COMPOSITION TIPS

1. Short compositions of 50 words

They include:
Advertisements,
Notices,
Posters,
Formal invitations and replies, and
Informal invitations and replies.
Advertisements are of two types:
(i) Classified (anted!"ituation vacant, sale!purchase of property! vehicles! #oods$ %usiness proposals,
educational institutions, matrimonial, lost & found, pets & livestoc', and appeals)
(ii) Display ((ducational institutions, consumer #oods, launch of new product, advertisin# an event)
Classified Advertisements: Points to remember
(i) "hould %e %rief
(ii) Prefer short words!phrases
(iii) )raphics! desi#ns not re*uired
(iv) The first one or two words may %e capitali+ed
(v) The ad may %e #iven in a %o, so that it stands out
(vi) (,ceedin# word limit will lead to deduction of mar'
A FEW SAMPLES OF CLASSIFIED ADS
1. SITUATION VACANT T
Re!irements:
-.penin# statements
-Name of advertiser
*Post advertised
-/ualification!e,perience re*uired
-Pay!per's
-0ontact address!Phone No.
Note:1 2any ads. of this type
appear in newspapers every day.
0ritically analyse a few of them.
2. SITUATION WANTED D
Re!irements:
-/ualification!e,perience
-Personal preference
-.ther details
-Pay!per's e,pected
-0ontact address!Phone No.
Note:1 0ritically analyse ads
of this type in newspapers and
ma'e yourself familiar with the
essential in#redients.
3. PROPERTY FOR SALE E
Re!irements:
-3eadin#
-4ocation
-"i+e!floor, no. of rooms
-"urroundin#s
-.ther attractions
-"ellin# price
-0ontact details
4. TO LET T
Re!irements:
-3eadin#
-4ocation
-"i+e!floor, no. of rooms
-"urroundin#s
-.ther attractions
-5ent e,pected
-0ontact details
5. HOUSEHOLD GOODS FOR SALE E
Re!irements:
-3eadin#
-4ocation
-6etails of #oods
-Price e,pected
-0ontact details

James Thomas, Loyola School
WANTED for A70 0orporation, a "ecretary with a 7achelor8s
6e#ree in 4aw, pleasin# personality, e,cellent communication
and correspondence s'ills, and proficiency in shorthand and 2"
.ffice. Free accommodation. "alary and per's ne#otia%le. Apply
with %iodata within 9: days to: The Administrative .fficer, A70
0orporation, )emini 0ircle, 3ydera%ad.
7.Tech (0omputer) ran' holder of 2adras ;niversity with :
years e,perience in an 2N0 see's a <o% in!around 3ydera%ad.
Proficient in 2ainframe, 0==, >ava. "alary e,pected 5s. ?@@@@
p.m. 0ontact: )opichand 7hupathi, :?A, >u%ilee Na#ar,
7en#aluru. 2o%ile: 9BC?:DAEF9
3.;"( F.5 "A4(, at "ree'ariyam, Trivaandrum. BE@@ s*.ft,
sin#le1storey, on 9: cent land, main road fronta#e, C 736G, car
porch, electricity, water supply. 0lean and peaceful surroundin#s.
"chools, colle#es, hospitals near%y. No %ro'ers. 5easona%le price.
0ontact: 6r. A%cd )upta at @?A919BC?:DA.
3.;"( AHAI4A74( .N 5(NT, at "ree'ariyam, Trivaandrum.
BE@@ s*.ft, sin#le1storey, on 9: cent land, main road fronta#e, C
736G, car porch, electricity, water supply. 0lean and peaceful
surroundin#s. "chools, colle#es, hospitals near%y. 5ent 5s.A@@@
p.m. No %ro'ers. 0ontact: 6r. A%cd )upta at @?A919BC?:DA.
F.5 I22(6IAT( "A4( at "ree'aryam, Trivandrum, a three1
month1old "ony TH BFI and 4) ashin# machine model A70
DC. (,cellent condition. D@ J of mar'et price. .wner #oin#
a%road. No %ro'ers. 0ontact: 6r. A%cd )upta at @?A919BC?:DA.
. MATRIMONIAL E

