LESSON 4

PROPERTIES OF A WELL-WRITTEN TEXT

When you have already gathered enough materials in developing your paragraphs or text, the next
step is to organize properly. Then you need to determine which ideas should be used in the
beginning, middle and end of your texts—coherence and cohesion should be considered in
arranging your ideas. The mechanics of writing should be observed too, like capitalization,
contractions and punctuation marks. Lastly, you need to determine the type of language you are
going to use for you to be able to communicate with your target audience.
LESSON 4.1
Organization, Coherence and Cohesion

For a text to be well-written, one must keep in mind these three

properties:
 Organization - this is the structural framework for writing. It is
important to effective writing because it provides readers with a
framework to help them fulfil their expectations for the text. This is
the logical progression and completeness of ideas in a text.
Organization is achieved when ideas are logically and accurately
arranged.
 Coherence – by coherence we mean that every part of a
composition must contribute to one main unifying thought, which
means that the various parts of a text must follow one another in
an order which makes their relationship clear.

Text organization is the way a text is organized that helps to guide the reader logically through it.
This property makes a text readable and its message clear. Organization can be achieved through
the following techniques:
 Physical format
 Signal words
 Structure
 Physical Format
The format is an aspect of the organization that is immediately apparent to the reader. It is seen in
how the text physically appears like headings and subheadings, bullet points or font emphasis.
However, use this technique with discretion as improper or superfluous formatting can be
confusing.

Example:
Marxist ideology has three main theories. Historical materialism purports that all the features of
society can historically be traced back to economic activity. Social class in capitalist societies is what
produces unjust structures of power that exist today. Socialism would be the next rational step for the
development of human society.
Explanation:
The words in bold are the three most important Marxist theories that the first sentence is referring to.
By emphasizing these words, the reader can identify the correct term for the concepts along with
their definitions; this would also aid in remembering the theories since they stick out from the rest of
the text.

 Signal Words
Signal words are textual cues that readers can use to follow a text. They can “signal” the transition
from one point to another, the ordering of events and concepts, or the writer’s chosen text type
(e.g., linear narration, question and answer).
Example:
Chuck Palahniuk’s novel Fight Club greatly influenced me as a fictional writer. First, his use of the
unreliable narrator fascinated me, and I have written similar characters in my works. Second, the
theme of patriarchal oppression can also be found in the stories I write. Third, the novel’s stunning
twist is something that I have been trying to recreate. Thus, I am extremely grateful to have
encountered Palahniuk’s genius early in my writing career.

Explanation:
By using sequential signal words (first, second and third) before the beginning of every sentence, the
reader can follow what seems to be the writer’s list of three reasons why the novel influenced him. The
word thus also signals the conclusion and the end of the list.

 Structure
The structure provides the framework upon which the text is organized. It consists of the following:

Beginning: introduction, thesis statement, hook

Middle: supporting details
End: conclusion, summary, final message
Example:
Ancient philosophies believe that a person has an “aura,” this appears as a rainbow of light around the
body that can be seen by individuals with clairvoyant abilities. The colors change depending on one’s
mood, health, and thoughts. Some scientists believe that the existence of the aura has something to
do with the electromagnetic fields produced by cells and tissues in the human body. Whether auras
are real or not, the fact remains that there are forces everywhere that are real even though we cannot
see them.
Explanation:
Organization in this paragraph is not readily noticeable as it does not use cues like formatting or signal
words. However, the text is organized in this way:

Beginning: Introduce topic of aura

Middle: Definition and evidence of existence of auras
End: Ending message about forces in the world

if there is a clear
statement of
purpose, position,
facts, examples, IDEAS are formed
specific details, and well-developed ORGANIZATION
definitions,
explanation,
justifications or
opposing viewpoints

