101 6 LETTER WRITING One of the most efficient forms of communication is letter writing. In this chapter, we will learn about formal letter writing. Letters written to people other than your friends and relatives for official or business purposes are classified as formal letters. Formal letters usually have one of the following purposes. • to make a complaint • to request for something • to make an enquiry Format Your address Date Recipient's name Title Address Subject Content Sign off Signature 15
102 Guidelines for letter writing Sender’s Address This lets the person you are writing to know where to send a reply. Date Leave a line and write the date beneath the address. Recipient’s Name, Title and Address Write below the sender’s address. Salutation Use ‘Dear Sir/Madam if you do not know the name of the recipient. If you do know the name, use the title ‘Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms, Dr’ followed by the surname. Subject This is written to briefly state the purpose of your letter. Body • The first paragraph should be short, stating the purpose of the letter: to enquire about, complain about or request for something, etc. • The middle paragraph of the letter should contain the relevant information you wish to convey in a clear and organised manner. • The last paragraph should state what action you would expect the recipient to take: to grant leave, to refund money, to send you information, etc. Subscription If you do not know the name of the person, conclude with ‘Yours faithfully’. If you know the name of the person, conclude with ‘Yours sincerely’. Sender’s signature Signature of the sender. Below the signature, write the sender’s name. Example 1 Write an application to the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of your town asking him/her to provide street lights in your locality. Kailash Complex, Mehelpur, New Delhi - 110 001 3 September 20XX Subject: Request for street lights. Dear Sir, We, the residents of Mehelpur notify you that most of the streets in our locality are without street lights. Numerous crimes are committed here because there are no street lights on the road. We
103 would like to draw your attention to the poor maintenance of the street lights in our locality. They are all in very poor condition and are dimly lit. Females and children are especially afraid to walk on the streets at night. Kindly look into the matter. We would request you to take immediate action on the replacement of the lights in our locality. Yours faithfully, Vikram Singh Example 2 You are Rishabh of Bal Vidya Mandir, Trilokpuri Delhi. Write an application to your principal requesting him to arrange for extra classes in Science. B/305 Janak Trilokpuri, New Delhi 110091 16 July 20XX Subject: Request for arranging extra classes in Science Respected Sir, I am a student of Class VIII of your school. Our examination is scheduled for next month but our Science syllabus is not completed yet. Therefore, we need some extra classes for completing our syllabus. I hope our request will be granted. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, Rishabh Jose Student of Class VIII A Roll No. 12
104 Example 3 You are Janvi/Rohit living at B -21, Dwarka, New Delhi. You have noticed many stray animals on the road during the busy hours of the day. These animals cause traffic jams as well as accidents. Write a letter to the Editor, The Hindu, drawing the attention of the concerned authorities. B-21, Dwarka New Delhi 5 September 2020 To, The Editor, The Hindu, New Delhi Subject: Stray animals causing a menace. Dear Sir, I would like to bring to your kind attention the issue of stray animals in our area, B-21, Dwarka, New Delhi. Numerous stray animals such as dogs and cows roam freely through public spaces, on roads, in confined spaces, and even in markets. I regret to inform you that a stray cow had caused a road accident two days prior. These accidents can be easily avoided and help save lives, time and assets. Hence, I request the concerned authorities to take a serious look into the matter and initiate programs to control the population or transfer the stray animals to shelter homes and ensure the safety and welfare of the people of New Delhi. Thanking you, Yours faithfully Janvi/Rohit Exercise 15.1. You are Aman/Anushka of 10, Sarojini Nagar, Kolkata. You are deeply worried about the reckless driving on the crowded roads these days. As a responsible citizen, express your issue to the editor of a local newspaper. Exercise 15.2. Write an application to the principal of your school requesting him/her for permission to set up an ‘English Debating Club’ in your school.
105 Exercise 15.3. The students of your school have been suffering due to excessive heat in this severe hot weather. Now, write an application to the headmaster of your school for putting up some electric fans in the classroom. Exercise 15.4. Write a letter to the Editor of a local newspaper complaining about the bad condition of water supply in your locality. You are Saurabh Dayal living at H-19 Shadhara, New Delhi. Exercise 15.5. Write a letter to the Editor of Hindustan Times complaining about the nuisance created by the use of loudspeakers in your area. You are Trisha Sharma, a resident of Lane 3, Keshav Enclave, Hyderabad. Exercise 15.6. Write an application to the principal of your school requesting him to provide a computer lab in your school on behalf of your class. Exercise 15.7. Write an application to the principal of your school and request for leave for three days on account of your sister's marriage. Exercise 15.8. You are Mansi Gupta, a student of Bright Land Public School. You have been promoted to class 9th with German as an optional subject. But you would like to opt for French. Write an application to the principal requesting him/her to change your section that has French as the optional subject. Exercise 15.9. Write a letter to the principal of your school complaining to him about the rude behaviour of some seniors in your school. Exercise 15.10. You are Naresh/Nirmala, head boy/girl of Vidya Public School, Rajasthan. Write a letter to Star Sports Company, Jaipur asking them to send more popular sports equipment for your games and sports department.