Re!irements:
-A#e, education, caste, hei#ht
-Family %ac'#round! parents
-/ualities e,pected of the respondent
-0ontact details

!. APPEALS ". LOST AND FOUND E
A FEW SAMPLES OF DISPLAY# COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENTS
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION LAUNCHING A NEW PRODUCT T
E
NOTICE E
Re!irements:
-Name of institution!6epartment
-3eadin#, underlined (Notice)
-6ate of Notice
-A short headin#!Theme announcement
-5elevant details (.r#aniser, date, rules!
conditions! pri+e etc)
-Name of issuin# authority
-3is desi#nation in %rac'ets.

James Thomas, Loyola School
ANT(6 a suita%le match for a %eautiful, cultured, convent1
educated 0hristian 27A #irl, B:! :8. ?I now in an 2N0 at
3ydera%ad. .nly dau#hter, %oth parents %an' officers. The #room
must %e professionally *ualified and of so%er ha%its. 7o, No.
9BC?, The New Indian (,press, 2um%ai
A promisin# athlete with %oth 'idneys %adly
dama#ed in a car accident is on dialysis at 203,
6elhi. 6onors are appealed to offer one of their
'idneys to save his life. 0ontact immediately:
"uperintendent, 203, 6elhi. Phone: 9BC?:DAEF
F.;N6 last 2onday a %riefcase on Henad
(,press. It will %e returned to the owner on #ivin#
satisfactory details of its colour, appro,imate
wei#ht, and content. 0ontact: 6r. A%cd )upta, B:
4oyola 5oad, 2adurai19E. Phone: 9BC?:DAEF
For Excellence in
IIT$%EE & C'SE$PMT
-Air1conditioned 0lassrooms
-(,perienced Faculty
-Printed Notes
-5e#ular Tests
-7est 5esults
For free Prospectus and Guidance contact:
The 0orrespondent, A%cdef Academy,
2um%ai 1BE. Phone:9BC?:DAEF
Free Trial .ffer
for
-Fi#hts 6andruff
-Prevents 3air Fall
-Four (,otic Fra#rances
-Pri+e 0oupons
-(,tensive "ales Networ'
For Trade (n*uiries:
A'CDEF CORPORATION( MUM'AI
Fa,: BC?:DAEF Phone: 9BC?:DAEF!FEAD:?CB9
Loyola School, Sreekariyam, Trivandrum
NOTICE
B9 "ept B@9@
E)*+,-. L/)*0/*e P1o2,3,e)34 Te-t
The (n#lish 0lu% of the school is or#ani+in# an All Gerala
(n#lish 4an#ua#e Proficiency Test on 9E .cto%er B@9@ as part of its
)olden >u%ilee 0ele%rations. It will %e a two1hour test startin# at 9@
a.m. inners of the First, "econd, and Third places will %e awarded
a cash pri+e of 5s.:@@@, 5s.C@@@, and 5s.B@@@, respectively.
"tudents interested in participatin# in the competition may
please re#ister their names with the undersi#ned latest %y BE1F1B@9@.
sd!1
A%cdef Harma
("ecretary, (n#lish 0lu%)
POSTER
Requirements:
*A catchy title
*A sketch or simple graphic
*Attractive layout
*Letters of different style and size
*Theme/subject presented prominently
Special Note:
In case of matters of social relevance or
public interest (like AID a!areness"# the
issuing authority should be mentioned# and
the last line should be something like this$
*Issued in public interest by the Ministry
of Health/Education, Government of India.
FORMAL INVITATION E
The invitation may %e to a:
eddin#
7irthday
3ouse warmin#
"ome special ceremony
"chool function li'e "ports 6ay
)eneral Instruction
*ritten in third person
*6ay, date, name of #uest in full
- No punctuation at the end of lines
- No si#nature re*uired at the end
*"u%<ect matter is centre1ali#ned
- "imple present tense is preferred
-"pecial instruction at %ottom left!ri#ht
FORMAL REPLY ACCEPTING THE A'OVE INVITATION E
FORMAL REPLY DECLINING THE A'OVE INVITATION E
INFORMAL INVITATION E
They are:
-2eant for personal occasions
-ritten in first person (I! we) and
in very informal lan#ua#e
-Not e,pected to %e replied to
(thou#h it is polite to reply), and
-They may %e left1ali#ned
5e*uirements:
Address (without name) on top left
6ate %elow address
"alutation (2y dear! 6ear =Name)
7ody of letter (in two para#raphs)
0onclusion
"ender8s name
James Thomas, Loyola School
r and rs !"cdef Sin#h
re%uest the pleasure of the company of
Miss Ghijklmno Malhotra
a
on the occasion of the fifth birthday
of their son
Stuv$xy% Sin#h
at &'() p'm' on *riday# + ,anuary -).) at
their residence
168, Kripan Enclave
Amritsar
5"HP
@:?19BC?:DA
-Not Mrs and Mr
-No full stop after
2r and 2rs
Full name with title
Not first person
Ko018, %ut third
person Kt.e,18
Rspondez Sil vous
plait (French),
meaning: Please
reply
/iss 0hijklmno /alhotra thanks /r and /rs Abcdef ingh for
their kind invitation !hich she is delighted to accept'
/iss 0hijklmno /alhotra thanks /r and /rs Abcdef ingh for
their kind invitation but regrets her inability to accept it due to a
prior commitment'
*ull name !ith title
(/iss"# not the first
person singular$ 1I2
&'(, )ripan Enclave
!mritsar
-3 ,an'-).)
/y dear 0hijklmno#
4e have much pleasure in inviting you to the
fifth birthday party !hich !e plan for our son
tuv!5yz# at &'() pm ne5t *riday at our
residence'
4e very much hope that you !ill be able to
come'
6ours sincerely#
/r and /rs Abcdef ingh
No apostrophe please. Lour8s
REPORT # FACTUAL DESCRIPTION
54en#th: 9@@19B: words$ 2ar's:9@)
James Thomas, Loyola School
REPORT
Re60,1e7e)t-8
-Title (e#. 4oyola "ports 6ay: A 5eport)
- 7yline (i.e., Name of the writer to the
riri#ht side %elow the title! headline)
-Prefera%ly written in:
(i) Third person
(ii) Indirect speech
(iii) Passive voice, and
(iv) Neutral (impersonal) lan#ua#e
-The main %ody of the 5eport e,plains:
(i) hen M
(ii) hereM
(iii) hyM
(iv) 3owM
NEWSPAPER REPORT
Re60,1e7e)t-8
-Place of ori#in
-6ate of news
-Attractive headline not e,ceedin# D words)
- 7yline (i.e., Name of the writer to the
rrri#ht side %elow the title! headline)
-"hould have C1? para#raphs:
(i) The first para#raph %riefly answers
*uestions li'e who, what, where,
when, why.
(ii) The second para#raph #ives a
detailed description of the incident.
(iii) The third para#raph may include
comments %y eye1witnesses.
(iv) The fourth para#raph may descri%e
thecourse of action %ein# planned.

