PDF RW-Grade-11 Unit-1 Text-as-a-Connected-Discourse

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (Garcia College of Technology)

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 Reading and Writing Skills Unit 1:
Text as a Connected Discourse

Table of Contents

Objectives 2

Lesson 1: Definition and Purposes of a Discourse 3

Warm-up! 3
Learn About It! 4
Check Your Understanding 6
Let’s Step Up! 6

Lesson 2: Types of Discourse 7

Warm-up! 7
Learn About It! 8
Check Your Understanding 11
Let’s Step Up! 11

Lesson 3: Literary Discourse 12

Warm-up! 12
Learn About It! 14
Check Your Understanding 17
Let’s Step Up! 17

Lesson 4: Academic Discourse 18

Warm-up! 18
Learn About It! 19
Check Your Understanding 21
Let’s Step Up! 22

Performance Task 23

Self-Check: How Well Did I Learn? 25

Wrap Up 26

Bibliography 27

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GRADE 11/12 | Reading and Writing Skills

UNIT 1
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.

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 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.

Warm-up!
Two-Column Table

With a partner, go to the library and read about discourse. Focus on the nature and
purposes of a discourse. You have exactly 25 minutes to conduct a short research and take
down notes. Do not forget to cite your source(s). Write your notes on the left column of
the table below. Read your notes again and sum them up on the right column. Afterward,
present your work in front of the class.

Notes Summary

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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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 Check Your Understanding

1. What is a discourse?
2. Explain the purposes of a discourse.
3. How do you analyze a discourse?
4. Explain the factors that may influence a writer in making certain claims.
5. Write a one-paragraph essay about the nature and purposes of a discourse.

Let’s Step Up!

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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.

Warm-up!
Quad Activity

Form a group of four. 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. Present your work in class.

Text Description Purpose

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.
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.

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 But what really struck me when I first saw her was
her big round blue eyes.
How to set up an email account

1. Choose the web host.

2. Look for the sign up button. Click it.
3. Provide the required information.
4. Think of a unique username and a password.
(Tip: For the password, type in uppercase or
add characters.)
5. Start using the newly setup email account.
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.

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

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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 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.
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 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

1. Choose the web host.

2. Look for the sign up button. Click it.
3. Provide the required information.
4. Think of a unique username and a password. (Tip: For the password, type in uppercase or
add characters.)
5. Start using the newly setup email account.

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

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 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.

Check Your Understanding

1. Name the four types of discourse.
2. Describe the difference between argumentation and description.
3. How is narration different from exposition?
4. Among the four types of discourse, which one is most interesting for you? Why?
5. Describe the most meaningful thing you have learned in this lesson.

Let’s Step Up!

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 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.

Warm-up!
Triad Activity

Form a group of three. Provide an example for each category:

1. An example of a poem or a short story

2. An example of a letter or a diary entry
3. An example of a recipe or an editorial article

Read and examine each example. Describe each text in terms of language and purpose.
Present your group work in class.

Text Description Purpose

1

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2

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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.

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.

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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.

Chapter 12: Camp Lawrence (an excerpt)

Little Women
By Louisa May

Alcott Dear Jo,

What ho!

Some English girls and boys are coming to see me tomorrow and I want to have a jolly time. If
it’s fine, I’m going to pitch my tent in Longmeadow, and row up the whole crew to lunch and
croquet—have a fire, make messes, gypsy fashion, and all sorts of larks. They are nice people,
and like such things. Brooke will go to keep us boys steady, and Kate Vaughn will play
propriety for the girls. I want you all to come, can’t let Beth off at any price, and nobody
shall worry her. Don’t bother about rations, I’ll see to that and everything else, only do come,
there’s a good fellow!

Based on the passage, Laurie is excited to meet some friends and how he would like her
and her family to join them. At this point, Jo’s sister Beth is sick and frail, and Laurie
assures her that this trip is good for Beth.

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.

How to Cook Chicken Tinola

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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:
1. Prepare all the ingredients.
2. Heat the pan in a medium flame. Add 2–3 tablespoons of oil.
3. Sauté garlic, onion, and ginger. Add chicken wings and sauté for 3–4 minutes.
4. Pour 3–4 cups of water. Let it simmer.
5. Add the papaya. Simmer until the chicken becomes tender.
6. Add the malunggay leaves.
7. 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.

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 Check Your Understanding

1. What is a literary discourse?

2. Name and explain the types of literary discourse.
3. Are letters considered a literary discourse? Why?
4. Why do recipes fall under literary discourse?
5. What five words would you use to describe literary discourse? Explain and justify
your choices.

Let’s Step Up!

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 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.

Warm-up!
Dyad Activity

With a partner, read, examine, and compare the two texts below. Are there similarities or
differences? Use the right column of the table to list all the features of each text. Take note
of the language, aim or purpose, and point of view, Present your work in class.

Text Features
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).
Chapter 12: Camp Lawrence (an excerpt)

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Little Women
By Louisa May

Alcott My Dear:

I write a little word to tell you with how much satisfaction I

watch your efforts to control your temper. You say nothing
about your trials, failures, or successes, and think, perhaps,
that no one sees them but the Friend whose help you daily
ask, if I may trust the well-worn cover of your guidebook. I,
too, have seen them all, and heartily believe in the sincerity
of your resolution, since it begins to bear fruit. Go on, dear,
patiently and bravely, and always believe that no one
sympathizes more tenderly with you than your loving...

Mother

Learn About It!

An academic discourse is expository or argumentative in

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

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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 its use of
does language
not use figures of speech and idioms
maintains an objective tone using the features more than one point of view
third-person point of view

Take a look at this example of an academic discourse.

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.

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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.

Check Your Understanding

1. What is academic discourse?
2. Explain the difference between a literary discourse and an academic discourse in
terms of language.
3. What is the difference between a literary discourse and an academic discourse in
terms of point of view?
4. Explain the general format of academic discourses.
5. Explain academic discourse in a letter to your best friend.

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Let’s Step Up!

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