And if there is ORGANIZATION, there is…

Coherence and Cohesion – by coherence we mean that every part of a composition must contribute
to one main unifying thought, which means that the various parts of a text must follow one another in
an order which makes their relationship clear. On the other hand, cohesion means that the overall text
has meaning.
A text with coherence has ideas that are logically sequenced in a way that is easy to follow for
the reader. Although without cohesion, no central concept links all these ideas together. The main
point of the text remains unclear for readers.
Example:
My favorite painting is “The Weeping Woman” by Pablo Picasso, which is an intriguing painting that
symbolizes suffering. As a result, I love bright primary colors, so I wear a lot of shocking yellows,
blues, and reds. Also, as an outgoing person, I enjoy performing for large crowds. In the end, people
should not judge an artist’s talent based on one standard.
Explanation:
Connecting words in the text suggest a sequence of ideas that the writer wants to convey. “As a result”
implies an effect of the previous statement while “in the end” indicates the conclusion. However, the
writer jumps from one topic to another resulting in a lack of cohesion. For instance, the writer talks
about his or her favorite colors “as a result” of Picasso’s painting even though they are not connected
in any way. It can be inferred that the choice of favorite colors was inspired by the colors of the
painting, but the writer does not make this clear.
Cohesion and Coherence
A text with both cohesion and coherence has a central concept linking all the ideas in the
text, and these ideas are presented in a logical manner. The main point is clear, and the text is
easy to follow and understand.

Example:
International Women’s Day is celebrated on the 8th of March of every year. It began as a Socialist
political event in several Western countries. Then, other countries also started celebrating the holiday
just as a way to express their love for women. Currently, the United Nations observes the holiday as a
way to bring to light women’s issues around the world.
Explanation:
The main topic of the text is International Women’s Day, which was stated in the first sentence. The
paragraph proceeds to outline the history of the holiday starting from some Western countries and its
spread to other nations. It ends with the current way that the whole world celebrates the day. The
writer can present different ideas about the holiday in a logical manner and without veering away from

Remember the following when trying to evaluate if your text has cohesion and
coherence:

 A text with cohesion but no coherence is difficult to follow.

 A text with coherence but no cohesion has no definite point.
 A text with both cohesion and coherence is logically sequenced and
the topic.
LESSON 4.2
Language Use and Mechanics

 Language Use – refers to the appropriateness of word/vocabulary use.

An effective language is specific, concise, familiar, correct and appropriate.

It is important that you make good choices when it comes to language

use because how you use language affects the tone of the text and the
readers’ interpretation of it. Before writing, you have to think about and
consider your target audience.

Determine when it is appropriate to use formal language or when informal

language
Informal language is is acceptable.
usually used in writing for oneself or in writing to family, friends, and colleagues.
On the other hand, formal language is used in writing academic, business, and official texts.
Examples:
We asked the secretary to call the professor and get her permission for us to continue our
research.
We requested that the secretary contact the professor and obtain her permission for us to continue
our research.
 Explanation:
In the first sentence, the writer used casual words such as asked, call, and get permission, which
made the sentence informal. The second sentence used more serious words such as requested
instead of asked, contact instead of call, and obtain permission instead of get permission. This
sentence is formal and is appropriate to use when talking or writing to a person of authority.
When you write, you should also make sure that the language you use is
**direct and simple rather than complicated so that readers would easily understand the text.** If your
readers are the youth, then you should use words that are familiar to young people.
Example:
Why Sunglasses Are a Must-Have for Kids (An Excerpt)
(NewsUSA) Most parents know how damaging the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can be to our
skin, which is why they dutifully slather sunscreen on their kids during the summer. But one thing
that often gets overlooked is protecting their children’s eyes. According to vision-care experts,
kids receive three times more UV exposure than adults annually, yet less than 30 percent of
parents currently protect their children’s eyes with sunglasses. The reason for concern is that
children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the sun’s rays because their ocular lenses
are not mature enough to filter UV light as effectively as adults, causing damage to the retina.
“Everyone buys into what happens to your skin when it comes to sun damage, but many parents are
really surprised to learn about the cumulative UV damage to the eyes,” Dawn Hartman, an
optometrist at Columbus Ophthalmology Associates in Columbus, Ohio, told the Wall Street Journal
in an interview. But the right sunglasses can help, as parents become more aware that protection
from the sun is not just skin deep.
Source:
(USA, NEWS USA, 2016)
http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com/health/why-sunglasses-are-a-must-have-for-kids/
Explanation:
The entire text uses simple words. This lets readers easily understand the significance of letting kids
wear sunglasses. There were a few technical scientific terms that were necessary to mention in the
text, such as ultraviolet radiation, ocular lenses, and retina. However, the message of the text is still
easy to grasp.

You should also be sensitive enough to use unbiased language so that you will not offend any
individual or any particular group of people. Unbiased language is language that is free of racial
bias, free of religious bias, and free of gender bias.
Examples:
A teacher should make it a point to motivate her students.
Teachers should make it a point to motivate their students
Explanation:
In the first sentence, the pronoun used is she, but teachers may also be male, so the statement shows
gender bias. The second sentence, on the other hand, makes use of the gender-neutral pronoun their,
making it unbiased.

