Senior High School

Reading and Writing Skills

Quarter 3 - Module 1
Reading & Thinking Strategies across Text Types

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

Semester: 2nd Semester

Quarter: 3rd Quarter
Number of Hours: 16 Hours
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Lesson Reading & Thinking Strategies:
Paragraph Development
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What I Need to Know

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

1. compare and contrast patterns of written texts across disciplines:

a) Narration
b) Description & Definition
c) Classification
d) Comparison & Contrast
e) Cause and Effect
f) Problem-Solution
g) Persuasion

To achieve the objectives of this module, do the following:

✓ Take your time reading the lessons carefully.

✓ Follow the directions and/or instructions in the activities and exercises
diligently.
✓ Answer all the given tests and exercises.

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 Lesson Reading & Thinking Strategies:
1.1 Writing Paragraphs

What’s New

✓ The word paragraph comes from two Greek words: para which means
“beyond” or “beside” and graphein which means “to write”.
✓ A paragraph is a collection of related sentences with one central idea.
Each sentence shows connection to other sentences in the paragraph.
✓ A paragraph is an independent unit or a related unit. As an independent
unit, it is complete in itself. As a related unit, it is a part of a composition
that is combined with other paragraphs to make a larger composition.
✓ Whether a paragraph is an independent unit or a related unit, it has its
beginning, middle and end.

DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPHS

One of the most important elements in writing is the form or structure. It is

worth noting that without a solid structure in place, the content you have gathered
would fall apart. After constructing an outline and writing your first draft, it is time to
get on to paragraph writing.

An effective paragraph shows the unity of the sentences used in developing

the main idea. A paragraph is made up of the topic sentence which contains the
main idea, the supporting details and the conclusion or the clinching sentence at
the end.

✓ Topic sentence – it reveals the main or central idea of the paragraph. It does
not necessarily have to be placed at the beginning of the paragraph. It may be
found in the middle of the first and the last sentence or at the end. If it is found
at the end of the paragraph, it may be used as a clinching or concluding
sentence.
✓ Supporting details – they give the paragraph life as it elaborates on the
scope given by the topic sentence.

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 ✓ Clinching sentence – it closes your paragraph. According to Dagdag
(2010), this “may be a restatement of the topic sentence, a summary, or a
conclusion based on the supporting details.”

Lesson Reading & Thinking Strategies:

1.2 Narration

What’s New

✓ Narration, from the root word narrates, originated from the Latin word
narrare— which means related or told.
✓ It gives a written account of an event or story, or simply, storytelling. The
sequence of events is told in chronological order.
✓ It usually contains the following: the who, what and when.
✓ A narrative must have “vivid” description of details, a consistent point of
view and verb tense, and a well-defined point or significance.” (Tiongson,
2016).
✓ At the end of writing it, it must send a clear message to its readers through
the story.

A narrative paragraph simply tells what happened and establishes facts. It

is sharing of personal experiences that offer lessons and insights. It is more than
just a chronological sequence of events that happen to the different
characters. It also contains elements of drama and tension.

Narration is the most common type of paragraph development. It has the

following elements:
1. Setting. It is the time and location in which a story takes place.
2. Characters. The life-giving element of the story.
3. Plot. It is the logical series of events in the story.
The five essential parts of the plot are:
a. Exposition. It is the part of the story where the characters and
the setting are revealed.
b. Rising Action. It is where the events in the story become
complicated and the conflict in the story is exposed.
c. Climax. This is the highest point of interest and the turning
point of the story.

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 d. Falling Action. The events and complications begin to resolve
themselves.
e. Denouement. The final resolution of the plot in the story.
4. Point of View. It is the perspective of the writer in narrating the
story.
a. First person point of view. The story is told by the protagonist
or one of the characters using pronouns I , me , we.
b. Second person point of view. The author tells the story in
second point of view using the pronouns you , yours, and
your.
c. Third person point of view. The narrator is not part of the story
but describes the events that happen. The writer uses the
pronouns he, she , him, and her.