FA0T;A4 6("05IPTI.N
It could be of a$
7lace# 7erson# 8bject# 7rocess# 9isit
)eneral Instruction:
*:mphasis is on relevant details and
fafactual accuracy
*7resentation/ se%uence must be
lllogical
*;se of connectors/linkers is
llessential' (eg' and#but# since# therefore#
llho!ever# in addition to# in conclusion"
FA0T;A4 6("05IPTI.N .F A
P4A0(
<e%uirement$
*=ame
*Location
*Dimension (shape# e5tent# design"
* 0eneral atmosphere (sights# sounds"
*7urpose/use
*>istory/ importance of the place
*umming up
FA0T;A4 6("05IPTI.N .F
A P(5".N
<e%uirement$
*=ame
*<elationship !ith the !riter
*ocial status/role/profession
*7hysical features (like height"
*0eneral appearance (clothes"
*4hat others think about him
*Any other striking point (could be
brought out by narrating an incident"
FA0T;A4 6("05IPTI.N .F
A HI"IT! >.;5N(L
<e%uirement$
*Date# occasion
*7lace/ places involved
*7urpose of visit
*0roup/individual
*cenic beauty/historical
llimportance/other attraction
*Interaction !ith locals/ other tourists
*Interesting incident
*7roblem faced# if any
*Like/dislike the place? ay !hy'
*@onclusion
FA0T;A4 6("05IPTI.N .F
AN .7>(0T! P5.6;0T
<e%uirement$
*=ame
*Dimension (shape# design# colour etc"
*/ake//odel (6ear of manufacture"
*7urpose/ use
*8perational details
**unctions/ importance
*/aterial
*Availability/ 7rice/ Loan facility
*AfterAsales service/ consumer care
FA0T;A4 6("05IPTI.N .F
A P5.0(""
<e%uirement$
=ame/ title
teps in se%uential order
*acts observed
@onclusion dra!n
BBBBB
*Present tense and passive voice
preferred
LETTER WRITING
Letter types include:
(1) Business/ Official Letters for
(i) Making enquiries
(ii) Registering complaints
(iii) sking for/ gi!ing information
(i!) "lacing orders
(!) #ending replies
($) Letter to t%e editor (&i!ing suggestion on an issue)
(') pplication for a (o)
*ORM+ O* B,#-./##/ O**-0-L L/++/R R
1#ender2s address (3ouse no4 follo5ed )y locality6 city)
17ate
1Recei!er2s designation (eg4 +%e 7irector/ +%e Manager/ +%e "roprietor etc)
1Recei!er2s address
1#u)(ect statement (eg4 delay in payment of 7 arrears 8 regarding)
1Reference no4 if any (eg4 .o and date of Letter recei!ed/&o!t4 Order .o4 and date)
1#alutation (eg4 #ir)
1-ntroductory paragrap%
17etails
10oncluding paragrap%
10omplimentary clause (9ours fait%fully)
1.ame
#pecial .ote::
1Be )rief and to t%e point
17o not use contractions (like -2m6 -2!e6 5on2t6 5e2ll etc)
1Begin )y introducing yourself
10learly state t%e purpose of 5riting
1"ro!ide rele!ant details (7o not force t%e recei!er to guess anyt%ing)
1Be polite e!en if you are complaining
1"refer a plain (not literary) style
*ORM+ O* L/++/R +O +3/ /7-+OR R
1#ender2s address
17ate (eg 1$ #eptem)er $;1;)
1+%e /ditor (7esignation6 not name)
1+%e 3indu
1Mangalore
- "u%<ect statement
-"alutation (e#. "ir)
-"tatement of pro%lem (Para#raph 9)
- 5esult of pro%lem (Para#raph B)
-"olution (Para#raph C) -0omplimentary close (e# Lours truly)
-Name
#pecial .ote: 7o not 5rite: Lour8s & truely)
James Thomas, Loyola School
5eceiver8s address
""L-0+-O. *OR <OB R
"A2P4( 0.H(5IN) 4(TT(5


