TOPIC FIVE (5)

BY AL-AKHY MUBARAKA GHULAAM

Writing using appropriate language content and style

Composition

Is a short text that is written at school, collage, etc as a part of exercise. In composition student generates his/her own ideas to explain, narrate, argue/persuade or describe something or event. Composition involves writing of an essay, poems, stories, songs etc.

TYPES OF COMPOSITION

There are various types of compositions, among them include:

        i)            Narrative Compositions

      ii)            Expository Compositions

    iii)            Descriptive Compositions        &

    iv)            Argumentative/Persuasive 

1.   Narrative composition

These refer to the stories of different events. Narrative stories may be personal, historical or fiction.

a)    Personal stories. These focus on important events of the author`s life.

b)   Historical stories. These focus on stories of the past and present.

c)    Fiction stories. These use imagination and figurative language to produce a short story.

BASIC ELEMENTS OF NARRATIVE COMPOSITIONS

1.      PLOT; is a sequence of events or actions in the story. The plot of narrative has conflict, that is a problem to human experience and a solution that is outcome of the conflict.

Stages of narrative composition

a)      Exposition. This is background information about the characters and setting.

b)      Raising action. It is a part that develops the conflicts.

c)      Climax. It is a point of highest interest, conflicts or suspense in the story.

d)     Falling action. It is a part that shows what happens to the characters after the climax.

e)      Resolution. Shows how the conflict is resolved, or problem is solved.

Example of narrative composition

a)    Exposition

Cinderella lived with her step sister and their mother. She had to wear rags and do all the hard work.

b) Rising action

Invitation arrives for ball at place. Sister prepares for and goes to the ball. Fairly grandmother appears; provides Cinderella with clothes, coach, and footman. She goes to the ball. Cinderella dances with the prince, leaves hurriedly at midnight, lose a sleeper. Prince says he will marry the woman whom the slipper fits.

 c. Climax

Sisters try to force their feet into the slipper. It fits Cinderella.

d. Falling action

Cinderella and the prince marry.

e. Resolution

They live happily ever after and after.

2.   Characters are animate or inanimate things that perform certain roles in the literature. Animal things involve people, plants, and animals. While inanimate things are non living things like stones, air, wind, soil etc.

3.   Setting. This is the time and the place in which the events of a narrative occur.

Steps of writing narrative compositions

a)    Finding a story. It should have a conflict/problem that can be external or internal, intra-personal or inter-personal. It can be at the level of individual, group or society.

b)   Developing characters. Assigning roles that relate to their physical description, thought, personality traits, actions, and reactions to one another.

c)    Setting the scene. It includes information about time, place, weather and historical period.

d)   Communicating a theme. These are the main idea of the story.

1.   Expository composition

Is a piece of composition or story that gives directions, explaining idea or term, compare one thing to another and explain how to do something. The purpose of expository writing is to explain something to the reader or audience.

Types of expository composition

a) Explanatory. It is a type of expository composition which uses a step-by-step organization to explain how something happens, works or is done.

Example, how to prepare Oxygen in the laboratory.

b) Cause and effect. It is a type of expository composition which examine the causes or effects or both of a system, or certain phenomenon.

Example, the cause and effects of AIDs, poverty

c. Compare and contrast. It is a type of expository composition which explains similarities and differences of certain phenomena.

For example, compare and contrast weather and climate etc.

d) Definition. It is a type of expository composition which explains a concept by listing its quality and characteristics.

For example, define globalization, climate etc.

e. Problem and solution. This examines aspects of problems and proposes possible solutions.

Example, HIV/AIDs, Poverty, pollution etc. 

2.   Descriptive composition

Is the type of writing that describes about events, actions or phenomena which exist or happened sometime in the past. Example, one can write an essay describing the Kilimanjaro Mountain.

3.   Argumentative/ persuasive composition

It is a type of composition aimed at convincing , motivating, arguing, or persuading readers to accept, change or take an action on something or topic.