LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS (LAS)

READING AND WRITING SKILLS/Grade 11

Name of Learner: _________________________________ Score: _________

Grade Level & Section: ___________________ Date: ________________
School: ___________________________________________

PROPERTIES OF A WELL-WRITTEN TEXT

Learning Competency:

Evaluate a written text based on its properties (organization, coherence and

cohesion, language use and mechanics)

Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, you are expected to do the following with 75%
proficiency level:
A. Identify the properties of a well-written text;
B. Discuss the importance of each property; and
C. Evaluate written texts based on the properties discussed.

Directions: Look at the picture below carefully then write your

observation on the space provided.

explore

https://www.thesun.co.uk/wpcontent/uploads/
2017/11/nintchdbpict000365175276.jpg

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 PROPERTIES OF A WELL-WRITTEN TEXT

TEXT ORGANIZATION
learn
Text organization makes a text easy to read. It prevents the reader from becoming
confused by a jumble of words, sentences, and paragraphs that are in no particular
order. 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.

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
By adhering to the structure, the writer can produce a text that is still easy
to follow. The topic, supporting details and concluding message is still clear
to the reader.

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.

COHERENCE AND COHESION

Coherence and cohesion make your text easier for your readers to follow and
understand. Cohesion is the connection of ideas to the central concept of a
text while coherence is the relationship of ideas between sentences. Both
should be present in your text because having one without the other will still create
confusion for readers.
COHESION WITHOUT COHERENCE
A text with cohesion has a central concept or “glue” that holds all the different
ideas together. Although without coherence, there is no apparent logic to the way
these ideas are presented. The writer appears to move on to another related idea
without a proper transition from the previous idea.

Example:
Cubism is an avant-garde art movement that started in the early 20th century in
Europe. A famous Filipino cubist painter is Vicente Manansala. He is a National
Artist of the Philippines in Visual Arts. Did you know that visual arts have different
forms including architecture, video, and textile?

Explanation:
Every sentence is related to the next sentence in some way. The paragraph stays on
the topic of art, which is the “glue” that holds the text together and allows it to exhibit
cohesion. However, the way it was developed does not make sense. It began with the
origins of Cubism and through the artist Manansala was able to end with a seemingly
unprovoked question about visual art forms.

COHERENCE WITHOUT COHESION

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 the topic.

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 stays
on topic.

LANGUAGE USE AND MECHANICS

LANGUAGE USE
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 is acceptable.

Informal language is 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.
MECHANICS
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.

Examples:

Explanation:
Before writing, think of your target audience. Whether you write using the British or
American spelling, it is important to be consistent in spelling. If you are unsure of
the spelling of a word, consult a dictionary or a spell checker.

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

Activity 1

Directions: Identify the term being described in each of the following

items.
engage

____________ 1. This refers to the use of proper punctuation, capitalization, and

spelling to avoid confusion in a text
____________ 2. This property involves choosing the right words that accurately
capture your ideas
____________ 3. Focuses on the relationship of ideas between sentences
____________ 4. Refers to the connection of ideas to the central concept of a text
____________ 5. The act of using a system of symbols to give structure and organize
a text
____________ 6. The way a text is organized in such manner that it prevents
confusion among the readers
____________ 7. Language used in writing academic, business, and official texts
____________ 8. Language used in writing for oneself or in writing to family and
friends
____________ 9. It is the act of writing the first letter of a word in uppercase while the
rest of the letters are in lowercase
____________ 10. This involves a system of symbols such as comma, period,
quotation marks, etc. to give structure and organize a text
Activity 2

Directions: Discuss the importance of the different properties of a well-written text.

a. Text Organization

b. Proper Language Use

c. Coherence and Cohesion

d. Language Use and Mechanics

 Activity 3

Directions: Evaluate the texts below based on the properties discussed.

If there’s no error in a particular property, write NO ERROR beside it.
apply If there’s something you have observed related to that property, write it
down also.

1. A. Memorable Students
They are the memorable students. In any class, they participate fully. In any
mischief, they see no point. In volunteering for extra jobs, they delight. In
distracting their classmates, they take no pleasure. In learning, they are
never satisfied.

B. Memorable Students
They are the memorable students in any class. They participate fully in any
mischief. They see no point in volunteering for extra jobs. They delight in
distracting their classmates. They take no pleasure in learning. They are
never satisfied.

PROPERTIES OF A OBSERVATION
WELL-WRITTEN TEXT

Text Organization

Proper Language Use

Coherence and Cohesion

Language Use and

Mechanics

2. A. Exceedingly large segments of the population are expressing their

discontent with medical practitioners who appear to be more engrossed in
amassing financial assets that in providing efficacious care to people with
health disorders.

B. A large number of consumers are complaining about medical doctors who

are apparently more interested in making money than in providing effective
health care.

C. A lot of people are unhappy with their doctors who only seem to care about
how much money they make, and not about giving their patients good care.
 PROPERTIES OF A OBSERVATION
WELL-WRITTEN TEXT

Text Organization

Proper Language Use

Coherence and Cohesion

Language Use and

Mechanics

3. Newspaper headline:

Include your children when baking cookies

PROPERTIES OF A OBSERVATION
WELL-WRITTEN TEXT

Text Organization

Proper Language Use

Coherence and Cohesion

Language Use and

Mechanics
4. A. When cats are hungry, they rub on your leg and demand immediate
attention. They find a quiet place and sleep when they are satisfied.

B. When cats are hungry, they rub on your leg and demand immediate
attention. However, when they are satisfied, they find a quiet place and sleep.

PROPERTIES OF A OBSERVATION
WELL-WRITTEN TEXT

Text Organization

Proper Language Use

Coherence and Cohesion

Language Use and

Mechanics

References

Dayagbil, F., Abao, E., and Bacus, R. (2016). Critical Reading and Writing for the
Senior High School. Lorimar Publishing, Inc. Quezon City. pp 64-74

https://www.thesun.co.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2017/11/nintchdbpict000365175
276.jpg

http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com/health/why-sunglasses-are-a-must-have-
for-kids/