

• Widely recognizable outlines
• Uses Roman numerals, capital letters, Arabic numerals, and lowercase letters along with indentations to separate sub concepts for the paper
• Author can translate shorthand ideas into full sentences
• Often less time-consuming

Decimal Outline

• Organized way to organize ideas using decimal numbers, to show relationships betweem them
• It's a type of pre-writing outline
• Often used in research papers and in presentations

Full Sentence Outline

• Called a full sentence outline, an outline written in full sentences
• Main points and order of presentation are organized
• Allows you to become specific about your subject rather than generalizing

Paragraphs

• Paragraph is a collection of related sentences centered around a single topic

Components of a Strong Paragraph

• Topic Sentence introduces the main idea and sets the tone and direction for the sentences that follow
• Supporting Sentences expand on the topic by providing evidence, examples, and explanations reinforcing the main idea
• Concluding Sentence (Optional) can summarize the paragraph's main point

Tips for Effective Paragraph Development

• Stay Focused; ensure each paragraph focuses on a single idea and avoid introducing multiple topics within one paragraph
• Use Transitions to incorporate transitional words and phrases to connect your ideas smoothly and create a logical flow between sentences and paragraphs.
• Be Specific; use specific details and examples to support your points, making your argument more convincing and your writing more engaging
• Revise and Edit; review your paragraphs after writing for coherence and clarity and ensure each sentence contributes to the main idea and that your paragraph transitions are smooth

Methods of Paragraph Development

• Depending on your controlling idea, paragraphs can be organized in various ways
• Narration: tell a story chronologically from start to finish
• Description: describe what something smells, looks, tastes, sounds, or feels like, and organized spatially or by topic.
• Process: explain how something works, step by step, by following a sequence like first, second, and third.
• Classification: explain various parts of a topic or separate into groups.
• Illustration: explain how those examples support your point and give examples

Example of a Finished Paragraph

• Although most sharks are not a threat to humans, many people continue to believe that sharks are mindless predators
• Sensationalized media portrayals and rare but highly publicized shark attacks perpetuate this false belief
• For instance, the movie Jaws depicts a great white shark as a cunning, relentless killer that targets humans
• Such dramatized depictions create a lasting impression on audiences, fostering an irrational fear of sharks and misunderstanding of their behavior
• In reality, sharks are more often scavengers than hunters, and attacks on humans are exceedingly rare
• By educating ourselves about shark behavior and ecology, fear can be replaced with respect for these important marine animals

Troubleshooting Paragraphs

• Problem: the paragraph lacks a topic sentence
  • Ensure your paragraph starts with a clear topic sentence to guide your reader
• Problem: the paragraph has more than one controlling idea
  • Split the paragraph into two or more paragraphs, each with only one main idea
• Problem: transitions are needed within the paragraph
  • Use transitions within a paragraph to establish relationships between ideas and create logical progression

Activity

• Identify the errors in the following sentences
• I need to go to the ATM machine to withdraw cash
• The students were given an unexpected surprise during the event
• She shared some true facts about climate change
• The teacher asked the class to repeat the instructions again for clarity
• The company made advance reservations for the guests

Editing

• Editing is the process of reviewing and refining a piece of writing to improve conciseness, clarity, coherence, and correctness
• This ensures the final work is polished, professional, and effective

Key Aspects of Editing in Writing

• Check for Clarity
  • Ensure the message is easy to understand
  • Use precise and simple words
  • Avoid jargon, unless necessary
  • Make sure each sentence conveys a clear idea
  • Example
    • The dissemination of crucial developmental information is being undertaken by the agency. - Unclear
    • The agency shares important development information. - Clear
• Ensure Coherence
  • Ensure ideas flow logically
  • Each paragraph should focus on one main idea
  • Use transition words (e.g., however, therefore, in addition)
  • Arrange sentences in a logical order
  • Example
    • Farmers struggle due to climate change. They also lack access to modern equipment. This is why the government launched an agricultural support program. - Unclear
    • Farmers struggle due to climate change and lack modern equipment. To help, the government launched an agricultural support program. - Clear
• Cut Unnecessary Words
  • Is the writing concise?
  • Remove redundant phrases and words
  • Use strong, direct verbs instead of long phrases
  • Example
    • In order to successfully complete the project, it is necessary that we collaborate together as a team. - Wordy
    • To complete the project, we must collaborate as a team. - Concise
• Correct Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling
  • Are there errors?
  • Ensure subject-verb agreement
  • Check verb tense consistency
  • Avoid common punctuation errors, (e.g., run-on sentences, missing commas)
  • Example
    • The researcher explain the findings in details. - Incorrect
    • The researcher explains the findings in detail. - Correct