Lesson Reading & Thinking Strategies:

1.3 Description

What’s New

✓ Description gives information of what a person, an object, a place or a

situation is like.
✓ It appeals to the reader’s senses.
✓ A descriptive paragraph has concrete and specific details, which are
carefully chosen by a writer to paint a picture in the mind of the reader.
Descriptive writing emphasizes a reader’s ability to paint vivid pictures using
words on a reader’s mind. This relies on the writer’s ability to appeal to his/her five
senses: the sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing.

To rouse feelings, emotions and reactions from the readers is what

descriptive paragraphs aim for. Simple adjectives will not simply cut it for readers
desiring for appropriate description of an event, thing, place or person.

According to Dagdag (2010), there are two types of description: objective

and subjective. Objective description is a factual description of the topic at hand.
This relies its information on physical aspects and appeals to those who crave for
facts. Meanwhile, subjective description allows the writer to explore ways to
describe an emotion, an event, a thing, a place or person, appealing to emotions.
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Often, this is an artistic way of describing things, mostly from the eye and
perspective of the writer.

Here is a word bank of sensory words to refer to when you want to add
descriptive details to your paragraphs:
SIGHT SOUND SMELL TOUCH TASTE
sparkling yelp musty sticky spicy
gloomy shriek rotten grainy sweet
glossy whisper fragrant smooth sour
bright hiss fresh satiny bitter
dazzling screech pungent pointy bland
cloudy chortle fruity clammy creamy
blurred sneeze stinky furry delectable

Lesson Reading & Thinking Strategies:

1.4 Definition

What’s New

✓ Definition explains a concept, term or subject. Its main purpose is to tell

what something is.
✓ It consists of three parts: (1) the term, concept or subject to be defined; (2)
the general class to which it belongs; and (3) the characteristics that
differentiate it from the other members of its class.
✓ A definition explains what a term means. When you want your
readers to know exactly how you are using a certain term or an
unfamiliar concept , you use definition.

It appealsistothe
✓Definition the reader’s senses. of any dictionary. In developing a
main constituent
paragraph by definition, you should take account of these things:
a) the term to be defined
✓ A descriptive paragraph has concrete and specific details, which are
b) the class to which the term belongs
carefully chosen by a writer to paint a picture in the mind of the reader.
c) the characteristics that distinguish the term from the other
members of its class.

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Take a look at this example of a definition:
An owl is a bird with a large head, strong talons and has a nocturnal
habit.
Owl – is the term to defined
Bird – is the class where the owl belongs
with a large head, strong talons and has a nocturnal habit – are the
characteristics that distinguish the owl from the other birds.
The following are the different types of definitions:
1. Formal Definition. The definitions provided in dictionaries.
2. Informal Definitions. The three common informal definitions are operational
definitions, synonyms, and connotations.
a. Operational Definitions gives the meaning of an abstract word for
one particular time and place.
b. Synonyms or words that mean the same as another word.
c. Denotation is the exact meaning of the word
d. Connotation is an idea or meaning suggested by or associated with
a word or things.
3. Definition Paragraph. It is a definition sentence which is extended into a
paragraph by adding meanings, descriptions, narrations , and other kinds
of paragraph development to make clear the term being defined.

Lesson Reading & Thinking Strategies:

1.5 Classification

What’s New

✓ Classification paragraphs group items into categories, to establish a clear

distinction.
✓ If the topic encompasses a large body of information, one effective way of
elaborating it is through classifying things of distinct features into
groups/classes.
✓ Classification groups items into categories to establish a clear distinction
between related or similar ideas. Similar items are grouped into categories
for the readers to better understand and analyze the material at hand.

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 In a classification paragraph you tell readers how a collection of items
can be sorted into categories. It is an activity of sorting items (people, things ,
ideas ) into categories.

1. Terms that signal classification

aspects kinds qualities traits
areas levels systems types

2. Transitional Expressions

can be divided can be categorized

can be classified the first type

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 Lesson Reading & Thinking Strategies:
1.6 Comparison & Contrast

What’s New

✓ A comparison tells how two things are similar. A contrast tells how they
are different.
✓ A paragraph developed by comparison and contrast has a unifying idea or
purpose of attempting to weigh decisions between two ideas or subjects.
✓ A comparison and contrast paragraph must be balanced in such a way that
there is an equal amount of information for each subject to avoid bias.

There are two ways in writing a comparison and contrast paragraph.