James Thomas, Loyola School
)eneral Instruction
-7e very formal, precise and to the point
-Focus on *ualification!s'ills!e,perience
-(nclose a 7iodata!5esum=!0urriculam Hitae
-(nclose a coverin# letter
-"ee %elow the standardi+ed format of 7iodata
&*+, Gemini !rcade
an#alore
B9 >une B@9@
The Principal
4oyola "chool
2an#alore
"u%: Accountantapplication for the post of
"ir,
This is with reference to your advertisement in The
Hindu dated 9: >une B@9@ for the post of an
Accountant.
I am at present wor'in# as accountant with A%cdef
0ompany, 7an#alore. 2y parents, stationed in
2an#alore, are old and ailin# and they re*uire
constant medical aid. I am loo'in# for a <o% near my
ancestral home so that I could %e of %etter assistance
to them.
I have five years8 e,perience and can assure you of
my %est services if #iven a chance.
I am enclosin# my 7iodata for your consideration
Lours faithfully
(5ahul Hi<aya'umar)
0overin# 4etter: 5e*uirements
Applicant8s address (minus name) on top left
6ate of application
6esi#nation (not name) & address of receiver
"u%<ect statement
"alutation
5eference statement
A%out present en#a#ement
6etails of e,perience, if any
0omplementary clause
"i#nature
Name
7I.6ATA
NameNNNN...5ahul Hi<aya'umar
AddressNN........9BC, )emini Arcade, 2an#alore D:?CB9
6ate of %irthNN.9: >une 9FE?
2arital statusN.. ;nmarried
(ducational *ualification
".No (,am "chool!0olle#e!;niversity Lear 2ar's
9 ""40 "t Oavier8s "chool, 2adurai 9FFF F:J
B 3"" "t >ude8s "chool, 2adurai B@@9 F@J
C 7.0om 4oyola 0olle#e, 2adras B@@? AEJ
(,perienceNNNor'in# as accountant with A706(F 0ompany,
7an#alore for the last five years
"alary e,pectedN5s. 9:,@@@ per month
3o%%iesNNNN.5eadin#, 2usic
5eferenceNNN.(9) 2r Oy+'lmn 2alhotra, 3ead Accountant,
A706(F 0ompany, 7an#alore E1 Phone9BC?
(B) 2r >'lmnop "in#h, Administrative .fficer,
A706(F 0ompany, 7an#alore E1 Phone9BC?