106 6 COMPREHENSION Exercise 16.1 Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions. I am a mother of four children. My eldest son is unwell. He has an illness that will never go away, but it can be controlled. To treat his condition, he needs medication. Previously, this treatment cost ten dollars a month. The price has increased to $30 a month. My son develops breathing problems if he doesn’t take the prescribed medication. Occasionally, his lungs don’t function well. He struggles to breathe properly. He needs the medication so that his lungs could function properly. We are quite helpless and desperate. However, it will be challenging to find an extra $30 per month. Our family will have to spend little money on other things. 1. The son needs medicine to ____________. a) make his illness go away b) help his lungs function properly c) give him some energy 2. The family would ____________. a) have to sell their car b) have to shift to another place d) need help paying for the medication 3. What kind of illness does the son have? a) His eyesight is weak. b) His heart is very weak. c) His lungs don't function properly. 4. Why does the family have to spend little money on other things? a) The price of the medicine increased. b) The father was sick. c) The mother lost her job. 16
107 Exercise 16.2. A volcano is a burning mountain that has a large, deep hole in it. Stones, fumes and smoke all emerge from it. The crater of the volcano is the name given to the opening’s mouth. Volcanoes do not usually erupt in flames. A volcano may occasionally last for decades without erupting and then it will unexpectedly become active. This is called a volcanic eruption. Large clouds of ash, dust, gas, and steam rise from the crater during the eruption. From the crater, loud noises are heard. Lava, which is composed of white-hot molten rock, eventually starts to flow down the mountain sides. Days or weeks may pass as this continues. The volcano will then 'go to sleep' once more for a long time. Most volcanoes are located close to water. Based on the passage, answer the following questions given below. 1. What is a volcano? 2. How often does the volcano erupt? 3. What is the antonym of the word ‘expected’ in the given passage? 4. Where are most volcanoes found? Exercise 16.3. Read the passage given below and answer the following questions carefully. Patriotism is an ancient idea; maybe going all the way back to the earliest human civilisation. But all through the history of humanity, it has been narrowly understood. People are starting to realise that patriotism is a basic human instinct today. Patriotism has its downsides particularly when it exceeds its proper boundaries. Patriots are not those who believe their own country to be the finest and are blind to its flaws. We are part of a large human family and so cannot neglect our responsibilities and duties towards it. Respect for the entire community should be a condition for our love of the country. Patriotism must be tempered with reason so that it may not be an evil. The only thing that prejudice can do is bring bad luck. In trying to overlook others’ interests in the world today, we harm our own. 1. What is the belief of people regarding patriotism today? a) it is narrowly understood b) it is not needed anymore c) it is a part of human behaviour d) none of these 2. What kind of people are patriots? a) Those who believe their country is better than others. b) Those who have a neutral attitude towards the country.
108 c) Those whose love for the country is conditioned by respect for others. d) Those who spread hate in the country. 3. What are people now realising about patriotism? 4. What does patriotism bring? Exercise 16.4. Read the poem given below and answer the following questions carefully. The World by W.B.Rands Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful World, With the wonderful water round you curled, And the wonderful grass upon your breast— World, you are beautifully drest. The wonderful air is over me, And the wonderful wind is shaking the tree, It walks on the water, and whirls the mills, And talks to itself on the tops of the hills. You friendly Earth, how far do you go, With the wheat-fields that nod and the rivers that flow, With cities and gardens, and cliffs, and isles, And people upon you for thousands of miles? Ah! you are so great, and I am so small, I tremble to think of you, World, at all; And yet, when I said my prayers to-day, A whisper inside me seemed to say, You are more than the Earth, though you are such a dot: You can love and think, and the Earth cannot!’ 1. What do you think the poet speaks about in this poem? 2. What does the poet mean to say when he says ‘Ah you are so great and I am so small'? a) The poet means to say that he is very great and the earth is very small.
109 b) The poet means to say that the earth is very great and he is very small. c) The poet means to say that the mountains are very small and he is very great. 3. What things does the wonderful earth consist of? 4. The poet says ‘I tremble to think of you, World, at all’. What do you think makes the poet tremble? Exercise 16.5. Read the poem given below and answer the following questions. THE ARROW AND THE SONG I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to Earth, I knew not where ; For, so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight. I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where ; For who has sight so keen and strong, That it can follow the flight of song? Long, long afterward, in an oak I found the arrow, still unbroken; And the song, from the beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend. 1. Where did the poet shoot the arrow? 2. ‘It fell to earth, I knew not where.’ What does ‘it’ refer to and how did it fall? 3. Find the words in the poem that rhyme with the words given below. a) right _____________ _____________ b) wrong _____________ _____________ c) tend _____________ _____________ d) folk _____________ _____________ 4. Where did the arrow fall? When did the poet find the arrow?
110 6 DIARY WRITING What is a diary entry? A diary entry is a form of writing where an individual records an account of the day. A diary entry usually includes detailed perspectives of the writer of the events occurring in the present. Format of a Diary Entry Day/Date Time: Title (optional) Dear Diary, Main body: ________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________Concluding line __________________________________ Name Points to keep in mind while writing a diary entry: • The word limit of a diary entry is 100-150 words. • A diary entry is written in the first person. • Start the diary entry by describing the day or momentary feelings. • Spend a few moments going over the entire day and categorising the events that had the most impact on you. • Try to include only those things which were the most important during the day. • While taking notes, keep the correct chronological order in mind. Try not to jump from one thought to the next. • Avoid spelling errors and use grammatically correct sentences. • Conclude using a final remark or future course of action. 17
111 Look at the examples given below: Example 1 Tomorrow is Teacher’s Day at your school. You have been chosen to give a speech in front of teachers. Express your feelings and emotions in the form of a diary entry in not more than 150 words. Tuesday, 4th September 2020 8.15 p.m. Dear Diary, Tomorrow is the 5th of September. It is observed as Teacher’s Day throughout the country to honour the great soul who was born on that day, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. There are butterflies in my stomach today, since tomorrow I have to present a speech at school. It is also an honour to have been chosen from among so many students. I, therefore, have written a powerful speech admiring the noble profession of our teachers. They motivate us to achieve great things, correct us when we make mistakes, and eliminate our childish pomposity. They help us in refining us by becoming respectable members of the society. I have dedicated a small paragraph in the speech to my favourite teacher, Mrs. Indu. I sincerely hope that I will be able to deliver the speech confidently tomorrow. Good night. Shilpa Example 2 You are Megha. Write a diary entry on winning the first prize in the essay competition held in your school. Thursday, 9 Sept 2021 9.00 p.m. Dear Diary, Today, as usual, I’m going to tell you about my entire day. I’m overjoyed today. It has been a day of achievements and success. The essay writing competition was hosted by our school. I was initially nervous about competing in this competition. My parents, on the other hand, encouraged and motivated me. They told me that I have good writing skills. I’m glad I listened to them. In the essay writing competition, I won the first prize! There were 50 students who participated in the competition. My parents were overjoyed as well. It was a fantastic experience. Good night diary. Megha
