Properties of a Well Written Text
For a text to be well-written, one must keep I. Organization
in mind these four properties:
o I. Organization
o II. Coherence and Cohesion
A. Arrangement of details
according to…
1. Chronological Order
2. Spatial Order
3. Emphatic Order
B. Signal Devices
1. Transitions
a) Time
b) Sequence
c) Space
d) d. illustration
e) e. Comparison
f) f. Contrast
g) g. Cause and
Effect
h) h. Conclusion
2. Repetitions
3. Synonyms II. Coherence & Cohesion
4. Pronouns
o III. Language Use
o IV. Mechanics
 It is said that the ideas are well-
developed when there is a clear
statement of purpose, position, facts,
examples specific details,
definitions, explanation,
justifications, or opposing
viewpoints.
 Organization is achieved when these
ideas are logically and accurately
arranged.
 If there is a clear statement of
purpose, position, facts, examples,
specific details, definition,
explanation, justifications, or
opposing viewpoints
 IDEAS are formed and well
developed.
 And if there is organization…
 There is …
 COHERENCE: This means that
sentences are arranged in a logical
manner, making them easily
understood by reader.
 COHESION: connection of ideas at
sentence level.
 Cohesion
 The property of unity in a written text or
a segment of spoken discourse that
stems from links among its surface
elements, as when words in one
sentence are repeated in another, and
especially from the fact that some words
or phrases depend on their
interpretation upon material in preceding Spatial
or following text.
 The sentences of a paragraph are
 Example: Be assured of this. Most arranged according to geographical
people do not want to fight. However, location, such as left to right, up-to-
they will do so when provoked. down, etc.

 Example: The inside of Bill’s

refrigerator was horrible. On the other
How can we organize the details of a paragraph? top shelf was a three-week old carton of
milk. Next to it sat a slice of melon that
Coherence and Cohesion had started to get moldy. To the right of
the melon sat the remains of macaroni
A. Arrangement of details according to: and cheese dinner that had been served
1. Chronological Order a week earlier. On the shelf below was a
2. Spatial Order slice of cake from his sister’s birthday
3. Emphatic Order party. Though there was food, none of it
was edible.

Emphatic
Chronological
 It is when information found in a
 The details are arranged in order in paragraph is arranged to emphasized
which they happened. certain points depending on the writer’s
purpose.
 Example: This morning was crazy.
My alarm clock was set for PM  The coherence of the paragraph is
instead of AM, so I woke up really established in one of two ways:
late. I just threw on some clothes
and ran out the door. I rode my bike a. From least to most important
as fast as I could and thought that I
b. From most to least important
was going to be late for sure, but
when I got there everyone was
outside and there were fire trucks all
lined up in front of school. I guess
somebody pulled the fire alarm
before class started. It worked out
though, because nobody really
noticed or minded that I was tardy.
  Example: After looking at all the
brochures and talking to several
salesmen, I decided to purchase an SLR
camera. For several years I had been
dissatisfied with the results I was getting
from my point-and-shoot camera. The
framing was imprecise and the focus
was not always accurate. I had planned
a vacation to an area that promised
many fabulous photo opportunities, and
I wanted to capture each with accuracy.
But the most important reason I decided
on the SLR camera was the great
versatility it offered.
 In the above paragraph, the organization
moves from the least important idea
(dissatisfaction with the results of the
point-and shoot camera) to the most
important idea (the versatility offered
with the SLR camera).
B. Signal Devices
1. Transitions
a. Time
b. Sequence
c. Space
d. illustration
e. Comparison
f. Contrast
g. Cause and Effect
h. Conclusion
2. Repetitions
3. Synonyms
4. Pronouns
Signal Devices
 Words that give readers an idea of how
the points in your paragraph are
progressing
Examples:
1. Transitions: words that connect one idea
to another, in order for our ideas to flow
smoothly.
a) Time: first, immediately, afterward,
before, at the same time after, later,
earlier , next, etc.
b) Sequence: moreover, furthermore, next,
also finally, last, another, additionally,
first, second, etc.
c) Space: above, next to, behind, beside,
d) Illustration: for an instance,
specifically, for example, namely, to
illustrate, in this case, etc.
e) Comparison: similarly, also, in the
same way, still, likewise, in comparison,
too, etc.
f) Contrast: but, despite, however, even
though, on the other hand, yet, although,
g) Cause and Effect: because, as a result,
consequently, then, so, since, etc.
h) Conclusion: thus, therefore, in short,
2. Repetitions
 Repetitions of ideas keep continuity and
highlight important ideas.
 It could be a word, phrase, or a full
sentence, or a poetical line repeated to
emphasize its significance in the entire
text.
 Example of Repetition:
 If you think you can do it, you can do
it
 The boy was a good footballer,
because his father was a footballer,
and his grandfather was a footballer.
 The president said, “work, work, and
work,” are the keys to success.
3. Synonyms
 These are words similar in meaning
to important words or phrases that
prevent tedious repetitions.
4. Pronouns
 Words that connect readers to the
original word that the pronouns
replace.
 Too unsophisticated
 Example of Pronouns used in an
Taboo Example Alternative
actual sentence:
Bad A bad result A (poor/negative) result
Get This model gets This model receives
 INCORRECT: Rodrigo Duterte
attention attention
is the 16th President of the
Good A good example A (useful/prime)
Republic of the Philippines.
example
Aside from that, Rodrigo Duterte
also served as Davao City’s Show The below The below figure
Mayor for a long period of time. figure shows (illustrates/demonstrate/r
Rodrigo Duterte is also known eveal)
by the popular as an adamant Big. A big sample A (large/sizeable)sample
leader. Humu
ngous
 CORRECT: Rodrigo Duterte
is the 16th President of the
Republic of the Philippines.
Aside from that, he also served
as Davao City’s Mayor for a Too vague
long period of time.He also
Tab Exampl Alternative
known by the populace as an
oo e
adamant leader.
Stuff People People are concerned
are about their
III. Language Use connect (belongings/possessions/pers
 Appropriateness of word/vocabulary ed onal effects)
usage. about
 Words and phrase one must avoid to their
use in order to practice appropriate stuff
language use: Thin The The report presents many
g report (details/findings/recommend
Table of Contents present ations)
s many
1. Too Informal
things
2. Too unsophisticated
3. Too vague
4. other tips Other tips:

Too Informal  Jargon: (i.e. “insider” terminology that

may be difficult for readers from other
fields to understand)
Taboo Example Alternative
A bit The The interviews were  Clichés: (which are expressions that are
interviews (difficult/somewhat heavily overused)
were a bit difficult) to schedule
difficult to  Slang words
schedule
 Everyday abbreviations: (e.g. fridge,
A lot, a A lot of (Many/several/a phone, info)
couple studies great number) of
of studies

America A researcher A researcher in

in America (United States of
America/The USA)
IV. Mechanics  Mention the full name before the
abbreviation
 Set of conventions on how to spell,
abbreviate, punctuate, and capitalize  Numbers from 1-10 must be spelled
out.
 Avoid contractions and exclamation
points (unless part of a direct
quotation)