(5ahul Hi<aya'umar)
7iodata: 5e*uirements
3eadline (underlined)
Name
2ailin# address
6ate of %irth
2arital status
(ducational /ualification
(,perience
"alary e,pected (if not specified in the ad)
3o%%ies
5eference(s)
"i#nature
Name
2a'e sure that your
date of %irth, year of
passin# different
e,ams, years of
e,perience etc are
reasona%le. If you
were %orn in 9FFF you
are unli'ely to %e a
#raduate %y B@@BP
In addition to the a%ove
minimum re*uirement,
you may add K4an#ua#es
'nown,8 prefera%ly
%elow K(,perience8
NOTE MA9ING
)eneral Instruction
Lou can write a structurally perfect article! essay only if you or#ani+e your ideas well %y <ottin#
down the important points and then %y rearran#in# them in a lo#ical se*uence. Lour note is li'e a s'eleton
or framewor', and it %ecomes an article when you %reathe life into it %y #ivin# it the re*uired flesh and
%lood. >ust as you develop your note into an article, you can reduce an article to a note. And more
importantly, if you hand over that note to another person, he must %e a%le to reconstruct the same article.
For the 7oard e,aminations, the answer to the note1ma'in# *uestion re*uires a few indispensa%le
elements li'e: (i) A short and appropriate title and (ii) the use of a minimum of four different and easily
reco#ni+a%le a%%reviations. For the sa'e of %revity, you may use some ar%itrary a%%reviations provided you
e,plain them at the end, under the caption K4e#end.8 3umour the e,aminer %y underlinin# four different
a%%reviations you have used. (2a'e it easy for the e,aminer: you cannot afford to offend him!her)
2a'e the layout visually appealin# %y avoidin# u#ly crammin#. The num%erin# system that you
follow should %e consistent. ("ee the system used in the sample answer).
5eserve the mar#in for the main *uestion num%er and ma'e sure that the su%1num%erin# which
forms part of your answer never spills over to the mar#in. The e,aminer needs the mar#in for awardin#
mar'sP
"ample Passa#e
The term earth*ua'e is applied to any tremor or sha'in# of the #round. 2any earth*ua'es are so
#entle as to pass almost unreco#ni+ed, others are sufficiently pronounced to e,cite #eneral alarm, while
some spread enormous destruction. 6estructive earth*ua'es are usually confined to limited re#ions. The
usual phenomena recorded in well1'nown earth*ua'es are first a trem%lin#, ne,t one or more severe shoc's,
and then a trem%lin# which #radually dies away. In most cases, each shoc' lasts only a few seconds, %ut the
trem%lin#s that follow may continue for days, wee's, even months. Noises of various 'inds usually
accompany each earth*ua'e. They have %een li'ened to the howlin# of storm, the #rowlin# of thunder, the
clan'in# and clashin# of iron chains, or the rum%lin# of heavy wa#ons alon# a road. "uch noises are
conducted throu#h the #round, or they may travel throu#h the sea or air, and are often heard at #reat
distances from the place where the shoc' is felt. "ome earth*ua'es, however, are not accompanied %y these
noises. At the time of the terri%le shoc' which destroyed 5io%am%a in (cuador on Fe%ruary?, 9AFA, a
complete silence rei#ned.
2any chan#es are produced on the earth8s surface %y earth*ua'es. They cause landslips and crac's