112 Exercise 17.1. You visited an old age home today with your friends. Express your feelings in the form of a diary entry in not more than 150 words. Exercise 17.2 Write about your plans in the form of a diary entry regarding the forthcoming final examinations in your school. Exercise 17.3 You are Sarthak/Anushka who has recently joined a boarding school. You have been able to make a few friends. Record your feelings about them in a diary entry in not more than 150 words. Exercise 17.4 You dislike the behaviour of a few of your friends. Write a diary entry about your feelings in about 100 words. Exercise 17.5. It’s your birthday and you received a birthday surprise from your friends and you are feeling very happy. Write down a diary entry expressing your feelings. Exercise 17.6. Your mother scolded you for wasting a lot of time playing games on your phone. Write a diary entry describing your feelings. Exercise 17.7. You participated in a marathon for the first time in your school. Record your feelings in a diary entry. Exercise 17.8. You and your sister decided to celebrate your parents’ 20th wedding anniversary. In a diary entry, write your feelings and your plans for the special day. Exercise 17.9. You recently visited a blind school in your city. The visit has made you very thoughtful towards the need of helping the physically challenged. Express your thoughts and feelings in the form of a diary entry. Exercise 17.10. You are going on your dream vacation with your family and you are extremely happy. Write a diary entry expressing your feelings. Exercise 17.11. Today, you visited a zoo along with your family and had a great time. Write a diary entry expressing your feelings and what you did the whole day. Exercise 17.12. You are shifting to a new city and it is your last day of school. Record your feelings in a diary.
113 6 ARTICLE WRITING What is article writing? An article is a piece of writing that is written for a broad audience. The main reason for writing an article is to have it published in newspapers, magazines, or journals in order to make a difference in the world. Format of an Article Cyber Stalking Grishma Singh There is an increasing number of teenagers who are using instant messaging applications and social networking sites. According to a survey, one out of every three teenagers using the internet is miserably falling under the trap of being cyber bullied. Some bullies create fake profiles of their victims and send humiliating messages to other people through those fake profiles. As the user ID reflects the victim's name, it becomes difficult for them to prove their innocence to other people. This can cause a mental trauma to the victim because the response is immediate. Similarly, you may get bullied or stalked by playing any cyber games and get trapped in their mental games. The right thing to do in both these situations is to block and ignore the bully. Replying or giving importance to what they are doing might result in a verbal fight, which is exactly what one needs to avoid. Also, with the help of an adult, the bully must be immediately reported to the cybercrime cell. The messages and threats are evidence enough to stop such inhumane activity. Finally, it is always important to be alert and aware of your digital footprint so that it is not misused by anybody. 18 Title Writer's name Introductory paragraph Body Concluding paragraph
114 Guidelines for Article Writing Title: • The title gives a glimpse of the article. • It should not exceed more than five to seven words. • It should be placed in the centre of the page. By line: • Mention the name of the writer. Introduction: • The first paragraph should speak about the main idea of the article. It should not give too many details. Second Paragraph: • In the second paragraph, expand on the main idea using supporting details. Conclusion: • In the last paragraph, summarise your points in two to three sentences. Points to keep in mind while writing an article: • The heading/title should be interesting, clear and must catch the attention of the readers. • The article must be interesting and easy to read. • Start with an eye-catching opening sentence that addresses the readers and gets their interest in the topic. • Present a compelling argument for your ideas, backed up with evidence or explanation. • Each paragraph that follows should begin with a new idea to help you develop your ideas. • Always use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation when writing an article. Examples of Articles Example 1 The Purpose of Life Ruchi Sinha Every boy and girl, I’m sure, has to deal with old people asking them such questions. They would ask, “My son, what is your goal in life?” You usually reply to such queries by saying that you want to be a leader, doctor, engineer, etc. Yet, give it some thought. Is it a means of support or the purpose of life? None of these things can ever truly become your life’s purpose. There has been a lot of trouble because many people have made their jobs their primary goals in life. Therefore, avoid making your career your life’s goal. What should be the goal? I can’t say. It should
115 be something very high, like a star in the sky. Take an example. What was the purpose of Mahatma Gandhi’s life? Some of you may claim—falsely—that it was India’s independence. On the day of India’s independence, he was sad. Arundhati Roi wrote a novel, became famous and earned a lot of money. She then dedicated all of her time and effort to helping the underprivileged. Create your own goals and pursue them. Example 2 Clean Drinking Water Bhushan Saxena Everyone is aware of how essential water is to life. Water is necessary for cooking, cleaning and agriculture. Drinking, however, is its primary application. Pure water must be used for drinking. If not, it could lead to illness and even death. We need to therefore purify our water in a variety of ways. The easiest way to consume clean drinking water is to boil the water. There are a lot of water purifiers in the market today. However, these are expensive devices that not everyone can afford. The government has the responsibility to supply the public with clean drinking water. Rain is the primary source of this water. When there is little or no rain, a crisis arises. Because of this, it is now crucial to conserve rainwater. We must take every precaution to protect drinking water. Exercise 18.1 The impacts of global warming are being felt everywhere. Use the hints given below to write an article that highlights the effects of global warming. • Temperature rise of the earth by 0.4–0.8 degrees Celsius. • The main causes are an increase in greenhouse gas concentration and excessive tree cutting. • By 2100, temperatures will rise by 1.4-5.8 degrees Celsius more. • Sea levels are rising, powerful storms, and other extreme weather conditions. • It is important to take preventive measures to reduce global warming. Exercise 18.2 Write an article on the topic ‘Role of Money in Our Lives’ in about 100-150 words. Exercise 18.3 The greatest and deadliest threat facing humanity today is terrorism. Using the hints provided below, write an article on the subject ‘Terrorism, a Danger to Humanity.’ • Aimed at causing fear among civilians. • Terrorists employ cutting-edge techniques.
