AMPLIFICATION WRITING

 An Introduction

(Tips of  Amplification Writing)

Roughly to say ‘amplification‘ means thought expansion. In a literary practice, ‘Amplification’
refers to the elaboration of a statement in a logical order. To an amplification, more information
is added in support of the statement undertaken to amplify. It clarifies the meaning of a
statement. 

While doing the task of amplification we should bear in mind the following steps and
tips.

First,  read the given statement (quotation, proverb, paradox, etc.) several times, slowly
and carefully till you grasp the meaning and significance of the statement.

Secondly,  reading should be followed by thinking. The thought of the statement should
be mentally developed. The relevant details, illustrations, examples, parallel saying etc.
should be thought out and arranged systematically and logically.

Thirdly,  a draft of the thought expansion should be prepared where the meaning of the
given statement should be explained in brief, and then arguments, illustrations, and
examples should be put forward. In brief, to say, an amplification should have three
parts: introduction, explanation, and conclusion itself.

Fourthly, everything superfluous should be eschewed carefully. There should not be

even a single word or detail that does not have a direct connection with the topic.

Fifthly, there should have coherence and unity of thought. Sentences should follow each
other in a logical order. Every sentence should come out naturally and spontaneously
out of the previous one. In an amplification, every sentence must take the thought
ahead.

Sixthly, the language should be simple and easy to comprehend. Ambiguous or

bombastic words and phrases should be avoided.

Seventhly, the rough draft should be revised one or two times and mistakes of grammar
and spelling should be carefully corrected.

Eighty, after the above-mentioned steps are over, a fair copy should be made.

There is no hard and fast rule as regards the length of an application. If some length is
prescribed in writing an academic amplification then it must be strictly maintained.
Otherwise, a hundred words or so would do
Necessity is the Mother of  Invention
‘Necessity is the mother of invention.’ is an old proverb. It is often said to mean that all
great things are made or invented when people feel the necessity of them to make their
lives fine and happier.  A man works to overcome his desire. Whenever he needs
something, he uses his brain to invent a remedy. 

Necessity gave rise to all early inventions. Primitive man lived in nature in a helpless
state. He was led to invent things to fulfill his requirement. To defend himself against the
attack of wild animals, he invented weapons. To save himself from rain and cold he set
up houses, clothes, and fire. Step by step he invented all sorts of things for himself.
Therefore, all initial inventions are due to the pressure of necessity.

The need moves man from invention to invention. When our needs increase, we invent
more and more things. All the articles we use in our daily lives are the result of man’s
effort to overcome his wants.

Like physical needs, man has some intellectual needs also.  His mind is ever anxious to
know the unknown. He is always eager to make new discoveries and inventions, and
this brings him joy and happiness. This divine dissatisfaction in man is the reason for
the progress of civilization.

Man’s physical need led to the invention of many things and his intellectual need
inspired him to invent many other things. Telescopes, microscopes, paper, printing
presses, radios, aeroplanes, etc. are invented to meet his intellectual needs. The great
things of the world are the products of divine dissatisfaction in the mind of man. Man
cannot be satisfied with his present condition. He looks for new things. He will invent
and discover new things to meet his needs.

Hence it is rightly said that to get a thing made or invented we must feel its necessity
first.

Self-help is the Best Help / Allah helps him, who helps himself
‘Self-help is the best help’  is a wise saying. It is said to mean helping oneself. 

Human life on earth is full of activities and sometimes we wish for the help of others .
But in reality, we see that help asked from others is hard to get. Because everyone is
busy with his own business and then we realize how foolish it is to ask for help from
others. The habit of relying on others for help destroys our confidence. And it also
prevents us from developing our innate qualities.
Self-help is considered the root of all success in this world. It can develop many good
qualities in men. This feeling of self-help enables a person to work hard with strong
willpower and determination. It also increases confidence in oneself and helps a person
gain courage and mental strength.

There is a real joy when people do their work on their own. Also, they can boldly face
any difficulties and hardships in life. God does not help a man if he cannot help himself.

The truth of this proverb is best demonstrated by the story of Hercules and Carter. The
story reads as follows:

Once a bullock cart got stuck in the mud. When the bulls failed to pull it out, Carter
prayed to Hercules, the Greek god of Strength, for help. Hercules appeared and instead
of helping Carter to pull out the cart, he advised Carter to put his shoulders on the wheel
and try to pull it out himself. Carter followed it and the carriage moved forward.
Therefore we understand that no god can help us unless we try ourselves.

