8

English
Quarter 4 – Module 1a:
Using Appropriate Grammatical Signals
Suitable to Each Pattern of Idea Development:
General to Particular and Claim and
Counterclaim
English – Grade 8
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 4 – Module 1a: Using Appropriate Grammatical Signals Suitable to Each
Pattern of Idea Development: General to Particular and Claim and Counterclaim
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any
work of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government
agency or office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such
work for profit. Such agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition
the payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright
holders. Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these
materials from their respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not
represent nor claim ownership over them.

Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Everon Joy P. Catanus
Editors: Vi Leslie B. Rubio
Reviewers: Florife S. Gentiles, Judelyn N. Bicoy & Vi Leslie B. Rubio
Illustrator:
Layout Artist/Typesetter: Josephine V. Austero
Management Team: Senen Priscillo P. Paulin, CESO V Anna Lee A. Amores, EdD
Marcelo K. Palsispis, Ed.D. Rosela R. Abiera
Joelyza M. Arcilla, Ed.D. Maricel S. Rasid
Nilita L. Ragay, Ed.D. Elmar L. Cabrera

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education –Region VII Schools Division of Negros Oriental

Office Address: Kagawasan, Ave., Daro, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

Tele #: (035) 225 2376 / 541 1117
E-mail Address: negros.oriental@deped.gov.ph
CONTENT PAGES

WHAT I KNOW ------------------------------------------------ 1

WHAT’S IN ------------------------------------------------ 2

WHAT’S NEW ------------------------------------------------ 2

WHAT IS IT ------------------------------------------------ 3

WHAT’S MORE ------------------------------------------------ 6

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED --------------------------------- 8

WHAT I CAN DO ---------------------------------------- 8

ASSESSMENT ------------------------------------------------ 9

ANSWER KEYS ------------------------------------------------ 12

REFERENCE LIST -------------------------------------------- 13

ii
 WHAT I KNOW

Pre-assessment Activity
Directions: From the pool of choices in the box, choose the appropriate
grammatical signal to use in each sentence. Write the correct
answer on your activity notebook.

In addition to While Although Specifically For example

1. Car prices can vary a lot. ________________ in Belgium, the VW Golf costs
$1000 less than in Britain.

2. It was recognized as the flu, ______________ records describe conditions

which were highly likely to have been polio.

3. _______________ these remarkable inland mountains, Formosa’s eastern

shores show magnificent cliff scenery, the bases of the hills on the
seaside taking the form of almost perpendicular walls as high as from
1500 to 2 500 ft.

4. They stay awake at night ____________ researchers work in the daytime.

5. Soon, however, the activity of the Schoffen became ___________ confined

to the determination of legal disputes, and in their place a new body
(Collegium) of counsellors – Ratmannen – also fourteen in number, was
appointed for the general administration of local matters.

21
 WHAT’S IN

Directions: Rewrite the following sentences by inserting the appropriate

grammatical signal in each sentence. Choose the correct answer
from the choices in the parentheses. Do this on your activity
notebook.

1. General to particular:
There are several steps to follow when baking a cake. Prepare all the
necessary ingredients and materials. (for example / first / moreover)

2. Claim: Virginia Woolf is a more effective writer than James Joyce. She
does not rely on elaborate language devices that ultimately confuse and
alienate the reader. (because / on the other hand / lastly)

3. Counterclaim: Some argue that eating meat is ethical because it is

natural for animals to kill and eat one another. This argument
presumes that all animals need meat to survive or rely exclusively on
hunting for food. (as a result / however / although)

WHAT’S NEW

How do you develop an idea? What grammatical signals do you use to

show how ideas develop?

Pattern of idea development refers to the strategy a writer uses to

show how an idea flows from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph.
Coherence in writing is the term used to refer to ideas in sentences and
paragraphs that are connected and flow together smoothly. Coherence is
important in idea development because it inhibits the reader’s ability to
understand the ideas and main points of a certain text. To achieve this,
appropriate grammatical signals are used to show relationship between ideas
in sentences and paragraphs.

