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Department of Education
Region III - Division of Nueva Ecija
STA. BARBARA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Sta. Barbara, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija

Notes for Reading and Writing Skills

for Quarter 1–Module 1:
Text as a Connected Discourse

Text as a Connected Discourse

Many books offer lengthy discussions
about proving or disproving theories.
Despite being extensive and tedious, the
writings in those books remain coherent.
On the other hand, other books like recipe
books and manuals contain instructional
writings. They present procedures and
steps. The long and comprehensive
discussions as well as the instructional
writings are referred to as discourse.

Objectives

In this unit, you should be able to:

● identify the nature and purpose of a discourse;
● differentiate between the types of discourses;
● identify and differentiate between the types of literary
discourses; and
● distinguish between literary and academic discourses.

Lesson 1: Definition and Purposes of a Discourse

You have probably read or seen a recipe, a literary critique, or
a diary entry before. These are examples of a discourse. You will
know more about definition and purposes of a discourse in this
lesson.
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Learn About It!

A text, such as a recipe or a literary

critique, which has distinct features and
purpose, is a piece of discourse.

What Is Discourse?

The term discourse comes from the

word discursus. In medieval Latin, it means
―argument,‖ and in late Latin, it means
―conversation.‖ Some texts indeed are in the
form of discussion in which writers express
their opinions. Other texts are like a
conversation because the writers talk to the
readers.

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.

Also, discourse refers to the way how language is used to convey

meanings or to propel action or provoke a specific response.

One example of a discourse is the critique. This piece of writing

states a writer’s opinion about the good and the bad parts of another
piece of writing or a work of art. Its language is formal, and its ideas
are arranged in an organized and logical manner.

The diary entries in the The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne

Frank can also be considered a discourse. A diary is a daily record of
someone’s personal experiences and thoughts. By reading every entry
in a diary, we get the sense of the writer’s character or values.

Texts like a literary critique or a diary entry are written with a

purpose. Thus, discourse has purposes.
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Purposes of a Discourse

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. To entertain
A discourse that aims to amuse provides a source of entertainment
for its readers.

Analyzing a Discourse

Analyzing a discourse is usually contextual. The reader tries to

consider several factors that may have influenced the writer to make
certain claims. Those factors explain the author’s biases, philosophy,
and educational and professional backgrounds, among others. Below
are three of those factors.

1. Culture
The beliefs, customs, attitudes, language, and other things that
define culture may influence the author’s perspective on several
issues. Knowing about the culture the author belongs to may help the
reader may understand his or her biases.

2. Social environment
The author’s physical surroundings and social relationships, as
well as the culture of the time may have influenced his or her writing.
For instance, during the early decades of the 20th century, most
writers produced works that were classified as ―modern‖ because of
its distinct feature: stream of consciousness.

3. Experiences
Personal accounts or firsthand experience of events, though
subjective, establish credibility and reliability of information
presented in any discourse.
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Lesson 2: Types of Discourse

In the previous lesson, we learned that a discourse is a formal
and often lengthy discussion of a topic, where concepts and insights
are arranged in an organized and logical manner. We also learned its
three purposes: to inform, to persuade, and to entertain. This time,
we will discuss the different types of discourse.

Learn About It!

Discourse can also be classified into different types, each with a

different purpose. These types are argumentation, description,
exposition, and narration.

Types of Discourse

1. Argumentation
Argumentation is the act or process of making and presenting
arguments. Arguments are a series of statements for or against an idea.
The word argument comes from the Latin word argumentum,
which means ―evidence,‖ ―ground,‖ ―support,‖ or ―a logical argument.‖
Indeed, in an argumentative 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. In proving
claims, the writer presents studies, experts’ opinions, and statistical
data, among others. Moreover, an argumentative discourse should
appeal to logic or reason instead of emotion.

A recent study confirmed that playing video games may

cause children to become violent. However, this is only true for some
children. Dr. Charlotte Cooper and Dr. Markey Vitasa of ABC
University explained that children who manifest a combination of
three personality traits―high neuroticism, disagreeableness, and
low levels of conscientiousness―are more likely to be aggressive
toward others after playing video games.

