Reading and Writing

Reading and Writing

Text as Connected Discourse 

Week 1- Day 1

Multiple Choice

It is generally considered as written material, especially longer pieces of writing as in a book, a letter or a newspaper

• Magazine

• Comics

• Text

• Drama

What Is Text? 

refers to a group of ideas put together to make a point or one central idea

The Valley of Amazement (Excerpt) By Amy Tan 

At the age of eight, I was determined to be true to My Self. Of course, that made it essential to know what My Self consisted of. My manifesto began the day I discovered I had once possessed an extra finger in each hand, twins to my pinkies. My grandmother had recommended that the surplus be amputated before leaving the hospital, lest people think there was a familial tendency toward giving birth to octopuses.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT considered as a characteristic of a text?

• Cohesion

• Coherence

• Intentionality

• Conflict

Multiple Choice

The hotel is famous. It is one of the most well-known hotels in the country. The latest international dancing competition was held at the hotel. The hotel spent a lot of money to advertise the event. Because the hotel wanted to gain international reputation. But not many people attended the event. The paragraph lacks of?

• cohesion

• coherence

• Situationality

• Intertextuality

A text shall have the following characteristics

(M. Jorgensen & L. Phillips, 2002): 

Cohesion

the connection of ideas at the sentence level. It is focused on how the ideas are being connected in a certain phrase or sentence

 Coherence 

the connection of ideas at the paragraph level. It is concerned with how the sentences and paragraphs are linked together that they would express a single idea.

Intentionality

dwells into the purpose of the author/writer

Informativity

the quantity of new information in the text. 

Acceptability 

how factual the pieces of information are

Situationality

the socio-cultural appropriateness of the text. Is it appropriate or acceptable to the target reader? 

 Intertextuality 

the connection of the succeeding discourse to the previous one. It also talks about the existence of the succeeding text because of the previous one. 

Multiple Choice

What comes from the word “discursus” and in medieval Latin, means “argument,” and in late Latin, it means “conversation" ?

• Text

• Discourse

• Pragmatic

• Grammar

What Is Discourse? 

A discourse is a formal and often lengthy discussion of a topic, where concepts and insights are arranged in an organized and logical manner. It is often associated with speech, but it may also be written. It usually serves as a writer’s or a scholar’s analysis of a concept or theory proposed by another writer. 

Multiple Choice

This purpose of discourse provides a descriptive and comprehensive discussion on the topic.

• To persuade

• To inform

• To entertain

• To conclude

Purposes of a Discourse 

To inform 

a discourse may aim to inform; such discourse provides a descriptive and comprehensive discussion on the topic. It points out what one should know about a topic or subject.

To persuade 

a discourse that aims to persuade tries to convince the readers that the proposed claim or solution is better than any other proposal.

To entertain 

a discourse that aims to amuse provides a source of entertainment for its readers. 

To persuade 

a discourse that aims to persuade tries to convince the readers that the proposed claim or solution is better than any other proposal.

Multiple Choice

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• Argumentation

• Description

• Exposition

• Narration

Multiple Choice

This type of discourse is based on the main impression of the author about the topic or subject

• Argumentation

• Description

• Exposition

• Narration

Types of Discourse 

Argumentation 

 In this type of discourse, the writer aims to persuade the audience or readers. He or she presents valid claims or counterclaims, each supported by evidence, to prove a point.

Example

TV shows categorized as reality make people lose the sense of reality. Directors force the audience to believe that all challenges tackled by the players every day take place in real life, and the consequences are sometimes adverse. Studies by Dr. Gibson from Michigan University prove excessive viewing of TV shows belonging to this category result into a higher level of aggression among the general population of the United States. These shows should have different rankings to prevent adolescents from watching them. 

Description

This type of discourse is based on the main impression of the author about the topic or subject. His or her impression is influenced by prior knowledge, culture, environment, and experiences, among others. 

Example: The idiosyncrasy of this town is smoke. It rolls sullenly in slow folds from the great chimneys of the iron-foundries, and settles down in black, slimy pools on the muddy streets. Smoke on the wharves, smoke on the dingy boats, on the yellow river-- clinging in a coating of greasy soot to the house-front, the two faded poplars, the faces of the passers-by. 

Exposition

This aims to inform, clarify, and explain a phenomenon. It defines what something is and provides an in-depth discussion about topics that are usually less explored.

Example: The Civil War was caused because of conflicts between states on the subjects of states' rights and slavery. Before the war, the southern states relied on slaves to plant and harvest the crops. These southern states wanted to make decisions separate from the northern states and banded together as The Confederates, threatening to leave the U.S. The northern soldiers were victorious in the Civil War, reestablishing that states in the South had to confirm to U.S. laws, including the abolishment of slavery. 

 Narration 

This type of discourse is like storytelling. It recalls events chronologically. It is told in the first-, second-, or third-person point of view. Moreover, its structure may be linear or nonlinear

Example:  You have friends who actually care about you and speak the language of the inner self. You have avoided them of late. Your soul is as disheveled as your apartment, and until you can clean it up a little you don't want to invite anyone inside.  

Text as a Connected Discourse 

A text is a connected discourse, which means that all ideas in the text must be related in the sense that they would express only one main idea, or that the text must have unity by combining all ideas to emphasize a central idea. 

Answer the following

PRACTICE EXERCISE 1

Read and examine the four texts below. Describe each text and determine the purpose of each one. Write your answers on the corresponding column on the table.

PRACTICE EXERCISE 2

If you are to propose a/n solution/action that can help flatten the curve of the infected Covid-19 rate in the Philippines, what would be your best recommendation? Convince the readers that the proposed claim or solution is better than any other proposal by providing supporting details/ideas. You may ask the help of any family member in assessing the viability of the proposed action. 

EVALUATION

Read and identify the type of discourse used on the given texts. Write your answer on the space provided before each number.