Read through to know what grammatical signals to use for general-to-

specific pattern and to indicate claim and counterclaim.

32
 WHAT IS IT

Grammatical signals are writing devices that serve to maintain text

coherence. As mentioned earlier, coherence allows a reader to understand a
text more because the ideas flow together smoothly.

Look at the following sentences:

I love drinking coffee. It keeps me awake at night.

These sentences imply that the writer loves drinking coffee because it
keeps her awake at night. To add more specificity, the signal word “because”
can be used. To change the relationship between the sentences, other
transition words can be used. Transitions (or signal words) are words and
phrases that show the connection between ideas. To show how transitions
guide us, here are the same two ideas, but this time with a transition word:

I love drinking coffee even though it keeps me awake at night.

Now the writer loves coffee in spite of it keeping her awake at night. The
relationship between the sentences’ ideas has changed. A transition has
smoothed the way from one idea to the other. In Latin, trans means “across,”
so transitions live up to their name – they carry the reader “across” from one
thought to another.

General to Specific

As the name suggests, this pattern is characterized by a movement in

your thinking from a generalization to specific details. Your opening
paragraph would begin with a general statement and then add details that
explain it. The details may become increasingly more specific. The pattern
ends with a broad statement that summarizes your thinking that resulted
from the details.

Example of a General-to-Specific Pattern

Writing is a complex socio-cognitive process involving the

construction of recorded messages on paper or on some other
material, and, more recently, on a computer screen. The skills
needed to write range from making the appropriate graphic marks,
through utilizing the resources of the chosen language, to

43
 anticipating the reactions of the intended readers. The first skill
area involves acquiring a writing system, which may be alphabetic
(as in European languages) or nonalphabetic (as in many Asian
languages). The second skill area requires selecting the appropriate
grammar and vocabulary to form acceptable sentences and then
arranging them in paragraphs. Third, writing involves thinking
about the purpose of the text to be composed and about its possible
effects on the intended readership. One important aspect of this last
feature is the choice of a suitable style. Because of these
characteristics, writing is not an innate natural ability like speaking
but has to be acquired through years of training or schooling
(Swales & Feak, 1994, p. 34).

In this example, the first sentence presents the general statement about
the writing process. The succeeding statements consist of details and
examples, introduced by the transitions first, second, and third. Finally, the
pattern ends with a broad or general statement that summarizes what the
writer wishes to conclude about the meaning of the details.
Source: https://www.umgc.edu/current-students/learning-resources/writing-center/online-guide-to-
writing/tutorial/chapter3/ch3-10.html

The following are more grammatical signals and expressions to indicate

a general-to-specific pattern:

• Addition words tell you that the writer’s thought is going to continue
in the same direction. He is going to add on more points or details of
the same kind. Addition words are typically used to signal enumeration.
Look over some addition words.

also first furthermore likewise and

another first of all in addition moreover second
finally for one thing last of all next the third reason

• Illustration words tell you that an example or illustration will be given

to make an idea clear. Such words are typically used in textbooks that
present a number of definitions and examples of those definitions. Look
over the following illustration words.

for example specifically for instance

to illustrate once such as

Source: https://www.cpp.edu/ramp/program-materials/recognizing-transitions.shtml

54
Claim and Counterclaim

A claim persuades, argues, convinces, proves, or provocatively suggests

something to a reader who may or may not initially agree with you.

Consider these arguments/arguable claims:

1. Fudgee bar tastes better than other snack cakes because of their
texture, their creamy filling, and their golden appearance.
2. Dance music has become popular for reasons that have nothing to do
with the quality of the music; rather, the clear, fast beats respond to
the need of people on amphetamines to move and to move quickly.
3. The governor has continually done the community a disservice by
mishandling money, focusing on frivolous causes, and failing to listen
to his constituents.