116 • Bombings, kidnappings and hostage taking. • Cyber, biological and chemical attacks. Exercise 18.4 Write an article on the topic 'Online Education' in about 100-150 words. Exercise 18.5 A system known as the Internet connects computers all over the world. It is excellent for sharing information. We live in an age of the Internet. Write an article in not more than 150 words on 'The importance of Internet'. Exercise 18.6. Our nation’s population growth has resulted in a decline in the amount of forest cover. Write an article on the topic ‘The Importance of Trees’ in 100-150 words. Exercise 18.7. Do you know that in our country a lot of children are not able to get even basic education? We know that education is the basic necessity of life. Write an article on the topic ‘Education is Everyone’s Right’. Exercise 18.8. We all must live a healthy life. But nowadays, a lot of people are leaning towards unhealthy habits that are not good for our health. Write an article in the light of the statement given above. Exercise 18.9. Write an article on 'Child Labour' with the help of the hints given below. • children between 5-14 years • 215 million children still in child labour • hazardous working conditions • NGOs opened to eradicate child labour. Exercise 18.10. Write an article on the topic ‘Hard Work Always Leads to Success’ in 100-150 words.
117 6 NOTICE WRITING What is notice writing? A notice is a method of formal communication. The announcement or display of information to a particular audience is the primary objective of a notice. In most cases, notices are intended to be pinned up on particular notice boards in public spaces like schools. Newspapers publish notices that the government has issued. Format of Notice Writing Kendriya Vidyalaya School, Dwarka Notice Art Exhibition 17 November 2022 This is to inform you that the school is organising an art exhibition for students of Std. V-VIII on 2 December 2022 in the school auditorium. The theme of the exhibition is 'Life on the Blue Planet.' Please submit your paintings on an A4 size sheet to your class teacher before 25 November 2022. For any further clarification, contact the undersigned. Saima Saini Head Girl Kendriya Vidyalaya School 19 Notice Title Date of issue Name of authorised signatory Designation Name of the School/ Organisation, Place Body of the notice, including 1. Event 2. Date of the event 3. Time & venue
118 Points to keep in mind while writing a notice: • A well-written notice must educate the audience on the following 5 Ws: what will take place, exactly where it will happen, what time it will happen, who may apply or be qualified, who to apply to or contact. • A notice is written inside a box. The presentation should be tidy and pleasing to the eye. • Only the most important facts should be written down. Given that it is a formal form of communication, the language used should be formal as well. • One is free to add any essential facts that aren’t covered by the question. • The sentences should be short and grammatically precise. As much as possible, they should be written in the passive voice. • Use simple words and short sentences whenever possible. It’s best to keep things simple because notices are generally quite brief. • A notice needs to be appealing and catchy in order to grab the reader’s attention right away. Examples of a Notice Example 1 Your society has organised a feast for all of its members in honour of Diwali. As the society’s chairman, send out an invitation of the event to all the members of the society. Give all the information that is required. XYZ Co-operative Society Notice 27 November 2020 Diwali Gathering All the members of the society are hereby invited for the upcoming Diwali celebration that will take place on November 30, 2020 at 7 pm. The event will be followed by dinner and it will take place at the clubhouse of the society. Nitesh Verma Chairman of XYZ Co-operative Society Example 2 You are Sana Malik, the head girl of the Central High School, Ludhiana. Your school is organising a tour to Jaipur. Write a notice inviting students who want to join the tour. Put the notice in the box.
119 Central High School, Ludhiana Notice 3 January 2021 Tour to Jaipur All the students are requested to take notice that our school is organising a six-day tour to Jaipur, as per details given below: Classes – VII to X Date of departure – 12 January 20XX Date of arrival – 18 January 20XX Those interested may deposit Rs. 2000/- to their class monitor. The cost is inclusive of sightseeing, boarding and lodging at a 3-star hotel. Please submit the deposit by 8th January. Sana Malik Head Girl Central High School Exercise 19.1 You are Raman Kumar, the Cultural secretary of Bright Woods Public School, Chandigarh. Write a notice on behalf of your school inviting all grandparents of the students to celebrate Grandparents’ Day. Exercise 19.2. You are Ashok, the sports captain of Highgate Public school, Dehradun. Write a notice in about 50 words informing the students about the inter-school football tournament to be played. Exercise 19.3. You are Kritika, the editor of the school magazine, and you want to hold an interclass competition for poems and comics for the magazine before August 13, 2020. Write a notice inviting entries for the student notice board. Mention all the necessary information, such as entry deadlines and prize details. Give your notice a catchy title. Exercise 19.4. Write a notice for the school bulletin board informing students of the District Education Officer’s school inspection scheduled for November 12, 2020. A 50-word notice should be written requesting
120 punctuality, cleanliness and discipline. Exercise 19.5. You are Mohit, the Sports Captain of Delhi Model School. Write a notice in 50 words for the school notice board informing the students about the inter-school volleyball match to be played. Exercise 19.6. You are Preeti, the president of Mount Wisdom Public School. Write a notice for the annual fiesta to be held in your school. Give details of the date, venue, time and items to be held. Exercise 19.7. You are Anil/Aruna, the Sports Secretary of Vidyalya Public School, Agra. Your school has decided to host the regional level football tournament. Draft a notice for your school notice board inviting all the students of your school to cheer for the teams. Exercise 19.8. You are Shikha/Shalin, the school captain of Junior High School, Kolkata. Write a notice informing the students about a poem recitation competition to be held on 27th September in your school.