Success comes only after honest hard work. So it is said that God really helps those
who help themselves.

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’ is a popular proverb.  It is often quoted to refer to the
value of true friendship. 

Friendship is an intimacy between two persons who share each other’s joys and
sorrows, fortunes, and misfortunes. In other words, to say, friendship is an affectionate
attachment of one to another.

There are two kinds of friends- false friends and true friends. False friends are they who
share only our joys and fortunes. They forsake us in times of sorrows and misfortunes.
They are fair-weather friends. On the other hand, a true friend is one who shares both
joys and sorrows equally. He never deserts us in times of misfortunes. True friendship
must know and understand the feelings and wants of each other. We all know the story
of two friends and a bear where a friend climbed up a tall leaving the other in danger
when a bear approached them. 

True friendship is a blessing in one’s life. To be happy in life, we must have friends. But
we must be very careful in selecting friends. A true friend is a light in the darkness. He
guides encourages and enlivens one and remains a well-wisher of his friend throughout
his life.
A Little Learning Is a Dangerous Thing
 ‘A little learning is a dangerous thing’ –is a common saying. It is often quoted to warn
us against the danger that may come from a man who works with little knowledge.

There is no limit to learning. The more we learn, the more we realize how little our
education is. This type of feeling is common to all intelligent and learned persons. But
people with little knowledge believe that they are very intelligent and learned. So
sometimes their actions or behavior become a big threat to their family or society. They
often suffer for their work. For example, we meet some people in society with little
knowledge of machinery works but pretend to be a skilled workers. Consequently, they
spoil the things that they are credited to perform. We should avoid such people.
Otherwise, the people who come in contact with such people may suffer equally. In the
administrative affairs of a county sometimes we find some leaders who gain power by
means of propagating their vain knowledge but in reality, they prove to be futile, and
their role harm society.  Therefore should not be influenced by people of little
knowledge.

Empty Vessels Sound Much

‘Empty vessels sound much’-is an Indian proverb. It is often quoted to mean that people
with only a little knowledge and ability always try to find the scope to express
themselves in vain.  

When beaten, an empty vessel makes more sound than a vessel filled with something.
Likewise, a drum with nothing inside sounds too much. This empty vessel or drum can
be compared to men with little knowledge. These types of men often talk as if they knew
everything. They like to have long conversations often with a loud voice and bombastic
words but all those signify a little. 

On the other hand, intelligent and learned individuals speak little but what they speak is
full of significance. They like to keep themselves aloof from any kind of mean publicity.

Hence speaking most producing much sound is a sign of little knowledge.

A Smiling Face Never Looks Bad

The statement ‘A smiling face never looks bad’ is full of significance. It means that a
man in a good mood can draw the attention of all.

Our worldly life is full of problems, difficulties, obstacles, etc, and hence it is very difficult
to have a smiling face (good mood)  all the time. But we should realize that both joys
and sorrows are the components of life. We can never avoid them. It is wise for us to
accept both the joys and sorrows equally. A person who always presents a smiling face
irrespective of age, situation, and status is liked by everyone. Such a man becomes an
attractive personality for all who come into his contact. On the other hand, gloominess
casts a shadow on any face.

So a  man who keeps a smiling face both in well and woe is liked and accepted by all.

Knowledge is Power / The greatest power is knowledge

‘Knowledge is power’ — is a wise saying. It is said to mean that by means of knowledge
we can overcome all difficulties and achieve success in life.

Knowledge is the product of learning and knowing. By means of knowledge, man has
become civilized.  It is knowledge that makes all the difference between man and beast,
between man and man, and between one nation and another. Knowledge is the true
source of power. It gives us great advantages in doing and having things that we desire.
Men who have knowledge lead others who do not have it. It is knowledge by means of
which people teach, invent, conquer and rule. The great achievements of the world are
the result of knowledge. Knowledge is superior to wealth or material power. A poor and
weak man can draw public tribute with knowledge. With knowledge, everything is
possible. The higher the knowledge of a person is, the higher will he rise.  Knowledge
works wonders.

