1. UTKARSH Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (2010-11) Improving Writing

2. Writing skill

3. Preparation Getting relevant thoughts Getting relevant thoughts Collecting ideas to develop writing Collecting ideas to develop writing Enriching content knowledge Enriching content knowledge Points or ideas to expand Points or ideas to expand Developing matter on the related topic Developing matter on the related topic

4. Relating topic with the text Always remember to relate the topic with the text lessons and poems. Always remember to relate the topic with the text lessons and poems. You can very easily make use of the related material. You can very easily make use of the related material. You can use the vocabulary, phrases, idioms from the text. You can use the vocabulary, phrases, idioms from the text. Also you can make use of some lines from the poems or some situations from the prose lessons. Also you can make use of some lines from the poems or some situations from the prose lessons.

5. Use of the basic skills Give proper scope for listening, speaking and reading skills. Give proper scope for listening, speaking and reading skills. Before developing writing give time to listen on the related topic. Before developing writing give time to listen on the related topic. Give time for speaking, discussing about the topic with your friends, partners. Give time for speaking, discussing about the topic with your friends, partners. Give time for reading from the various sources like newspapers, magazines, etc Give time for reading from the various sources like newspapers, magazines, etc

6. Take help of Wh- questions Ask wh- questions like what, why, when, where, who, how regarding the related topic Ask wh- questions like what, why, when, where, who, how regarding the related topic Try to collect more information from your previous knowledge. Try to collect more information from your previous knowledge.

7. Past, Present and Future Every problem can be discussed with the three angles of past, present and future. Every problem can be discussed with the three angles of past, present and future. Think of the past, think of the present and imagine about the future. This will provide all the dimensions to your writing. Think of the past, think of the present and imagine about the future. This will provide all the dimensions to your writing.

8. Problem, Effects, Reasons & Solutions Think of any topic as a problem. Think of any topic as a problem. Every problem has some effect. Every problem has some effect. Think of the probable reasons of the problem. Think of the probable reasons of the problem. Consider the solutions to solve the problem. Consider the solutions to solve the problem.

9. Advantages & Disadvantages Think of the two sides of the coin. Think of the two sides of the coin. Consider all the points of advantages with familiar examples. Consider all the points of advantages with familiar examples. Consider all the points of disadvantages with fitting examples. Consider all the points of disadvantages with fitting examples.

10. Related words As soon as you listen to any topic try to recollect as many words as you can. Make a chain of thoughts, ideas in form of different words. As soon as you listen to any topic try to recollect as many words as you can. Make a chain of thoughts, ideas in form of different words. This can be also done as time pass activity or a class competition This can be also done as time pass activity or a class competition

11. Personalise your writing Give your own examples Give your own examples Narrate your own experiences Narrate your own experiences Newspaper reading may add to what you want to say Newspaper reading may add to what you want to say While putting your ideas think whether you agree or disagree with some reason While putting your ideas think whether you agree or disagree with some reason Find some parallel examples Find some parallel examples

12. Presentation How to present the matter is very important along with the effective ideas and thoughts. How to present the matter is very important along with the effective ideas and thoughts. Make your writing more effective and impressive. Make your writing more effective and impressive. Layout of the write up should be impressive Layout of the write up should be impressive

13. Tense Look at the topic and consider what tense you will use for your writing. Look at the topic and consider what tense you will use for your writing. Stick to the proper use of tense. Stick to the proper use of tense. Do not mix up tenses. Do not mix up tenses. Pay attention to the sequence of the tenses. Pay attention to the sequence of the tenses. Improper use of tense may change the meaning Improper use of tense may change the meaning

14. Structures Make use of variety of grammatical structures as grammar is not to be studied for the sake of grammar. Make use of variety of grammatical structures as grammar is not to be studied for the sake of grammar. Try to use interrogation, exclamation, comparative sentences, dialogues, unless, if…not, as soon as, no sooner… than, active and passive, hardly… when,.. A long list of different type of sentences can be given. Try to use interrogation, exclamation, comparative sentences, dialogues, unless, if…not, as soon as, no sooner… than, active and passive, hardly… when,.. A long list of different type of sentences can be given.

15. Use of typical words Make your writing more stylish by using words that are vivid in their expression. Make your writing more stylish by using words that are vivid in their expression. Be selective about the words, always think of using a better word Make use of a dictionary or better thesaurus. Be selective about the words, always think of using a better word Make use of a dictionary or better thesaurus.

16. Organisation of thoughts Presenting ideas as they come to your mind will confuse the reader Presenting ideas as they come to your mind will confuse the reader Arranging of thoughts as per the beginning, middle and end Arranging of thoughts as per the beginning, middle and end Giving some order to the thoughts Giving some order to the thoughts What should be written first and what should follow What should be written first and what should follow

17. Paragraph forming Know the various structures and features of paragraph Know the various structures and features of paragraph Reasons for forming a paragraph Reasons for forming a paragraph Layout of a paragraph Layout of a paragraph Number and size of a paragraph Number and size of a paragraph Giving labels or headings to paragraphs Giving labels or headings to paragraphs

18. Handwriting Avoid scratching Avoid scratching Legible and readable Legible and readable Avoid rewriting Avoid rewriting Form proper habits of writing. Writing on a line and not in between. Form proper habits of writing. Writing on a line and not in between. Writing should not show any confusion Writing should not show any confusion Follow the techniques of highlighting the ideas like writing in big size or capital. Follow the techniques of highlighting the ideas like writing in big size or capital.

19. Punctuation marks Pay attention to the use of capital letters Pay attention to the use of capital letters Make use of commas, question marks, inverted commas, dashes, deliberately Make use of commas, question marks, inverted commas, dashes, deliberately Show that you know the use of different kinds of punctuation marks Show that you know the use of different kinds of punctuation marks Improper use of punctuation marks change the meaning of sentences Improper use of punctuation marks change the meaning of sentences

20. Use of discourse markers The sentences must be joined to gether by using proper connective words. The sentences should not stand apart from each other. There has to be logical connection. The sentences must be joined to gether by using proper connective words. The sentences should not stand apart from each other. There has to be logical connection. Make use of the following words deliberately- Make use of the following words deliberately- Nevertheless, however, moreover, though, although, but, yet, still, in spite of, etc. Nevertheless, however, moreover, though, although, but, yet, still, in spite of, etc.

21. Use of adjectives Make your writing appear stylish by using more and more adjectives, that is describing words. Whenever you use nouns think of some words that would describe it more further. Follow some techniques of describing and narrating that would expand your ideas. Make your writing appear stylish by using more and more adjectives, that is describing words. Whenever you use nouns think of some words that would describe it more further. Follow some techniques of describing and narrating that would expand your ideas. Use suitable comparisons which would make your writing interesting. Use suitable comparisons which would make your writing interesting.

22. Criterion of good writing Originality of thoughts and ideas as opposed to ready- made writing Originality of thoughts and ideas as opposed to ready- made writing Variety in thoughts and ideas Fluency of expression Variety in thoughts and ideas Fluency of expression Appropriacy, using vocabulary befitting the subject Appropriacy, using vocabulary befitting the subject Accuracy of grammar and sentence construction Accuracy of grammar and sentence construction Layout Layout Personal touch Personal touch

23. The End