121 6 DIALOGUE WRITING A dialogue is a conversation that takes place between two or more people. It is a literary device in which writers use two or more characters to have a conversation with one another. Here are some rules to keep in mind while writing a dialogue: 1. Dialogues need to be written inside quotation marks if the speakers’ names are not mentioned. Example: • “I have an important meeting today.” • “What time will the bus arrive?” Attributions like ‘he said,’ ‘she replied,’, etc. should be used in these situations as well. • “I would like to leave now," she said. • “I tried my best," he replied. 2. When the speakers’ names are mentioned, a colon mark (:) should come after them. Examples: • Kiran: What would you like to have? • Mr. James: Could you tell me the way to the guest room? 3. Also remember that every time the speaker changes, a new line should be used. Examples: • Father: What time are you going to leave? • Sam: The class will start by 8, so I should leave by 7 pm. • Mother: Get ready in an hour so that we can leave on time. The following characteristics define good dialogue writing: • A dialogue must be written in reference to a specific situation. • A good dialogue consists of a good beginning and a good ending. • The dialogue written should suit the character of the speaker. • One must always use appropriate language and short, direct and simple sentences when writing a dialogue. 20
122 Let us take a look at some examples of dialogue writing given below. Example 1 A dialogue between two friends who haven’t seen each other in years. Riya : Hi Smriti, what a great surprise! I am so happy to see you after so many years. Smriti : Me too, Riya. How have you been? And what are you doing here today? Riya : I am doing great. I had come here to visit my grandparents and will be staying here for a week. Smriti : That’s really great news. So, where are you living right now? Riya : I live in Kolkata. Smriti : Oh, that is not so far from here. Riya : We live close by. We should meet more often. Smriti : Yes, definitely. How about this weekend? Riya : Sounds great. You should bring along your sister as well. Smriti : I surely will. Riya : I’m sorry, I have to buy some groceries so I have to rush now. Smriti : It’s fine. Hope to you see you soon. Riya : Well then, see you on Saturday! Smriti : Good bye. Example 2 A dialogue between a student and a teacher about which course to study during the summer vacation. Student : Good morning Ma’am! How are you? Teacher : I am good. What about you? Student : I was wondering which course to study during this summer vacation. Teacher : It can be confusing; there are so many options open for you. You should make a choice based on what your interests are. Student : I have tried that but now I am left with these options- Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics or Data Science. Teacher : All of them are very interesting and good courses, but as far as I remember you have always been interested in Data Analytics. Student : Yes! I do have a strong interest in this course. Teacher : Well then, it’s no harm in pursuing it; you will be able to learn many new interesting things. Student : Yes, it sounds like a wonderful idea. Thank you, Ma’am!
123 Example 3 This example is a dialogue between a student and an English teacher during class. Teacher : Manju, please stand up. What am I teaching in the class? Student : Ma’am, you are teaching English grammar. Teacher : Manju, look at the spelling of the word on the board– ADVERB! Is the spelling correct? Student : Yes, Ma'am. The spelling is correct. Teacher : Can anyone tell me what an adjective is? Student : An adjective is a word that describes the quality, or number of a noun. Teacher : Yes, that is absolutely correct. What are the different kinds of adjectives? Student : Possessive, quantitative and qualitative. Teacher : Well done! Exercise 20.1. Complete a dialogue between a doctor and his patient given below. Doctor: Hello Mohan, what brings you here today? Mohan: I need a letter from you stating that I am healthy enough to work in the army. Doctor: We will have to do some tests for that. By when do you need the fitness certificate? Mohan: I have to submit it next week. Doctor: 1. ___________________________________________________________________________ Mohan: You have known me since my childhood. Doctor: 2. ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Mohan: As far as I believe, I am a healthy man. I don’t understand why I need so many tests. Can you give me the report right away? Doctor: 3. ___________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Mohan: What is the harm in it? Doctor: It is good to go through a proper process if you want to join the army Mohan. Let me warn you that such shortcuts can pose a threat to your life. If you don’t take the tests, 4. ______________ _____________________, but if you fall ill, who will suffer? So, these rules are set for your own safety. Mohan: You have a great point, doctor. 5. __________________________________________________
124 Doctor: You’re welcome, Mohan. 6._______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Exercise 20.2. Write a dialogue between you and your friend about the importance of physical activity in about 10-15 sentences. Exercise 20.3. Write a dialogue between a student and a librarian about getting a library card. Exercise 20.4. Write a dialogue between you and a passer-by in about ten dialogues. Exercise 20.5. Write a dialogue between three people having a conversation about the weather in their cities. Exercise 20.6. Write a dialogue between a host and his/her guest in about 10-15 sentences. Exercise 20.7. You have come to buy a new watch for yourself. Write a dialogue between you and the shopkeeper while buying the watch in 10 sentences. Exercise 20.8. Write a dialogue between a teacher and the student asking a student why he was absent for a week. Exercise 20.9. You are a patient and you have fever and a severe stomach ache. Write a dialogue between you and the doctor.