A claim can be substantiated with research, evidence, testimony, and

academic reasoning. It is something more than statement and support. An
arguable claim also goes on to address the “so what?” question, the
implications, and why we should care in the first place. Remember that not
all claims are created equal, and though a claim may be arguable, the best
claims are focused, specific, complex, and relevant.

On the other hand, a counterclaim is the argument (or one of the

arguments) opposing your thesis statement. In your thesis paragraph, you
make it clear to the reader exactly what you plan on proving and how you
plan to go about proving it. This paragraph is where you show the reader that
you have considered the opposing side’s viewpoint and find it to be weak or
invalid. A counterclaim and rebuttal paragraph, if done well, gives you a
chance to respond to the reader’s potential arguments before they are done
reading.

When writing an argumentative essay, you need to acknowledge the

valid points of the other side of the argument (counterclaim). Otherwise, you
will come off sounding narrow-minded and thereby less effective. Rather than
weakening your paper, a good counterclaim paragraph will actually
strengthen your essay by showing that you have thoughtfully considered both
sides of the issue before arriving at your own claim.

65
Look closely at this counterclaim paragraph:

On the other hand, some people say that rock music contains lyrics
that are both provocative and rebellious. This point of view makes sense
because in the article it states that “one form of rock music, punk rock,
concentrates purely on antisocial subjects as a basis for its songs.”
However, rock music itself is not enough to make a teenager rebel against
society because the article also says that the average teenager does not take
it seriously and concentrates more on the musical value of the songs rather
than the inner meaning of the lyrics. Therefore, even though lyrics in rock and
roll music show hints of anarchy and social rebellion, it is not a threat to society.

a. Phrases to introduce the counterclaim:

• On the other hand, some people say
• Admittedly, some people say
• Certainly, some people say

b. Phrases to address the original claim:

• However
• Nevertheless
• On the other hand

c. Phrases to conclude the paragraph:

• Thus
• Therefore
• As a result

Source: https://kmslmc.weebly.com/counterclaim---argumentative-essay.html

Among the most valuable signals for you to know are emphasis words,
through which the writer tells you directly that a particular idea or detail is
especially important. These words can be used to indicate both claim and
counterclaim. Think of such words as red flags that the author is using to
make sure you pay attention to an idea. Look over the following list, which
contains some typical words showing emphasis.

• important to note • remember that • above all

• most of all • a major event • a central issue
• a significant factor • the chief outcome • a distinctive
• a primary concern • the principal item quality
• a key feature • pay particular • especially relevant
• the main value attention to • should be noted
• especially valuable • the chief factor • the most
• most noteworthy • a vital force substantial issue

76
 WHAT'S MORE

Directions: Read the selections that follow and identify the grammatical
signals used. Note the example. Write the correct answer on your
activity notebook.
Example:

Black English used to be considered simply poor English until linguists

realized that the so-called errors were actually consistent alternative
grammatical forms, some of which originated in African linguistic
patterns. For example, the word “be” in standard English is primarily used
as part of the infinitive “to be.” But in Black English, “be” can also be used to
indicate a repeated action or existential state (Labov, 1972). To illustrate
this, in Black English one can say “I am sick” or “I be sick.” The first means
“I am sick at this present moment.” The second includes the recent past as
well as the present; to express the second concept in standard English, one
might say, “I have been sick for a while.”

1. One purpose for incorporating sexual themes or pictorial material in

advertisements is to attract consumers’ attention to the ad. However, evidence
suggests that the use of such material may not always have an easily
predictable or desired effect. For example, one study found nonsexual and
sexual-romantic themes to have a greater influence on consumers’ attention
than did nudity. (1 signal word)

2. An interesting point about role playing is the way middle-years and

adolescent youngsters play the role of being their age. One eight-year-old boy,
for instance, avidly collected baseball cards and kept track of games and team
standings in sports pages in accordance with the mores of his neighborhood,
even though he had never seen a baseball game or expressed the slightest
interest in attending one. (1 signal word)

77
 WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

Directions: Review the lesson on Using Appropriate Grammatical Signals

Suitable to Each Pattern of Idea Development. Then write your reflection on
your notebook by completing the statements below.

