Reading and Writing Nutshell

Written text as connected discourse

Reading

- is an activity that challenges our beliefs, inspires our imagination, and expands our undertanding of the
world.

- involves a complex interaction between the text and the reader. The reader’s interpretation is shaped
by his or her prior knowledge, experiences, and attitudes.

ORGANIZING INFORMATION

It is important to organize information in order to logically and effectively present the ideas.

1. Brainstorming list

2. Graphic Organizer

3. Topic Outline

- Outline, basically, is a summary that gives the essential features of a text.

* Reading and Writing Outline

Reading Outline - is used to get the main ideas of a text that is already written.

Writing Outline - is a skeletal version of your essay. It is used a guide to organize your ideas.

Scratch Outline - is a simple list of ideas that take the form of words and phrases. It is good for
brevity

4. Sentence Outline

- uses sentences to define the subject matter. It is good for specific detail.

5. Narration

6. Description

7. Definition

- it is understanding the essence of a word, an idea, a concept, or an expression. It should be done

clearly or through specific terms so that even the most abstract cocepts can easily be understood.

* Denotation (1st) and Connotation (2nd)

* Analysis is the process of breaking downn a concept into its constituent parts.

* Collocation means that there are words or expressions that are usually about immediately
associated with the concept you are trying to define. “Located together.”

8. Exemplication and Classification/Illustration

- Exemplication is defining something by giving examples. Illustration is giving an example and

focusing on it to elaborate on the concept you are trying to define.

9. Comparison and Contrast

- Comparison is associating the word or expression you are trying to define with something else
not necessarily synonymous with it. It is usually used in analogy or figurative language.

- Contrast is understanding how at least two similar concepts are different from each other.

* Love is softness while passion is smoulder.

10. Cause and Effect

11. Problem and Solution

 12. Persuasion

- as a mode of paragraph development, is almost always coupled with argumentation. It is more on

pathos while argumentation is logos.

* Always remember that there are three types of audience or readers;

1. The supportive

2. The wavering

3. The hostile

PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT IN WRITING ACROSS DISCIPLINES (module 1)

1. Narration
It is important to use strategies of developing ideas using a particular pattern. One of these is through
narration. A narrative text contains the plot which gives direction in making a story.
In developing narration, sequential presentation of events plays an important role. Signal words help to
create unified thought and to show the transition of events to the next. The chronological ordering of
events helps to show the reader how the story moves. Most of the common transitional words are first,
next, then, after and suddenly.
2. Description
The use of description is also important to help you create a vivid picture of what you are trying to
express through written text. According to Dayagbil & et al, 2016, the use of description plays an
important role to elucidate the nature of people, places and things. The kind of words we used to
describe how your subject looks, sounds, feels, smells or even tastes are called sensory languages.
There are two types of description. First is objective description, where the writer presents impartial
and actual picture of the subject without biases and excluding personal impression of the subject just like
when you give your description of an experiment in class. Second is subjective description, where the
writer gives personal impression of what is observed. This is often used in making fiction stories. For
instance, when you are asked to write about a place you visit during summer vacation, you tend to give
your personal judgment of how you experience the place.

3. Definition
Definitions provide concise but exact meanings of unfamiliar words and explain special meanings for
familiar words. They are often used to explain technical words and concepts. What to define always
depends on the needs of the reader and the purpose of communication. It can be done in either of the two
distinct methods of definition. First, informal definition as either denotation or connotation.
Denotation is the dictionary meaning of the word. For example: Rose is a family of prickly shrub with
pinnate leaves and showy flowers. Meanwhile, the connotation is the secondary meaning of a word and
is not necessarily included in the dictionary. Rather it is how a writer understands a word based on their
own personal or consensual experiences. In the example: A dozen of pink roses are usually given to their
beloved ones. Instead of literally referring to flowers, love and romance are connoted.

Second, formal definition consists of three principal parts: the species (WORD) n + Genus (CLASS) +
Differentiate. The WORD is the name of the object, process, or concept defined. This is usually followed
by “is” and, “are” and the CLASS or general group to which the objects belong. For example: Skimming
(species) is a reading technique (class) of allowing the eyes to travel over a page very quickly, stopping
only here and there to gain an idea (differentiae).