125 6 REPORT WRITING Reports are written summaries of what has been seen, heard, done or investigated. It is a systematic and well-organised presentation of the details and conclusions of an incident that has already taken place. The qualities listed below are necessary for a well-written report: • Always write in a formal style and more descriptive manner. Write an introduction, body and conclusion. • The place, date, time and other relevant facts must be included in the report. • A report must be written in the past tense. • Present your views and ideas in the report to make it interesting. Report Writing A Rare Bird Sighted in Coimbatore Shrinivas Shetty Correspondent Coimbatore, 25 October 2021 A red-footed falcon was recently spotted in Kalapatti area in Coimbatore by V. Ram Narayanan, an industrialist. The bird usually breeds in South-Eastern Siberia, Northern China and South-Eastern Africa and migrates to Germany. The last sighting of the bird was in Bhutan. The picture clicked by V. Ram Narayan is the first photographic proof of the bird in Kalapatti region. However, M. Mohan Kumar, Wildlife Biologist of OSAI confirmed that the bird flies over the Indian Ocean while migrating to Germany. The bird is also sighted in the open wetlands and grasslands of the Cachar District, Assam. Most of the sightings are from November to December. There was a decline in their population because of a decline in the availability of prey. Deforestation and growth in agriculture has affected the population of insects, which directly affects the food availability of the bird. Many initiatives like the 'LIFE' project are underway ensuring conservation of the red-footed falcon and to increase the number of nesting pairs. 21 Body Title PlaceDate By (Writer's Name) Designation
126 Guidelines of Report Writing Gather details • What? • Who? • Where? • When? • Why? • How? Write • Heading • Sub-heading • Important points • Description • Concluding Statement Gather details • Third person narrative • Passive voice • Short and simple sentences • Quotations • Appropriate conclusion Example 1 (Newspaper Report) Write a newspaper report on a bus accident you saw during a visit to Himachal Pradesh. Answer Four Killed in Himachal Pradesh Rakesh Kumar Shimla, 12 May 2022 A private bus skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district on Monday morning, killing four people and injuring twenty-seven, according to the police. This is the third major road accident in the Chamba district in less than a month. The accident happened in the Jheel village, about 12 kilometers from Chamba town, where it was headed, according to the Superintendent of Police, Gopalraman. He claimed that the injured were taken to the zonal hospital, located about 450 kilometres from the state capital Shimla. The deceased were mostly men from nearby villages. Exercise 21.1. You are the Cultural Secretary at PND Xavier School in Chandigarh. A debate on, 'The impact of reality shows on the younger generation' was organised by your school. To be published in 'The Indian Express,' Chandigarh, write a report in 100 to 120 words. Exercise 21.2 You are Tina/Tim and you are a student at Shiksha Memorial Hall in Roorkee. Some of the students in your school spend a week at our state’s Red Cross headquarters attending a first-aid training camp. Write a report for your school’s magazine about the camp’s events and your participation and performance. Exercise 21.3. You witnessed a road accident involving a bus and a motor bike near Ballupur Chowraha in Agra. Write
127 a report in 100–120 words for 'The Times of India'. Sign off as Special Correspondent, Shikar/Shikha. Exercise 21.4. You witnessed a bomb explosion in a Delhi market while shopping with your parents for Diwali gifts. Write a report for your school magazine in 100-120 words. Exercise 21.5. The annual day function was arranged in your school. It had various activities like dancing, singing, games and cultural activities. Write a report on it in 100 words. Exercise 21.6. You are Rohan/Roshni, cultural secretary of Green Valley Public School. Your school had a musical night in the school hall. Write a report on it in 100-120 words. Exercise 21.7. Prepare a short report in about 80-100 words on the Independence Day celebrated in your school. Exercise 21.8. Write a newspaper report by using the hints given below. • Anna Hazare hunger strike • Seventy-three years old • Refuses to end stike, lost weight, weak • Invoke memory of Mahatma Gandhi • Mumbai, Jaipur and Lucknow • Fast until death Exercise 21.9. You witnessed a fire accident in a crowded market area near your colony. Write a newspaper report in 100-120 words. Exercise 21.10. You are Aniket Singh, the reporter of 'The Times of India'. You were told to cover a train accident. Write a report of the accident mentioning all the details.
128 6 MESSAGE WRITING A message is a brief piece of information that you send to someone when you are unable to speak to them directly. Points to keep in mind while writing a message: • Use language that is suitable for the reader. • Use indirect or reported speech. • The message must be short and direct. Do not include any extra information. • Write grammatically correct sentences. • Avoid using lengthy sentences in the message body. Example 1 You are Suresh. Today, you had the following conversation with Ratan, a friend of your elder brother Naresh. As you are leaving for your school, write a message for your brother. Put your message in a box. Ratan : Hello! Is this Naresh? Suresh: Hi! This is Suresh speaking. What can I do for you? Ratan : Well, Suresh, I’m Ratan, your brother’s friend. Suresh: Oh, I see. Well, my brother is not here now and has left his phone at home. Can I help you? Ratan : Could you please tell him that he needs to bring my practical book to school as I need it in class today? Suresh: Sure. I’ll convey your message to him. MESSAGE 11 March 20XX 7.00 a.m. Naresh, Ratan called in your absence. He wants you to bring his practical book to school today. He said it is urgent as he needs it. Suresh 22
129 Example 2 Read the telephonic conversation given below. Neha : Hello! Is it Riya? Priya : No, I’m her friend Priya. May I know who’s speaking? Neha : I’m Neha, a friend of Riya. Is she around as I need to talk to her? Priya : Oh! Sorry. She has forgotten her mobile here as she has gone to the market. Can I help you with something? Neha : Oh sure. In fact, I wanted to convey to her that today’s English class has been cancelled because the teacher is not well. Instead, it will be held on Saturday. Could you please pass this message to Riya? Priya : Oh! Sure I can. Neha : Thank you! Write the above conversation in the form of a message for Riya on behalf of Priya. MESSAGE 12 May 20XX 6:00 p.m. Riya Your friend Neha from your English class called in your absence. She called to inform that today’s English class has been cancelled because the teacher is not well. Instead, it will be held on Saturday. Priya Exercise 22.1 You are Sam. Mr. Kaur your father's friend called you this morning. Your father wasn’t at home. Mr Kaur requested that you inform your father that he had fever and was unable to report to work today. He has requested your father to notify the Managing Director of the situation. Write down a message for your father. Exercise 22.2 Read the following conversation between Dr Kumar and Sakshi. Draft the message in about 50 words. Dr. Kumar: Hello! Am I talking to Shalini Joshi? Sakshi : Hello! This is Sakshi. Shalini Joshi is my mother and she is not at home. May I take your message for her? Dr. Kumar: I am Dr Kumar from the Central Diagnostic Centre. Please convey this message to your mother that her test results have come. I would request her to visit me any time next week to discuss about the reports and further treatment.