Knowledge is our power to protect ourselves against ferocious animals and adverse
people. Tiger is a stronger animal than a man. But a man armed with a sword or rifle
can kill it easily. Man’s knowledge of the use of steel and gun power gives him the
power to conquer a ferocious animal. A barbarian may be physically stronger than a
decent man, but he is devoid of knowledge and it makes the difference in becoming
civilized.  Social and political problems cannot be solved by force but by intelligence and
knowledge.

A civilized man is familiar with many mysteries of nature and uses them for his own
benefit. A man devoid of knowledge is unaware of them. Knowledge has given us the
strength to our path of progress and happiness. For ages, people feared thunder and
lightning.  Now knowledge has given man the power to produce electricity. It illuminates
our homes, cools our rooms, carries our messages, acts as a high machine, and can do
other useful things.  Knowledge of medicines combats the spread of diseases.  It is the
knowledge that has enabled man to conquer nature.

Knowledge of self is the highest form of knowledge. It gives us knowledge about God
and His relationship with humans. Self-knowledge encompasses knowledge of all other
things. It gives power over nature, animals, and men. Muhammad, Vivekananda,
Krishna, Buddha, and Christ showed the magical power of this knowledge. Supreme
knowledge can be attained by the discipline of mind and heart. With this knowledge, all
sorrows,  sufferings, illnesses and self can be conquered.

Hence knowledge is a power out of which every great thing comes to reality.
The Face is the index /mirror of the mind:
The face is truly an outward projection of the mind. Any psychological shift that occurs in the
brain is faithfully expressed on the face. Since a person's sentiments, moods and emotions
produce strong impressions on the body language, especially the facial expressions, there are
unmistakable ways in which we can decode the subtle thoughts doing rounds in that person's
mind. The face is a reliable index of all the musings that are harboured in one's mind. It is a
clear mirror of the psyche and the substance at once. One can fairly accurately comprehend the
mental state of a person through his or her facial expressions. For instance, an individual's face
marked by expressions of envy is likely to harbour dislike of something or someone. On the
other hand, a content mind reflects calmness and level-headedness on a person's face. The face
can hence be described as the mirror of the mind.

All That Glitters is Not Gold

Gold is a shiny and glittery metal which is not only famous for its  beautiful external
appearance but also for its high intrinsic value . Glittering is not its one and only
quality. There are many things in the world that have a beautiful external surface but
they are not as  valuable as gold. Even there are things which are beautiful in
appearance but intrinsically bad. The proverbial expression "All that glitters is not gold"
is said about those things which seem to be good  on the surface but might not be
good when they are looked at more closely. This expression teaches us not to be
deceived by the beautiful surface of anything. We should always remember that there
might be a difference between appearance and reality. Before adjudging anything to be
good, we should not only consider its outer appearance but we should also Look
closely at it to see its inner quality. This proverbial expression is also applicable to
human beings. We should not consider anybody to be a good human being on the
basis of their fair complexion or attractive physical appearance. There is no guarantee
that a good-looking person will always be a person of admirable character. A person
may look very handsome or beautiful but his/her inherent quality may be bad. So the
external appearance should not be the only criterion of goodness. A bad-looking
person also may possess admirable human qualities. However, if a person is good both
externally and internally he or she may be compared with gold. An attractive external
appearance and a high intrinsic value—both are necessary for a really valuable person
or thing

As you sow so you reap

 Our life is the result of what we have done in past. If we have performed good jobs we
get its fruits in the enjoyment of life. If we have performed bad jobs, we Suffer pains in
various disadvantageous situations. No event is uncaused in the world. All events are
caused by past actions. There is an essential connection between cause and effect. The
result is always consistent with the cause. It is true for physical as well as moral world.
Good action causes good result and bad action causes bad result. It is a universal moral
principle. If a student neglects his lessons, he will secure poor scores, which will lead to
a low profile career. On the other hand, if a student studies properly, he will have high
scores, which will ensure him good employment. Similarly, in the career, if one
performs his responsibilities properly, he will be rewarded with promotion and other
benefits. But if he neglects his duties or somehow indulges in corruption, he will be
punished with termination. Honesty brings peace in life and dishonesty brings grief. As
one sows so one reaps. The volume of labour has also connection with the nature of
result. Hard labour produces success and laziness produces failure. The farmer who
takes good care of his corn field will get good harvest. On the other hand, if he does
not prepare his land with ploughing, spread low quality seed and does not irrigate and
not use manure as required is sure to get a poor harvest. A particular kind of result
comes as a consequence of a particular kind of action. One who is regretting now must
have done something which was not appropriate. Those who now laugh might have
done something which was beneficial for him and others. Therefore wise persons
always perform job reckoning the future consequence of it.