I have learned that ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

I have realized that _______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

I will apply _______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

WHAT I CAN DO

Directions: Read the selections that follow and identify the grammatical
signals used. Note the example. Write the correct answer on your
activity notebook.

Example:

A computer is often called a “thinking machine,” and in many ways it

is just that. Computers perform difficult and timesaving mathematical
computations, as well as problems in logic and reasoning. In addition,
computers run other machines and answer questions. Also, they are used to
guide astronauts on takeoff.

1. Despite favorable surface conditions, there were throughout the 1920’s

defects in the American economy. First, some major industries did not
experience the general prosperity which characterized most of the economy.
Meager farm income meant that farmers lacked purchasing power to buy their
share of the increasing output of goods and services. Coal, textiles, and shoes
were among other industries which suffered from low profit margins.
Moreover, while employment rose during the 1920s, the biggest gains were in

98
the low-paid service trades rather than in those industries where earnings
were high. Furthermore, the condition of American foreign trade was not as
healthy as it appeared. (3 signal words)

2. Here are ways to take some of the danger out of smoking. First of all, choose
a cigarette with less tar and nicotine. The difference between brands
(including those with filters) can be as much as two to one, even more. See
how much you can reduce your tar and nicotine intake by switching. Also,
don’t smoke your cigarette all the way down. You get the most tar and nicotine
from the last few puffs because the tobacco itself acts as a filter. Smoke
halfway and you get only about 40 percent of the total tar and nicotine. The
last half of the cigarette will give you 60 percent. Another help is to take fewer
draws on each cigarette. Just reduce the number of times you puff on each
cigarette and you’ll cut down on your smoking without really missing it. In
addition, you should reduce your inhaling. Remember, you’re not standing on
a mountain gulping in fresh air; so, don’t welcome it with open lungs. Don’t
inhale as deeply; take short shallow drags. Practice on a big cigar. Finally,
you should smoke fewer cigarettes each day. For some people this is easy, but
for others it may be the most difficult step of all. Don’t think of it as cutting
down; think of it as postponing. It’s always easier to postpone a cigarette if
you know you’ll be having one later. Carry your cigarettes in a different
pocket; at work, keep them in a desk drawer or a locker – any place where
you can’t reach for one automatically. The trick is to change your habit
patterns. (5 signal words)

ASSESSMENT

Directions: Identify the pattern of idea development in the following

paragraphs (general to particular, claim, or counterclaim).
The highlighted grammatical signals or expressions will serve as
your guide in identifying the pattern. Write the correct answer
on your activity notebook.

1. Some people may argue that a college education is a waste of time and
money. According to Vedder, “a goodly proportion of those attending
four-year colleges full-time fail to graduate, even within six years,”
(Vedder, 78). By focusing on the percentage of people that fail to
graduate, he overlooks the fact that 60% of college students are actually
succeeding and graduating from college, which is more than those who
are not. People are not better off skipping college. It is important to

9
10
 remember that a college degree opens many doors and provides
graduates with many advantages in life.

2. Breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend can be easier said than done,

but here are five steps that may help the breaking up process. First,
try to distance yourself by suddenly becoming busier than usual.
Whenever she/he calls, tell him/her that you are busy, and you cannot
talk. The next step is to calmly tell the other person how you are
feeling. Then gently let him or her know that you do not want to be
together anymore. Make sure to be sensitive of his or her feelings and
answer any questions that he/she may have. For example, if the
person starts to cry, use kind words to help comfort him or her. After
everything is said and done, take some alone time for yourself because
everyone has feelings to sort out after a breakup. Finally, go out with
friends and meet new people. With these five steps, it will make the
breaking up process smooth for both parties.

