READING AND WRITING

Patterns of Development in Writing Across Disciplines

Narration

  • Definition: A narrative text contains a plot that provides direction in making a story.

  • Sequential Presentation: The order in which events are presented is crucial in narration, utilizing signal words to create unified thought and facilitate transitions to the next event.

  • Chronological Order: Helps readers understand the progression of the story.

Description

  • Element: Involves the use of adjectives and adverbs to enhance the text.

  • Sensory Language: Uses words to describe how a subject looks, sounds, feels, smells, or tastes.

  • Arrangement of Details: Properly arranging details helps create a vivid image of a scene, person, or object being described.

Types of Description

  • Objective Description:

    • Provides an impartial and factual representation of the subject, excluding personal biases.

    • Example: Describing an experiment.

  • Subjective Description:

    • Offers a personal impression of the observed subject. Used commonly in fiction.

    • Example: Describing a personal experience during a summer vacation.

Definition

  • Purpose: Provides concise meanings of unfamiliar words and explores special meanings of familiar terms.

Types of Definition

  • Informal Definition:

    • Denotation: The dictionary meaning of a word.

    • Connotation: The secondary meaning shaped by personal or consensual experiences.

    • Example: "Crocodile" can imply greed.

  • Formal Definition:

    • Consists of three parts: the Word (name of the object), Genus (class), and Differentiate (distinguishing features).

Exemplification and Classification

  • Exemplification:

    • Involves a general statement (topic sentence) supported by concrete examples.

    • Used to clarify or illustrate an idea.

  • Classification:

    • Organizes subjects into groups based on shared characteristics.

Comparison and Contrast

  • Comparison: Discusses elements that are similar.

  • Contrast: Discusses elements that are different.

  • Methods:

    • Block Method: Compare and contrast two subjects one at a time.

    • Point by Point Method: Address elements of one subject before moving to the next.

Cause and Effect

  • Cause: The reason something happens; answers "Why did it happen?"

  • Effect: The outcomes resulting from a cause; answers "What happened?"

Persuasive Texts

  • Types: Argument, discussion, exposition, review, advertisement.

  • Development: Requires the writer to state the issue clearly.

Properties of a Well-Written Text

  • Organization: Clear, logical, aesthetic structure.

    • Includes organizational markers and coherent flow of ideas.

  • Coherence: Connection and organization of ideas to create unity.

  • Cohesion: Unifying ideas through linking words and phrases.

Language Use

  1. Formality: The level of formality in language, based on the relationship between writer and reader.

  2. Jargon: Specialized language used by specific groups; should match the audience's familiarity.

  3. Slang: Informal expressions that don't literally convey their meanings.

  4. Idioms: Expressions with meanings different from the literal interpretation.

  5. Euphemisms: Words that soften or veil the truth.

Mechanics of Writing

  • Importance: Technical aspects such as spelling, punctuation, and capitalization guide proper word usage.

Claims in Writing

  • Definition: Beliefs, arguments, assertions made in a text.

Types of Claims

  • Explicit Claim: Clearly stated in text.

  • Implicit Claim: Indirectly expressed; requires inference to understand.

  • Claim of Fact: Describes, predicts, or states facts.

  • Claim of Policy: Advocates for actions to be taken (also known as Claim of Solution).

  • Claim of Value: Based on ethics or morality; targets audience emotions, requiring judgment on whether the argument is right or wrong.