Failures are the Pillars of Success

Nobody wants to hear the word ‘failure’. This word has its inherent value like “zero”. But
failure in one field can lead to success in some other field, provided the failed one
doesn’t lose heart and continues his or her efforts. May be in one or two attempts one
may not get success. But constant and continuous efforts will crown a person with
glorious success. Failures and successes are the two sides of the same coin.
A failure in life does not mean that we cannot be successful. We can convert a failure
into success by determination. Determination develops a sense of selfconfidence,
maturity and fulfillment. It gives courage and peace. If our determination is strong
enough, it forces us to expand ourselves from the point of view of our personal
resources, physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, intellectual and material, prompting us
to raise our level of functioning to a higher level till what we want is within our grasp.
Remember ideas without action remain dreams. There is no substitute for hard work.
When failures come your way, do not lose heart. Try to find out your shortcomings and
overcome them with courage, patience and enthusiasm.
Where There is a Will There is a Way-Amplification

The proverb means that the most difficult thing can be done if there is a strong will to do
it.  A strong will can overcome all obstacles and difficulties. 

To the man of strong will, success is bound to come. The man who is determined to
conquer is the man who never falls. Intelligence alone cannot conquer difficulties but a
strong will can. Nothing is denied to a man who has patience, perseverance and
determination. There are many instances to show the truth of this popular saying.

Some people blame their fate. But a man is the maker of his own fortune. People fail
because of their poor willpower and idleness.  We must not be frightened away, by
difficulties. At first sight, some work may appear quite beyond our ability but we should
not give it up. We must have strength of mind. We may fail once or twice but if we work
heart and soul we cannot but be successful in the long run. A man of strong will and
courage is sure to be crowned with success.

The Child is the Father of Man Or

 Morning Shows the Day

‘The child is the father of man’  is a widely known proverb. There is a similar proverb in
the English language that reads as ‘morning shows the day’. Both the proverbs are said
to mean that one’s childhood is indicative of what he will become when he grows up. 

This saying is the basis of the truth that family heritage plays a great role in building a
man. Every human being is gifted with certain talents, intelligence, characteristics, and
thinking habits. Unless the natural surrounding is bound to change his shape, he will
naturally develop to maturity with his childhood signs. Apparently, everyone believes
that these inherently gifted qualities approximate a person’s future prospects. As the
dawn shows, it is, therefore, a general tendency to assume that childhood is an
indicator of a man’s future.

But our childhood is surrounded by various environmental conditions. If one is lucky in

finding oneself under favorable circumstances, one will gradually develop one’s nature
accordingly. Stories of great men show us how the promises of greatness were found in
the young days of those great men. On the other hand, if a person is surrounded by
misfortune, poverty, and miseries, he will not be able to develop the talent shown in
one’s childhood.

Thus,  this statement is believed to be true in dealing with the development of human
nature.
The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword 
The “pen is mightier than the sword” signifies that words are notably effective.
Though the pen is smaller in size, it can achieve more things than a sword. The
capability of writing is more significant than the power of hatred and war.
A sword or a pen does not work on its own; we are the ones who operate them. We
are the ones who can make a difference in whether to fight or to write.

A pen shapes and presents something valuable to the readers. For decades, we
have observed the development of the world and how the power of writing creates
a charm.

The proverb infers that the writers, authors or scholars invisibly exert a greater
impact on people than conflicts. The art of writing is more significant compared to
the sharpness of a sword. This is because the fame of the sword causes pain and
does not last forever, while the impact of writing is pre-eminent, influencing nations
for years ahead.

The great ideas and opinions that transpire through a writer's pen have
transported men from Brutality to Compassion. People can think and embed their
views on a piece of paper and propel profound this position in society. Writers have
proven to be more powerful than the mighty warriors. Many great writers have
destroyed dictatorships and monarchies of the world with the strokes of their pen.
Writing has created conflicts and reconciliation. A war may affect thousands of
people, but a book can change the entire nation. A war always ends in miseries and
destruction, whereas writing is a boon to humankind.