in the earth, which will sometimes alter the draina#e system of a country. They are fre*uently accompanied
%y #reat sea1waves, which will often sweep roc's and sand #reat distances inland. Permanent elevations and
depressions of land are sometimes caused. After the #reat earth*ua'es of 9A:@, the coast of 0hili was found
to have %een permanently raised from three to four feet. ell1'nown e,amples of permanent depressions are
those of the 5unn of Gutch and the coastlands near 0hitta#on#, which suddenly san' durin# the 7en#al
earth*ua'e of 9ADB.
(arth*ua'es are most common in volcanic and mountainous re#ions, and many of them are no dou%t
due to volcanic actions. These appear to ori#inate in the sea, and may %e due to the flashin# into steam of the
water which finds its way down throu#h crac's to the underlyin# heated roc's. .thers appear to ori#inate in
volcanoes themselves, due to the e,plosion of vapours which e,pand. 2any other causes are ascri%ed, of
which two may %e mentioned. "ome earth*ua'es may %e due to the collapse of hollows %eneath the #round,
and others a#ain to the snappin# of the strata which has %een su%<ected to too #reat strain. It is noticea%le
that most earth*ua'es occur durin# the cold months of winter.
Amon# destructive earth*ua'es in modern times may %e mentioned the one that altered the "traits of
2essina %etween Italy and "icily in 9F@E, and the terri%le upheaval in >apan in 9FB:, which destroyed
whole towns and caused the death of thousands of people.
James Thomas, Loyola School
Answer
(arth*ua'e
I (i) 6efinition: tremor or sha'in# of #round
(ii) Ginds of e* !Intensity variation:
(a) #entle e*
(%) prolon#ed e*
(c) disastrous e*
II (i) "e*uence of phenomena durin# e*
(a) a trem%lin#
(%) one or more severe shoc's
(c) another fadin# trem%lin#
(ii) Accompanyin# noise 1 compara%le to:
(a) howlin# of storm
(%) #rowlin# of thunder
(c) clan'in# of iron chains
(d) rum%lin# of wa#ons on road
(iii) "ilent e*: e#. 5io%am%a e* of 9AFA
III (i) (ffect on earth
(a) landslips
(%) crac's
(c) permanent elevation > e#. 0hili coast in 9A:@
(d) permanent depression> e#. 5unn of Gutch
0hitta#on# coastland
IH. "ome important!assorted facts a%out e*:
(i) (*1prone re#ions:
(a) in & around volcanoes
(%) mountain terrain
(ii) 0auses of e*
(a) e,plosion of vapours in volcanoes
(%) collapse of su%terranean hollows
(%) snappin# of strata under e,cessive strain
(iii) 2ost e*1prone time > cold months of winter
(iv) 2ost destructive e*s in modern times = result:
(a) 9F@E 2essina e* >altered Messina #traits )/5 -taly ? #icily
(%) 9FB: e* in >apan >destroyed many to5ns ? killed 1;;;s4
James Thomas, Loyola School
leadin# to chan#e in draina#e system
0ause: 7en#al e* of
9ADB
/
.N
o
.
*
.
Legend: eq @ eart%quakeA )/5 @ )et5een
"tudents may remem%er that full
(#rammatically correct) sentences
are not re*uired. Lou are free to
use the tele#raphic sort of
lan#ua#e

"tudents may remem%er that full
(#rammatically correct) sentences
are not re*uired. Lou are free to
use the tele#raphic sort of
lan#ua#e

? a%%reviations are to %e used.
"ince Ke*8 and K%!w8 are not
easily reco#ni+a%le, they
should %e e,panded in the
4e#end
? a%%reviations are to %e used.
"ince Ke*8 and K%!w8 are not
easily reco#ni+a%le, they
should %e e,panded in the
4e#end