Course Content
The course is comprised of 6 lessons:
- Introduction
- Basic Writing Skills
- Clear Wording
- Concise Wording
- Punctuation and Accuracy
- Planning what you write
The Efficient Writing course is an individual module course lasting 100 hours. At the end of each lesson, you complete an assignment and set task, which are sent to us for marking.
Course Aims
- Define the nature and scope of writing.
- Discuss the way written sentences and paragraphs are properly structured.
- Develop an increased capacity to write clearly.
- Learn to write concisely.
- Develop improved punctuation skills.
- Apply basic writing skills more efficiently in a range of situations.
Learning to Write Better is Learning to Communicate More Effectively
If you want to write efficiently, you need to understand and follow the conventions and rules of language.
Language is made up of different types of words and the ways in which different words should and should not be used are well defined according to different uses.
Sentences are compilations of words, and paragraphs are compilations of sentences. This course doesn't just tell you what the rules of efficient and effective writing are. It guides and reinforces your learning to a point where you are well on the path to using them unconsciously. When writing properly becomes automatic; the things you write will be clearer and more natural.
Consider the Use of "Articles" in Sentences
Articles are words such as "the" which are used along with "nouns".
A noun is often preceded by an article. An article is a word that tells us:
- if the speaker is talking about a particular noun (e.g. Give me the apple = a particular apple)
- if a speaker is not talking about a particular noun (e.g. Give me an apple = any apple)
English has two kinds of articles:
- the definite article the, and
- the indefinite articles -a or an
In the above sentences, the definite article is in bold font, while the indefinite article is underlined. Note that the nouns ‘speaker’ and ‘apple’ are preceded by different articles, depending on the situation.
In general, we use the indefinite article -a or an to refer to an unidentified or unspecified noun, or a noun that has not yet been mentioned. We use the definite article the to refer to a particular noun, or to refer to a noun that has already been mentioned.
Example: When we first see a car, we may not notice its faults. However, careful scrutiny will often reveal that the car is older or in worse condition that we first thought.
Example: I bought a good book but after I finished lunch at a nearby café, I realised that the book was not in my bag.
Example: She would like a fish for dinner, but the fish in the market are old.
When to use an article
When we talk about a noun in general, we do not use an article.
In the sentence, “Life is sweet”, we are talking about life in general.
Other examples:
- Cars are causing great pollution.
- Bacteria can cause illness.
- Research shows that people with religion live longer than those without.
Where we refer to a specific instance, we use the articles - a or an:
- I commit an hour a day to meditation.
- There is no better companion than a friend.
- What a cloudy day this is.
In the sentence, “The life of a child is infinitely precious”, we mean in particular a child’s life.
Other examples:
- I have stopped trying to learn the answers to life’s questions.
- At the seminar, we learnt that the businessperson who wants to succeed must become a good communicator.
What Are the Advantages of Studying Writing with ACS Distance Education?
- You can start at any time to suit you.
- The courses are self-paced.
- You can study when and where suits you. They are flexible to fit in around you and your lifestyle.
- Keep up to date on your learning.
- Update your CV.
- It is not just a course, it is a package of learning that includes – course notes, tutor feedback, self-assessment tests, research tasks and assignments.
- Our tutors are all experts in their field, with years of experience in writing.
- They are also keen and enthusiastic about their subject and enjoy working with students to improve their knowledge and skills.
- Courses are also updated regularly to meet the demands of the changing needs for knowledge and to keep our courses up to date.
Many people struggle in adulthood to develop good writing skills. Poor writing skills can affect your job and career prospects. This course will help you to improve your existing writing. You can study at your own pace at a time and location that suits you.
Let us help you write better - a skill that can help in so many different parts of your life.
What Next?
You can enrol today by clicking the “Enrol Now” button above.
Or
Click here to contact a writing tutor.
Or Request a Prospectus Here.