130 Sakshi : Okay, Dr Kumar. I’ll convey your message to her. Dr. Kumar: Alright, thank you! Exercise 22.3. You are Sanya. Your father had recently gone for a health checkup. You received a call from the doctor regarding the result of his reports. Since you have to go out, you leave a message for him. Draft a message regarding the same in not more than 50 words. Dr. Kashyap : Is this A/21, Vandana Colony? You : Yes, may I know who is calling? Dr. Kashyap : I am Dr Sanjana Kashyap calling from Central Heart Centre. I would like to speak to Mr. Satyam. You : He is not at home at the moment. Dr. Kashyap : Could you please tell him that I have seen all his test reports. I have fixed an appointment with the cardiologist for five o’clock at Max Hospital for the coming Monday. He must reach there on time with all the reports. You : Thank you, Doctor. I will convey this message to him. Exercise 22.4 Look at the telephonic conversation between Kirti and Mr Yadav. Write a message on behalf of Kirti for her father. Mr. Yadav : Hello. Is it 20984387? Kirti : Yes, it is. May I know who is calling? Mr. Yadav : This is Yadav Kapoor. Can I please talk to Mr. Sharma? Kirti : I’m sorry he is not at home. He will be back in the evening. Mr. Yadav : Could you please inform him that his colleague Mrs. Nirmala who was supposed to be coming to Dehradun to meet him next Monday will not be able to make it because she is on leave. However, she will be visiting next week on 22nd June. Kirti : Thank you for the message. Mr. Yadav, I’ll convey it to him. Exercise 22.5. Sanjana informs her son Rohan Pal that she would be returning home late in the evening at about 9 pm. After office, she would be attending a conference at Pritam Court. Rohan has to go for his music classes. So, he decides to leave a message for his father about his mother’s programme. Write his message in not more than 50 words.
131 Exercise 22.6. Read the following conversion between Anushka and Tina. Anushka : Hello! Is that Tina? Tina : Yes. Anushka, how are you? Anushka : Hi! You see, I came to town yesterday and must go back tomorrow. Please come to spend some time with me. I am with my aunt at Central Town. Anushka : How I wish I could meet you right now! But I’m alone at home. My parents are not at home and they don’t have the keys. Tina : So, how long will it take for you to come? Anushka : Ok. I’ll leave the keys with my neighbour and come to meet you. Anushka does so. But she also leaves a written message for her mother. Write her message. Exercise 22.7. It is your mathematics exam in two days. But you have forgotten your Maths notebook with your friend. Write a message to your friend in not more than 50 words asking him to send the notebook through your brother. Exercise 22.8. Read the following message and answer the following questions. MESSAGE 5 August 2021 8 p.m. Brother, I have a basketball match tomorrow and have to spend a lot of time practising. I will be practising with my team members. Please wait for me till 7:00 pm. I will be back home soon. Romish
132 1. Who has written this message? ________________________________________________________________________________ 2. For whom is the message written? ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What does the message say? ________________________________________________________________________________ Exercise 22.9. Read the message given below. MESSAGE 21 July 2021 2 p.m. Pritam, Ryan phoned to inform you that tomorrow they are going to a book fair, which is organised at Avenue 31 Court. If you are interested, call him in the evening. Priya Now, answer the following questions. 1. Who called Pritam? ________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Who received information in the absence of Pritam? ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What information did Priya give to Pritam? _______________________________________________________________________________
133 6 DESCRIPTIVE WRITING A description is a set of characteristics that can be used to recognise someone or something. We use descriptive writing to describe people, places and events. By describing them, we create a verbal sketch that allows the reader to get a clear picture of the described object. A good description paints a vivid mental picture in the mind of the reader. We can describe people on the following points: • By their appearance (good looking, beautiful, handsome, smart) • By their qualities (intelligent, sincere, patient, kind, honest, happy) • By their height, eyes, hair, complexion, etc. • By describing their feelings and thoughts. We can describe events on the following points: • Name/date of the event • The place where it was held. • Writing down in detail about what happened. • Why the event was held and why it is important. • The people involved in the event. • Their emotions and manners. Let us look at some examples given below. Example 1 Write a paragraph describing Mother Teresa in about 100-150 words. Answer Mother Teresa was a person of great virtue. She had a fair complexion and a lovely, wrinkly face. Looking rather small, she may have looked frail and thin, but had the heart of gold and great strength to attend to thousands of children worldwide. When she passed away, she was 87 years old. She always had a smile on her face and was very compassionate towards the underprivileged. Her educational background was limited to elementary school. She was fluent in English language. Not only was Mother Teresa a woman of great integrity, but she was also an institution in herself. She completed her work with great care. In any way she could, she provided for the people of the slums. Although she wasn’t an Indian by origin, but she taught the poor children the Bengali alphabet. She established a dispensary and a home for the dying destitute who were left to die on the road. She showed compassion and love to those who felt unwelcome in society, including the hungry, the homeless, the handicapped, the blind, the lepers, and those who were crippled. 23
134 Example 2 A book fair was organised in your city in the month of August. Describe the fair in about 100-150 words. Answer Every year, a book fair is held in Noida’s Pritam Maidan. This year, the book fair was held in August. It was a very large event where book publishers from all over India displayed their books. Good books on almost any subject and topic were available for viewing and purchase. Attendees came from Noida and the surrounding areas for this fair. Since there were numerous books from various publishers all under one roof, it was a unique opportunity for book lovers and library owners. The fair’s main draw was the availability of some unique books and teaching aids that are difficult to find in book stores. Exercise 23.1. Describe your mother to your friends using the points given below. • age-38 years • complexion-fair • education qualification - post graduate • soft spoken, patient, understanding and kind • height-tall • appearance-beautiful and fair-skinned Exercise 23.2. You visited the city of Agra during your summer vacations, where you saw the famous monument, The Taj Mahal. Describe this monument using the hints given below. • situated in Agra • built by Shah Jahan • Mughal architecture • built in sixteen years • made using white marble • Seventh Wonder of the World Exercise 23.3. Think about your favourite place. Now, write a paragraph in about 100-150 words describing it. Exercise 23.4. Describe your favourite festival you would like to celebrate in 100-150 words. Exercise 23.5. Describe a scene at a railway station or an airport in 100 words.
