Writing Skills (Letters, Reports, Notices, Articles)
What the domain tests
This section carries the format-based tasks: notice, report, formal or informal letter, article, and sometimes a speech. Marks are split between format, content and expression, so a well-written piece with a missing signature still loses.
Core rules and concepts
- Notice: boxed, the word NOTICE at the top, name of the institution, date, a short heading, and a body of about 50 words answering what, when, where, who and whom to contact, then name and designation.
- Report: headline, byline, place and date, past tense, third person, factual and impersonal ('The function was inaugurated by…').
- Formal letter: sender's address, date, receiver's address, subject line, salutation, three short paragraphs (purpose, detail, action requested), closing with name.
- Informal letter: warm opening, first and second person, contractions allowed.
- Article: title, byline, a hook in the first two lines, two body paragraphs developing one argument, and a conclusion that does not simply repeat the introduction.
- Respect the printed word limit; examiners cut off at the stated length.
Worked example
Task: a notice for an inter-house debate, 50 words. Reasoning: the five Ws decide the content. What: inter-house debate. When: 12 August, 10 a.m. Where: school auditorium. Who: students of Classes XI and XII, names to class teachers. Contact: the undersigned. Format: box, 'NOTICE', school name, date, heading 'INTER-HOUSE DEBATE', body, name and designation. Anything about the topic's history or the value of debating is filler that pushes the notice over 50 words and earns nothing.
Traps that cost marks
- Missing date, signature or designation in a notice.
- Writing a report in the first person or in the present tense.
- Omitting the subject line in a formal letter.
- Contractions and slang inside a formal letter or report.
- No title on an article.