Reading and Writing Skills

Quarter 3 –Module 1: Reading

& Thinking Strategies across
Text Types

HAZEL MAE M. HERRERA, LPT

SUBJECT TEACHER
 Ridgewood School of Caloocan, Inc.
31 L27, Acacia St., Rainbow 5, Ph.2 Bagumbong
Caloocan City

Learning Competency 1: Compare and contrast patterns of written

texts across disciplines.
a) Paragraph Development - EN11/12RWS-IIIbf-3

b) Narration - EN11/12RWS-IIIbf-3.1

c) Description - EN11/12RWS-IIIbf-3.2

d) Definition - EN11/12RWS-IIIbf-3.3

e) Classification - EN11/12RWS-IIIbf-3.4

f) Comparison & Contrast - EN11/12RWS-IIIbf-3.5

g) Cause & Effect - EN11/12RWS-IIIbf-3.6

h) Problem-Solution - EN11/12RWS-IIIbf-3.7

i) Persuasion - EN11/12RWS-IIIbf-3.8
 Lesson 2: Reading & Thinking
Strategies: Properties of a Well-
Written Text

When you have already gathered enough materials in developing your

paragraphs or texts, 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. All of the things mentioned above is what this module is all
about.

By the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

1. Discuss the meaning and components of a well-written text;

2. Explain the steps in achieving a well-written text;
3. Read and explore texts and determine if they are well-written or not;
4. Create a well-written text; and
5. Reflect on your learning on the properties of a well-written text

Reading & Thinking Strategies: 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.
✓ Cohesion - means that the overall text has meaning.
 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.

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.
• 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 physical format, signal words, and
structure.

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 favourite 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 favourite 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

Reading & Thinking Strategies: 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 is acceptable.

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

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.

REMEMBER
When you use words improperly, readers are left confused as to what you are
trying to say. So, always choose words according to their correct definition and
connotation. Also, keep your language simple enough to make your text easier
for readers to understand.

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

✓ Organization is the logical progression and completeness of ideas in a text.

✓ 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.
✓ Language Use refers to the appropriateness of word/vocabulary usage.
✓ Mechanics refers to a set of conventions on how to spell, abbreviate,
punctuate and capitalize.