Discourse, Textuality Standards, Structures & Features – Comprehensive Study Notes

Page 1: Etymology & Core Definition of Discourse

  • Etymology

    • The word “discourse” is traced to the Late-Latin term discursus (OCR rendered it as “ficerens/Convriation”). It literally means “conversation” or the running to-and-fro of ideas.

  • Working definition

    • A formal and orderly interchange of ideas and information, either spoken or written.

    • Goes “above the sentence” level—writers/speakers use it to express opinions, negotiate meaning, and prompt responses.

  • Characteristics highlighted on the slide

    • “Materializing text” – the physical/visible manifestation of language.

    • A process that involves presence, interaction, and interpretation.

    • Generally regarded as more extended, systematic, and purposive than casual talk.

Page 2: From Discourse to Text – Connecting Ideas

  • Synonyms supplied: talk, speech, discussion, conversation – stressing discursive variety.

  • A discourse is often recorded and preserved (spoken ➜ written).

  • Key claim: “A text is a connected discourse.”

    • All ideas inside a text must relate to one central idea; otherwise the text fragments into unrelated remarks.

    • Emphasis on a single controlling thought = textual unity/coherence.

  • Purpose & attitude

    • Writer’s stance and intended impact already hinted at (later formalised as intentionality).

Page 3: Qualities of a Text (Jørgensen & Phillips)

  • Main diagram (central bubble + satellites) illustrates cohesion: the surface-level chaining of ideas so that sentences visibly “stick together.”

  • Key Quality #1 – Cohesion

    • Repetition, reference (pronouns, determiners), substitution, ellipsis, conjunctions, lexical relations.

  • Key Quality #2 – Connection to Central Concept

    • Every idea (Idea 1, Idea 2, Idea 3 …) must point back to the core concept.

  • Transitional Devices

    • Though only the phrase “Transitward Doncus” appears, the intent is clear: transitions such as however, moreover, therefore, for example guide readers through the logic.

Page 4: Advanced Standards – Coherence, Intentionality & Acceptability

  • Coherence (OCR glimpsed as “Chance”) – “reasonable connection or relation between parts.”

    • A logical, orderly, aesthetically consistent arrangement of ideas.

  • Intentionality – writer-centred

    • Answers “Why is the author writing?”

    • Typical macro-purposes: inform, persuade, entertain (labeled a, b, c).

  • Acceptability – reader-centred

    • Will the audience consider the text relevant, adequate & worth accepting?

    • Depends on clarity, accuracy, completeness, and alignment with reader expectations.

Page 5: Remaining Textuality Standards – Informativity, Situationality & Intertextuality

  • Informativity

    • A text should contribute new information or a fresh perspective, not merely duplicate what the audience already knows.

  • Situationality

    • Topic, tone, and examples must be situationally & culturally appropriate.

    • Avoid bias, prejudice, or offensive content toward any group, sex, religion, etc.

  • Intertextuality

    • Though OCR writes “Sima fionality,” the slide points to the idea that texts echo, cite, or react to other texts.

    • Reading comprehension improves when readers recognise these cross-links.

Quick Recap: Together with cohesion & coherence, scholars often speak of 77 textuality standards: Cohesion, Coherence, Intentionality, Acceptability, Informativity, Situationality, Intertextuality.

Page 6: Why Learn Text Structure?

  • Identifying the author’s preferred text structure helps readers predict, organise, and remember information.

  • Definition: Structural patterns authors use to “help convey a message.”

  • Benefit for readers

    • Sharper focus, better note-taking, faster retrieval of key ideas.

    • Recognising “the underlying text structure” sharpens comprehension.

Page 7: Common Expository Structures (Set 1)

  1. Compare & Contrast

    • Purpose – show similarities and differences.

    • Signal/transition words – alike, unlike, different, similar, on the other hand.

  2. Cause & Effect

    • Purpose – answer “Why did X happen?” and “What happened because of X?”

    • Signal words – because, since, due to, as a result, consequently.

Page 8: Common Expository Structures (Set 2)

  1. Chronology / Sequence

    • Purpose – present events in time order (biographies, procedural texts).

    • Signal words – first, next, then, before, after, finally, last.

  2. Problem & Solution

    • Purpose – state a difficulty and propose ways to fix it.

    • Signal words – problem, difficulty, the answer is, solution, remedy.

Page 9: Text Features (Visual & Typographic Aids – Part 1)

  • Photographs – real-life images that clarify how something looks.

  • Titles – appear at the top of a page/section, introduce the main idea.

  • Bold Print – highlights vocabulary that is crucial; often appears in the glossary.

  • Glossary – alphabetical list of key terms + definitions (usually at the book’s end).

  • Maps – visual display of where events happen or where places are located.

Page 10: Text Features (Visual & Typographic Aids – Part 2)

  • Timelines – charts that line up important events in chronological order.

  • Graphs / Graphic Organisers – structured visuals (charts, tables) that condense data.

  • Captions – sentences below/around a photo or illustration explaining what is shown.

  • Bullet Points – succinct lists of facts/items; improve skimmability.

  • Subtitles / Subheadings – give specific information about subsections of the text.

Page 11: Informational (Expository) Text – Purpose & Toolbox

  • Informational text = non-fiction writing that educates or informs about a specific topic.

  • Relies heavily on the text features above to make complex information accessible.

  • Distinguishing Traits

    • Fact-based, not “made up.”

    • Organised logically (structures on Pages 7–8).

    • Uses aids (Pages 9–10) to support comprehension.

Page 12: Real-World Examples & Emphasis Techniques

  • Examples of informational texts (interpretation of OCR list)

    1. Newspapers

    2. Encyclopaedias

    3. Reference books / “Love pages” ➜ magazine-style info pages

    4. Biographies / Autobiographies

    5. Textbooks

    6. How-to or cook books

  • Emphasis devices found in such texts

    • Boldface, underlining, coloured text, italics – draw attention to new terms or key facts.

    • Headings, sub-headings, tables of contents, captions, bulleted/numbered lists.

Strategic Tip: When previewing an informational text, FIRST scan these features—your brain creates a mental map before you dive into paragraphs.