01 Sep 2026 7 min read Adult Practical Writing Skills

Lesson 1 · Know What You Need to Say

Learn to identify your purpose, reader and main message before you begin writing—and revise a practical message with greater clarity.

Adult Practical Writing Skills · Course 1

Lesson 1 · Know What You Need to Say

Module 1 · Think, Plan and Write Clearly

This page guides your work but does not collect or save your answers. Write in your own document or notebook. Keep your first draft unchanged and write your revised version separately.

1 · Think2 · Write3 · Check and improve

Start here · How to use the lesson

Work through the cards in order. Stop before each model until you have completed your own draft and self-check.

All scenarios are fictional. Do not send messages, identification documents or personal details to real organisations for these activities.

By the end of this lesson

Identify why you are writing.
Identify who will read your writing.
Identify the main message the reader needs to understand.
Pause and think before beginning a practical writing task.
Revise a message when its purpose is not clear.

Step 1 · Start with a real problem

Daniel is attending an evening business course.

Tomorrow's session has been moved from 5:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Daniel works until 4:00 p.m. He needs to contact the course coordinator.

Daniel starts writing:

Hello. About tomorrow, there are some issues because of work and the time has changed, and normally I come after work, so now there is a problem and I wanted to explain.

The words are understandable, but the purpose is still difficult to identify.

Daniel has started writing before deciding exactly what the message needs to achieve.

Sometimes the problem is not grammar. Sometimes the writer has not yet decided: What exactly do I need to say?

Step 2 · Ask WHY, WHO and WHAT

1. WHY am I writing?

This is your purpose. What does the writing need to achieve?

I need to explain that I cannot arrive at 3:00 p.m. and ask whether I can join after work.

That is clearer than: I need to write about tomorrow.

2. WHO am I writing to?

This is your reader. Daniel is writing to the course coordinator. The coordinator needs enough information to understand the situation and respond.

3. WHAT is the main message?

If the reader remembers only one thing, what must they understand?

I cannot arrive at 3:00 p.m. because I am working. Can I arrive after 4:00 p.m.?

The writing habit
WHY? Why am I writing?
WHO? Who needs to understand this?
WHAT? What is the main thing they need to know?

Practice 1 · Find the purpose

Situation A

You ordered printed business cards. The company told you they would be ready on Friday. It is now Monday and you have received no information.

Why would you write?
Write your response in your document or notebook.

Situation B

You registered for a training event on Saturday. You can no longer attend and need to tell the organiser.

Why would you write?
Write your response in your document or notebook.

Situation C

An organisation asked you to send a copy of your identification before it can continue processing your application. You are sending it today.

Why would you write?
Write your response in your document or notebook.

Practice 2 · Identify the reader

Business cards have not arrived — Reader:
Write your response in your document or notebook.

You cannot attend the training event — Reader:
Write your response in your document or notebook.

You are sending requested identification — Reader:
Write your response in your document or notebook.

You would not necessarily write to a close friend in the same way. Tone will be taught later. For now, develop the habit of knowing who will read your words.

Practice 3 · Find the main message

You have an appointment with a service company tomorrow between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. Nobody will be at home until 2:00 p.m. You need another appointment time.

WHY am I writing?
WHO am I writing to?
WHAT is the main message?

Write your responses in your document or notebook.

Compare

There is an issue about tomorrow because the time given to me will be difficult.

Nobody will be home before 2:00 p.m. Could the appointment be moved to a later time?

B gives the reader a clearer idea of both the problem and the action needed.

Step 3 · Complete your writing task

You registered for an orientation session at a training centre. The orientation is tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. An important appointment means you cannot arrive until 12:00 noon. You want to know whether you can still attend.

Before writing, complete:
WHY am I writing?
WHO will read my message?
WHAT is the main message they need to understand?

First draft

Write this version in your document or notebook.

Save your first draft before continuing. Do not change it yet.

Step 4 · Self-check before seeing the model

Choose Yes / Partly / Not yet.

Purpose
Can I tell why this person is writing?

Reader
Have I given the reader enough information to understand the situation?

Main message
Does the reader know what I need from them?

Clarity
Can the message be understood without guessing?

Do not revise yet. Complete your self-check, then open the model card below.

Open only after your first draft · Model comparison

MODEL

Here is one possible response:

Hello,

I am registered for tomorrow's orientation session at 10:00 a.m. I have an important appointment in the morning and will not be able to arrive until 12:00 noon.

Would I still be able to attend the orientation if I arrive at 12:00?

Thank you.

This is not the only successful way to write the message.

Where does the writer explain the situation?
Is the reason for writing easy to identify?
Does the reader know what answer is needed?
What is one useful difference between this model and your first draft?

Step 5 · Check and revise your writing

Lesson 1 writing check

Choose Yes / Partly / Not yet.

Is my reason for writing clear?
Have I written for the correct reader?
Is my main message easy to identify?
Would the reader know what I need from them?
Is the writing understandable without guessing?

Choose the most important thing to improve. Do not try to fix every possible error at once.

Revise your writing

Return to your first draft. Improve it using what you noticed.

Make your purpose clearer.
State the situation more directly.
Make the main message easier to find.
Remove information that confuses the reader.

Revised version
Write and save this version separately.

The most important change I made was:

It made my writing better because:

Transfer · Try it somewhere new

You help organise a neighbourhood reading group. You need a quiet room for eight adults next Saturday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Write to the community-centre coordinator to ask whether a suitable room is available and what it would cost.

Use these fictional details. Do not contact a real centre for this activity. Write without looking back at the earlier model or receiving help with wording.

Before writing:
WHY am I writing?
WHO am I writing to?
WHAT is my main message?

Your message

Write this version in your document or notebook and save it.

When you finish, ask:

Is my purpose clear?
Does the reader understand the situation?
Does the reader know what I need?

Revise if necessary.

Lesson takeaway

Before important practical writing, do not begin with: “What sentence should I write?”

WHY? What am I trying to achieve?
WHO? Who needs to understand this?
WHAT? What is the main message?

Good writing begins before the first sentence.