135 Exercise 23.6. Write a paragraph describing one of the most challenging events in your life. Exercise 23.7. Do you have a role model? A person you admire and look up to? Describe him or her in about 100 -120 words. Exercise 23.8. Write a paragraph describing what you think your future job will be. Exercise 23.9. Do you have a pet? Describe your pet in 100 words. If you don’t have a pet, imagine about one and write about it. Exercise 23.10. Write a paragraph describing your room. What colour are your curtains? What colour are your blankets and sheets? Do you have a cupboard? Write in about 100-120 words. Exercise 23.11. You were recently promoted to a new class. You have a new class teacher now. Your friends ask you to describe him/her. Write a description of your new teacher. Exercise 23.12. A Sports day was organised at your school in the month of May. Describe the day using the hints given below. • Where was it organised • Arrangements done • What all games were played • What was special about it • When was it organised
136 6 STORY WRITING Story writing is an art form. It is the most traditional form of written composition. It is a work of fiction that is written in grammatically simple sentences. To write a story, one must learn to use correct and lucid language, as well as the art of narrating events or happenings in a regular and systematic sequence. Main points to keep in mind while writing a story: • The story’s title needs to be interesting and pique readers’ interest. • The characters must be presented in an interesting and convincing manner. • A planned and logical sequence of activities must be reflected, and the events must not diverge the story from its theme. • The story’s language must be appropriate. It should reflect the story’s setting. • The moral of the story must be mentioned at the end.(if any) • Always use direct speech, whenever possible. Example 1 Write down a meaningful story from the outline given to you below. • a bear, a wolf and a fox went hunting under the leadership of a tiger • they killed a buffalo • they divided it in four parts • the tiger roared and asked for one portion of the prey • the tiger asked for a third of the whole part of the prey for her cubs • the tiger kept asking for all parts • the animals gave in and departed silently The Tiger’s Share Once a bear, a wolf and a fox went hunting under the leadership of a tiger. Very soon, they caught a buffalo and killed it. The fox divided the buffalo into four parts. The animals were eagerly waiting to eat their shares. Just then the tiger roared, “Keep away from the prey and listen to me. I claim one portion of the prey 24
137 because I was your partner in hunting. I claim the second portion because I was your leader. I claim the third portion because I want it for my cubs. If anyone wants the fourth portion, come on, fight me and have it.” The bear, the wolf and the fox let the tiger have all the four parts of the prey and departed silently. Example 2 Write down a meaningful story from the outline given to you below. • Robert Bruce - the king of Scotland • the King of England attacks them one day • Bruce is defeated after many attempts • he runs into a jungle and reaches a cave • spots a spider • a spider makes many attempts to reach to its web but ends up falling every time • a spider doesn’t give up • Bruce learns a lesson from the spider and fights back against the King of England • Bruce wins Keep Trying Robert Bruce was the king of Scotland. One day, the King of England plans an attack on Scotland and tries to invade it. Bruce wanted to free his nation. He tries to free his nation many times, but all his attempts end up in devastating failure. Seeing that the English army was about to get him, Bruce runs away in despair into a jungle. He lands up hiding inside a cave, thinking to give up the battle and leave his country for good. While he was thinking so, he saw a spider. It was trying to reach its spider web. But every time it would try to climb up, it would end up falling down. It had tried eight times and had started to look tired. So, it rested for some time. It started its struggle for the ninth time. But it fell down again. King Bruce thought that he would try no more. But when the spider happened to come to its senses, it started again. This time, despite its deliberate slowness, it managed to get to its web. King Bruce learned a valuable lesson. He also made the decision to try again. King Bruce goes back to the battle and gathers his armies to fight again, this time with full force. This time his efforts don’t go waste, and he comes out as victorious, restoring Scotland back to its glory. Moral : Keep trying until you succeed.
138 Exercise 24.1 Write a story from the outline given to you below. a very naughty boy - eager to show his wit - one morning - decides to play a trick on a barber - boy sits on a chair - barber asks the boy what he wants - boy asks to shave his beard - barber sees boy has no beard - barber sees through the boy’s trick - makes the boy wait after applying soap - boy starts to get frustrated - barber laughs and says that he is waiting for his beard to grow Exercise 24.2. Write a story from the outline given to you below. a girl gets involved in a bad company of friends - her mother decides to teach her a lesson - her mother brings apples - places one rotten apple in the basket of apples - the next day all the apples are rotten - the girl learns a lesson from them Write a story from the outline given above. Also, write the moral of the story. Exercise 24.3 Write a story from the outline given to you below. an old peasant - all his children are lazy - peasant is on his death bed - calls for his children - tells them of a treasure hidden in the fields - the children dig every bit of land to find the treasure - find no treasure - end up plowing the whole field - the crop harvest turns out to be very fine - children learn the lesson of hard work Exercise 24.4. Write a story and its moral from the outline given to you below. A farmer had six sons - were strong - always quarreled and fought - farmer wanted to stop quarrelling - wanted to live in peace - his advice - not have much effect - called all his sons - bundle of sticks - break these sticks without separating - each of them tried one by one - used full strength - the old man separated the sticks - could break the sticks easily - strong as long as it is tied up - will be weak and break if you are divided. Exercise 24.5. Write a story about a poor family who wins a lottery--and then chooses not to accept the winnings. Exercise 24.6. Write a story about a young boy who discovers an old magical book in the attic when he moves into his new house.
139 Exercise 24.7. Write a story about a girl who tries to help someone in need only to realise that she has accidentally made the person’s situation even worse! Exercise 24.8. Write a story about a family who is out on a vacation to a beach and mention all the exciting and fun adventures they experience there. Exercise 24.9. Write a story based on the picture shown below in approximately 100 to 150 words.
140 Exercise 24.10. Write a story based on the picture shown below in approximately 100 to 150 words.
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