Proper Language Use

Proper language use allows you to capture the message that you want to convey to your
readers. It is all about choosing the right words that accurately capture your ideas.

However, writers sometimes encounter problems with the following:

 Misused Words
 Words with Unwanted Connotations
 Technical or Highfalutin Words

Misused Words
A writer might sometimes use a word incorrectly, and this occurs when the word does not mean what
he or she thinks it does. So, it is important to be certain of the definition of a word before using it;
this often happens with words that sound or look alike.
Example:
There are many behaviors that past societies considered legal but are now deemed amoral including
slavery, sexism, and racism.
Explanation:
The writer confused the word “amoral” with “immoral.” The former means neither moral nor immoral
(without moral quality) while the latter means not moral. Sometimes, it is easy to guess the correct
meaning of a word just by looking at how it is spelled. The prefix a- signals that something is without
such as in “anarachy” (without a government) or “atypical” (without typical features). On the other
hand, the prefix im- simply means not such as in “imperfect” (not perfect) or “impossible” (not
possible).
Words with Unwanted Connotations
There are words that take on a meaning specific to a context. Some writers might not be aware of
these connotations, so they end up using language that is unintentionally confusing, comical or even
offensive to readers.
Example:
The coast guard salvaged Priscilla and her sister after their fishing boat was damaged in the storm.
Explanation:
The word “salvage” means to save usually from the wreckage of a marine vessel. However, the
Philippine media and police often use the term to mean a violent killing, which is opposite from its
traditional English meaning. It comes from the Spanish word “salvaje” that has a meaning similar to
“savage.” Thus, if the writer produced this text for a Filipino audience, the meaning that he or she
intended would be lost. Using the word “saved” or “rescued” would remedy the issue.
Technical or Highfalutin Words
Writers want to sound smart by using words that are very technical or have deep meanings. Though
some writing genres require the use of such words, writers should still be careful about using them
since they make readers work harder to understand texts.
Example:
There is an ongoing discourse about the antidisestablishment assemblage and the administrative
political body.

Explanation:
The text is complicated because it is filled with words that are difficult to understand. If the terms are
important to use, then the writer could define what they mean. Otherwise, the sentence could be
rewritten simply this way: There is an ongoing discussion between the opposition and the government.
This sentence still “sounds smart” but it is easier for most people to understand and it does not
change the meaning of the original sentence in any way.
Mechanics
Refers to a set of conventions on how to spell, abbreviate, punctuate and capitalize. Mechanics are
conventions that have to be considered in writing. Some of these conventions are spelling,
punctuation, and capitalization. It is important to know and observe these conventions in writing
to avoid confusion.
Spelling
When you write, always make sure that you are consistently using one standard with regard to the
spelling of your words. Remember that there are slight differences in American English spelling and
British English spelling.
Punctuation
Punctuation is the act of using a system of symbols such as the comma, period, quotation marks,
question marks, etc. that are used to give structure to and organize a text. The use of punctuation
guides the reader regarding how the text should be read.
 Examples:
I love to paint portraits I would paint one every day if I had the time
I love to paint portraits. I would paint one every day if I had the time.
This book is dedicated to my parents, Noel and Corazon.
This book is dedicated to my parents, Noel, and Corazon.
Explanation:
The first example does not make use of proper punctuation marks, while the second example presents
two sentences that are correctly punctuated. In the third example, the sentence denotes that the
author’s parents are Noel and Corazon. In the fourth example, the use of the serial comma denotes
that the book is dedicated to four persons: the author’s mom, the author’s dad, Noel, and Corazon.
The simple act of adding a comma completely changed the meaning of the statement.

Capitalization
Capitalization is the act of writing the first letter of a word in uppercase while the rest of the letters are
in lowercase. There are rules in capitalization that one has to remember. Below are a few examples of
words that require capitalization:
 proper nouns
Alex, Manila
 proper adjectives
Canadian
 days of the week
Sunday
 months of the year
January
 specific course titles
Theater 101
 kinship names used in place of personal names and are followed by personal names
Grandma, Dad, Aunt Paz, Uncle Alvin
 adjectives, verbs, adverbs, nouns, and pronouns in a title and the first and last word in a title
Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (literature)
 historical periods, events, documents
Great Depression, the Renaissance, the Constitution