In order to convince the readers, the author of the passage

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mentioned a study to support his or her claim about video games. The
author did not simply state that video games may cause children to
become violent; he or she proved it by citing two experts.

2. Description
This type of discourse is based on the main impression of the
author about the topic or subject. Its purpose is to transmit that
impression through concrete, colorful, and vivid language so
that readers can fully imagine the topic or subject.

An author’s impression is influenced by his or her prior

knowledge, culture, environment, and experiences, among others. As
the author describes his or her observations, it triggers sensory images
among readers.

When I first saw my childhood friend Margarette, she

was about my younger sister Viv‘s height. Her hair was curly
and dark, and her skin was pale. But what really struck me
when I first saw her was her big round blue eyes.

Through the author’s description, the reader can infer what the
person Margarette looks like.

3. Exposition
This aims to inform about, clarify, and explain a
phenomenon. It defines what something is and provides an in-depth
discussion about topics that are usually less explored. Moreover, it may
also give reader instructions on how something is done.

How to set up an email account

Choose the web host.

Look for the sign up button. Click it.
Provide the required information.
Think of a unique username and a password. (Tip: For the
password, type in uppercase or add characters.)
Start using the newly setup email account.
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The passage gives instructions on how to set up an email account.

Some examples of an exposition may be found in some magazine
articles or editorials, which may include useful and creative tips to make
everyday tasks simpler, typically called ―life hacks.‖

4. Narration
This type of discourse is like storytelling. It recalls events
chronologically. This discourse is told in the first-, second-, or third-
person point of view. The general purpose of narration then is to relate
a series of events. Moreover, its structure may be linear or nonlinear.
A linear structure follows a typical format: beginning, middle, end. A
nonlinear structure may start from the end or in the middle.

I remember the time when I learned how to swim. I was only

eight years old and afraid to bathe in a pool. I envied the kids who
played with inflatable balls and animals. Whenever my family
would visit the clubhouse, I would sit beside the pool and never
really jump in to join them. A summer camp opened in our
neighborhood, and my mom thought of enrolling my brother and
me in a swimming class. Two days before the class started, my
mom gave me a pep talk; that made me realize that I did not want
to miss out the fun just because I was afraid.

The passage conveys a person’s experience about learning

how to swim. The events are told chronologically, and the story is told
in the first-person point of view.

Lesson 3: Literary Discourse

In the previous lesson, we learned that discourse can also be
classified into different types. We also learned that each of these types
has its own purpose. In this lesson, we will discuss a kind of discourse:
the literary discourse.
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Learn About It!

A literary discourse is generally focused on creative works

such as poetry, short stories, novels, plays, and even nonfiction. Also, it
includes texts that are used strictly for business communication such as
letters, memos, and resumes.
The three types of literary discourse are
poetic, expressive, and transactional. Knowing
about these types helps us analyze the different
forms of literature.

Types of Literary Discourse

1. Poetic
This type of discourse is commonly
found in creative works like poems, novels,
short stories, and plays. It focuses on how
language is used to form themes and convey
ideologies. Some meanings in creative works
are explicit, while some are implied, especially
in poems. Ordinary words, especially those
used in a poem, are made appealing through
sound patterns.

The Road Not Taken (An Excerpt)

By Robert Frost

I shall be telling
this with a sigh
Somewhere ages
and ages hence:
Two roads diverged
in a wood, and I— I
took the one less
traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
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In the text, the author used the road not taken as a metaphor for
making a life decision. Ordinary words, especially those used in a poem,
are made appealing through sound patterns. Notice that the last words
in the poem rhyme: sigh, I, and by; hence and difference.
2. Expressive
This type of discourse is commonly found in academic journals,
letters, diaries, and blogs. It is a personal narrative and is typically
written in the first-person point of view. In the process, the writer
reveals something about his or her identity. In literary terms, expressive
discourses are referred to as creative nonfiction.

The Diary of a Young Girl (An Excerpt)

By Anne Frank
Sunday, 21 June 1942

Everyone at school is waiting to hear what happens next. Who will

move up a class, and who will stay down? We‘re all trying to guess! I
think my girlfriends and I will be OK, though we‘ll have to wait
patiently to find out. Most of my teachers like me, but old Mr Keesing
gets angry with me because I often talk too much! He made me do
some extra homework and write about ‗Someone Who Talks Too
Much.‘

Based on the passage, the writer is describing what she felt while
waiting for the big announcement in school. She describes what she is
like in school—talkative—and how sociable she is as most of her
teachers like her.