3. Alcohol use and problem drinking in late adolescence vary by

sociodemographic characteristics. For example, the prevalence of
alcohol use is higher for boys than for girls, higher for White and
Hispanic adolescents, and higher for those living in the north and north
central United States than for those living in the South and West. Some
of these relationships change with early adulthood, however. For
example, although alcohol use in high school tends to be higher in areas
with lower population density (i.e., rural areas) than in more densely
populated areas, this relationship reverses during early adulthood.
Lower economic status is associated with more alcohol use during the
early high school years: by the end of high school, and during the
transition to adulthood, this relationship changes, and youth from
higher socioeconomic backgrounds consume greater amounts of
alcohol.

4. Forcing middle schoolers to try out for competitive sports is hotly

contested because people hold varying opinions on the issue. Some
people argue that tryouts are a time-honored way to select the best
athletes for a middle school team. Others argue, however, that tryouts
for competitive sports exclude kids from participating on a team, cause
students undue stress, and can lead to unhealthy practices. I strongly
believe that tryouts for middle schoolers should be discontinued. Not
only do tryouts create unhealthy and negative competition between
peers, but it also lowers students’ self-esteem and confidence.

5. Some might argue that a dress code would eliminate freedom of

expression for students, but that isn’t true. Dress code policies already
restrict expression such as the length of clothing or hair color. If
freedom of expression is the argument, then shouldn’t these policies
not be allowed either? In addition, students only spend a small portion
of their time in a school building. There is plenty of other time in a

11
10
student’s life where they can express themselves through their clothing.
Finally, many work environments have a certain expectation for
appropriate dress. Having students wear uniforms doesn’t eliminate
expression. It prepares students for career expectations. This
argument against uniforms is flawed and not a true reason for
negating the possible benefits school uniforms would bring.

12
11
 12
13
What I Know
1. For example
2. Although
3. In addition to
4. While
5. Specifically
What’s In
1. General to particular:
There are several steps to follow when baking a cake. First, prepare
all the necessary ingredients and materials.
2. Claim: Virginia Woolf is a more effective writer than James Joyce
because she does not rely on elaborate language devices that
ultimately confuse and alienate the reader.
3. Counterclaim: Some argue that eating meat is ethical because it is
natural for animals to kill and eat one another. However, this
argument presumes that all animals need meat to survive or rely
exclusively on hunting for food.
What’s More
1. For example
2. For instance
What I Can Do
1. First, moreover, furthermore
2. First of all, also, another, in addition, finally
Assessment:
1. Counterclaim
2. General to particular
3. General to particular
4. Claim
5. Counterclaim
ANSWER KEYS
 REFERENCES

A_STUDY_ON_THE_USING_OF_GRAMMATICAL_SIGNALS_WITHINL. (n.d.).
Retrieved from
http://eprints.umm.ac.id/227/1/A_STUDY_ON_THE_USING_OF_GRAMMATICAL
_SIGNALS_WITHINL.pdf

https://www.cpp.edu/ramp/program-materials/recognizing transitions.shtml

Wrtg - general–to–specific pattern. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2021, from

https://www.umgc.edu/current-students/learning-resources/writing-center/online-guide-
to-writing/tutorial/chapter3/ch3-10.html

Claims&Claims&Claims [Pdf]. (n.d.). Depts.washington.edu.

Counterclaim - argumentative essay. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2021, from

https://kmslmc.weebly.com/counterclaim---argumentative-essay.html

For example, in a sentence (esp. good sentence like quote, proverb...). (n.d.). Retrieved April
27, 2021, from https://sentencedict.com/for%20example.html

Although sentence example. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2021, from

https://sentence.yourdictionary.com/although

Addition sentence example. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2021, from

https://sentence.yourdictionary.com/addition

While sentence example. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2021, from

https://sentence.yourdictionary.com/while

Specifically sentence example. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2021, from

https://sentence.yourdictionary.com/specifically

14
13
 For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:
Department of Education – Schools Division of Negros Oriental
Kagawasan, Avenue, Daro, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

Tel #: (035) 225 2376 / 541 1117

Email Address: negros.oriental@deped.gov.ph
Website: lrmds.depednodis.net

15