The three different types of definitions: formal definition, informal definition, and extended or expanded
definition. Check your module 1 on page 10.
o By stating its characteristics
o By function
o By what it is not
o By what it is similar to
o By Examples
o By origin of word or etymology
o By its effect

4. Exemplification and Classification

Exemplification (or illustration) is the most common and effective pattern to explain an idea or point.
In developing this kind of paragraph, the writer develops a general statement –the topic sentence, with
one or more examples to support it. Here are some transitional expressions in writing effective
exemplification paragraphs: for instance, namely, to specify, to clarify, to illustrate, for example, in
short, as an example. On the other hand, classification is used when a writer needs to sort out or arrange
subjects into groups or categories based on their common and shared characteristics.
 Here are some transitional expressions in writing effective classification paragraphs: classified as,
one kind, the last group, another kind, another, final type, the first category, are categorized as, the next
part.
You must first begin to learn how to identify the basic parts of these patterns – topic sentence,
classifications (types, categories), examples (illustrations) and transitional expressions.

5. Comparison and Contrast

Comparison in writing discusses elements that are similar while contrast in writing discusses elements
or ideas that are different. A compare-and-contrast essay, then analyzes two subjects comparing them,
contrasting them, or both. However, its purpose is not to simply state the obvious but rather to illustrate
subtle differences or unexpected similarities between two subjects. There are two common ways to
organize comparison/contrast paragraph or essay. The Block Method is used to compare and contrast
two subjects one at a time. You may begin by saying everything you have to say about the first subject
you are discussing then move on and write everything about your second subject. If you are writing a
short paragraph or essay, you might be able to fit all of your points about each item. However, if you
would want to address one subject at a time, you may use Point-by-point comparison.

Some cohesive devices you can use in showing similarities are likewise, similar to, same with, like, in
the same manner. To show contrast, cue words such as: on the other hand, however, while, different
with, in contrast and the like.
Cohesive devices – also known as cohesive ties or anaphors, are words or phrases used to connect ideas
between different parts of text. There are three main types of cohesive devices, but on this lesson we’ll
focus on transition words and inter-clausal connectors.
6. Cause and Effect
Cause and Effect is a text development pattern that explains why something happens. It also states what
results in a particular event produces. It usually gives a statement emphasizing the cause and another
emphasizing the effect.
7. Problem-Solution
8. Persuasive
The last pattern of paragraph development featured in this module focuses on how you can state details
through presenting your views and encouraging your target readers to accept your argument.
Persuasive text can be in the form of an argument, discussion, exposition, review or even an
advertisement.
In developing your own persuasive text, a writer must first state the issue. This will serve as a
background information about the topic. Then, it should be followed by a clear, strong and specific
argument.
An argument is one’s claim or position that can either support or reject the issue previously stated.
Arguments shall be supported with a well-researched evidences, which will give details on how and why
it supports the argument. Evidences can be factual, logical, statistical or anecdotal in nature. It can also
explain counter-arguments not because the writer wants to prove which claims are wrong or right but to
enlighten the readers about other positions.
Lastly, a conclusion restating the main argument of the text will be the end of the text. This will be your
final statement to persuade your readers.

* Properties of well-written text

- Organization, coherence and cohesion, language use and mechanics

CRITICAL READING

- Whenever you read something and you evaluate claims, seek definitions, judge information, demand proof, and
question assumptions.

- Reading that goes beyond passively understanding a text, because you process the author’s words and make
judgments after carefully considering the reading’s message.

TECHNIQUES TO HELP YOU DEVELOP CRITICAL READING SKILLS

1. Keeping a reading journal

2. Annotating the text

3. Outlining the text

4. Summarizing the text

5. Questioning the text

IDENTIFYING AND ANALYZING CLAIMS

Explicit - information that is clearly stated

Implicit - ideas that are suggested

Claims

- The point or the central argument or thesis statement of the text.

- is what the writer tries to prove in the text by providing details, explanations, and other types of evidence.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD CLAIMS

1. A claim should be argumentative and debatable.

2. A claim should be specific and focused.

3. A claim should be interesting and engaging.

4. A claim should be logical.

TYPES OF CLAIM

1. CLAIMSOF FACT

- state a quantifiable assertion or a measurable topic. They assert that something has existed, exists, or will exist
based on data.

- reliable sources or systematic procedures to be validated; this is what makes them different from inferences.

2. CLAIMS OF VALUE

- assert something that can be qualified.

- arguments about moral, philosophical, or aesthetic topic.

- judgments based o certain standards, on whether something is right or wrong.

3. CLAIM OF POLICY

- specific actions should be chosen as solutions to a particular problem.

- should, ought to, must

Texts Context
Hypertext vs. Intertext
1. Hypertext –
2. Intertext –