3. Transactional
This type of discourse is commonly found in instructional
materials, advertisements, and editorial articles, among others. It is
directive in nature as it provides detailed information on how
something is done or achieved. Moreover, it encourages the reader to do
something or to take action.
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How to Cook Chicken Tinola

Ingredients:
1/2 kg chicken wings
1 red onion, peeled and sliced
1 clove of garlic, peeled and crushed 1 small ginger, peeled and
julienned
1 small green papaya, peeled and cut into wedges 1–2 stalks of
malunggay
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of pepper 3–4 cups of water

Procedure:
Prepare all the ingredients.
Heat the pan in a medium flame. Add 2–3 tablespoons of oil.
Sauté garlic, onion, and ginger. Add chicken wings and sauté for
3–4 minutes.
Pour 3–4 cups of water. Let it simmer.
Add the papaya. Simmer until the chicken becomes tender.
Add the malunggay leaves.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve and enjoy.

The recipe above shows the instructions in cooking chicken

tinola. It provides a detailed list of what the reader or the one who will
cook the dish needs and how to accomplish the task.

Lesson 4: Academic Discourse

The previous lesson is all about the literary discourse. We learned
the details about the types of literary discourses, namely, poetic,
expressive, and transactional. This time, this lesson will focus on
another kind of discourse: the academic discourse. This lesson will also
take a look at how academic discourses differ from literary discourses.

Learn About It!

An academic discourse is expository or argumentative in
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nature. Sometimes, it presents an individual’s insights regarding a

concept or method in a scholarly way.
Academic discourse includes
academic journals and essays. Journals and
essays as personal narratives are generally
classified as expressive literary discourse
because of their use of the first-person point
of view. So what makes academic journals
and essays different from them? What makes
certain texts academic?

Differences between Academic

and Literary Discourses

Unlike literary discourse, an

academic discourse uses formal language
and the third-person point of view; it
maintains an objective tone. It avoids using
figures of speech and idiomatic expressions,
including biased or stereotyped and sexist
language. Its examples include academic
essays, journals, book reviews, synthesis,
literature review, and research, among
others.
The table below summarizes the differences between academic
and literary discourses.

Academic Discourse Literary Discourse

 formal and scholarly use of language;  poetic and creative in
 does not use figures of speech and its use of language
idioms

 maintains an objective tone using the  features more than

third-person point of view one point of view

Take a look at this example of an academic discourse.

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Medea is portrayed as an empowered woman in Euripides‘s play.

It is a far cry from how women were viewed and represented in Ancient
Greece. Women then were mainly portrayed as in charge of producing
children, taking care of them, and being a mistress of the household.
Medea‘s character defies and challenges conformities. Her deeds,
though evil in nature, stem from the strength of her mind… Medea,
although elicits pity from the audience during the first part of the play
as an abandoned wife and mother, in the end, is feared and abhorred as
she proves to be aware of how wicked her deeds are and yet would not
have it the other way around: ―I understand what evil I am about to do
but my wrath is stronger even than my thoughts…‖ (Euripides 27).

The text is a review of Euripides’s famous play Medea. The critic,

although stating his or her insights of the play, writes in an objective
tone using the third-person point of view. Moreover, the review does not
use a figure of speech or idiomatic expression to describe, elaborate, or
prove a point.

General Format of Academic Discourses

Structures or formats of academic discourses may vary

depending on the approved or recommended style guide to use.

1. Introduction
In this part, the writer states the significance of the topic and the
issues that need to be addressed. Also, the writer mentions the
objectives of the discourse and how it may be beneficial or detrimental.
2. Body
In this part, the writer discusses the methods of gathering
information. He or she then presents the findings and interprets them.
Moreover, he or she formulates arguments and supports them with
evidence.

3. Conclusion
In this part, the writer reiterates the claims and asserts his or her
stand. He or she may include insights and recommendations for further
studies.
*Notes taken from Quipper Study Guide: Reading and Writing Skills
Unit 1 – Text as a Connected Discourse (online available)