1. Subject – by - Subject Method. You present all of the facts and

supporting details about one topic , and then you give all the facts and
supporting details about the other topic.

2. Point – by - Point Arrangement. You discuss each point for both subjects
before giving on the next point.

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 Lesson Reading & Thinking Strategies:
1.7 Cause and Effect

What’s New

✓ A cause is what makes a particular thing happen.

✓ An effect is what results from a particular situation, activity, or behavior.
✓ A paragraph developed by causal analysis must not only raise the question
why, but also give answers to the satisfaction of the reader.

Cause and Effect paragraphs are written for the following purposes:
• to discuss why a certain phenomenon occurs
• to discuss the results of a phenomenon, event, feeling or action
• to understand a situation
• to solve a problem
• to predict an outcome
• to entertain
• to persuade

Some of the signal words used in this type of paragraph are the following:
• For
• Because
• Since
• Due to
• So
• But
• For this reason
• As a result
• Consequently
• Otherwise
• Therefore
• Thu

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 Lesson Reading & Thinking Strategies:
1.8 Problem - Solution

✓ In composition writing, problem-solution is a method for analyzing and

writing about a topic by identifying a problem and proposing one or more
solutions.
✓ Problem-solution paragraphs as the term implies, presents and identifies
a problem and proposes possible solution/s.

What’s New
In composing this type of essay, you must present an argument or stand and
support it with reliable evidence in order to persuade the readers to make a particular
move or action (Kemper et.al, 2016).

According to Soles (2010), topics for problem-solution essays “are typically

framed in the form of questions.” Problem-solution essay can provide answers to 5W
and 1H (who, what, when, where, why, and how) questions. Soles (2010) added that
this type of essay has essentially two parts: “a full explanation of the nature of the
problem, followed by an analysis of solutions and their likelihood of success.”

Structure of paragraphs in a problem-solution essay:

Nordquist (1995) suggested the following structure of a problem-solution

paper that may serve as a guide on what to include in this type of essay:
1. Introduction. At the forefront of the essay, the introduction must serve to
capture the reader’s attention. This may contain the thesis statement
wherein the problem or topic at hand is presented. This is where the
problem is defined, and the reason why it is significant to a specific group
of people (or the target audience).
2. Problem Paragraph. This paragraph/s will dwell on the elaboration of the
problem, effectively conveying the importance of a solution. You may
present reliable sources and evidence to support your stand.
3. Solution Paragraph. Present and describe a concrete solution to the
problem. Explain how this solution is better than other probable solutions.
 4. Conclusion. Conclude the essay with connection between the problem
and its proposed solution.

Lesson Reading & Thinking Strategies:

1.9 Persuasion

✓ A persuasive paragraph tries to convince the reader that a particular point

of view is worthy of consideration. It wants you to consider both sides of an
issue, but it reveals a bias in favor of one side over another.
✓ A persuasive paragraph intends to convince readers to do or believe in
something.
✓ Knowing how to write a persuasive paragraph allows you to express your
personal conviction or opinion about an issue or topic and make the
readers agree with or adopt your conviction or opinion.

What’s New

Much like problem-solution essays, persuasion essays seek to urge readers

to take a particular action (Forlini, et.al, 1990). The main goal of persuasive essays is
to convince the reader to agree to the writer’s opinion or at the very least, take it into
serious consideration.
According to Forlini (1990), “the purpose of persuasive writing is to obtain the
reader’s agreement on a matter of opinion.”
The statements given in persuasive essays are heavy on opinion while based
on facts. The opinions of the writer must be (a) controversial enough or something
that would inspire conversation and debate, (b) significant and interesting, and (c)
supported by evidence. (Forlini, 1990).
It is also vital that in order to prove your stand, you must thoroughly research
about the issue you are about to discuss. Make a list of your strongest arguments
composed of facts and data. Introduce a new reason or fact with every paragraph.

Some of the transitional expressions used in persuasive paragraphs are the

following:
ANSWER THE
GIVE REASONS DRAW CONCLUSION
OPPOSITION
First (second, third, etc.) Of course Therefore
Another, Next Some may say Thus
Last, finally Nevertheless Hence

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Because, since, for On the other hand Consequently
Although

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