Quiz

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. The definitions provided in dictionaries.

A. formal C. Operational
B. informal D. Denotation
2. It is sharing of personal experiences that offers lessons and insights.
A. Narration C. Comparison and Contrast
B. Description D. Classification
3. Definitions gives the meaning of an abstract word for one particular time
and place.
A. Formal C. Operational
B. Informal D. Denotation
4. Uses sensory details such as sights, smells , tastes, feelings and textures to
create vivid images in the reader’s mind.
A. Narration C. Comparison and Contrast
B. Description D. Classification
5. Words that mean the same as another word.
A. Formal C. Operational
B. Synonyms D. Denotation
 6. It tells how the two things are similar and different.
A. Narration C. Comparison & Contrast
B. Description D. Classification
7. It is the exact meaning of the word; while, connotation is an idea or meaning
suggested by or associated with a word or things.
A. Formal C. Operational
B. Synonyms D. Denotation
8. It is an activity of sorting items.
A. Narration C. Comparison and Contrast
B. Description D. Classification
9. It explains what a term means.
A. Definition C. Comparison & Contrast
B. Analogy D. Process
10. 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.
A. Definition C. Operational
B. Synonyms D. Denotation
PROPERTIES OF
Reading And Writing Skills

A WELL-
WRITTEN TEXT
 Objectives
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
Complete this figure by writing what do you think makes up an effective or a well-
written text.

What is a
well-written
text?
Organization, Coherence and
Cohesion
 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.
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.
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.
 ` and phrases that the author has used for arranging the
Identify the signal words
details in the paragraphs.
Northern Mindanao is a region rich in culture, which can be seen in their numerous
festivals. One of the most popular festivals in the region is the Higalaay Festival in Cagayan de
Oro City. They celebrate the feast day of St. Augustine every 28th day of August. Another
festival is Kaamulan festival in Bukidnon. It is an ethnic cultural festival wherein people allocate
a relative amount of their time to remember the culture and traditions of the seven ethnic tribes
in their area. It is also considered as a thanksgiving festival to celebrate their bountiful harvest.
Moreover, another famous festival in the region is the Lanzones festival in Camiguin, which is a
4-day celebration of this fruit. It is held every 3rd week of October. It is essential to note that the
sweetest Lanzones can be found in the islands of Camiguin. Regularly celebrating different
causes as one whole community shows that the citizens of Region 10 value camaraderie and
friendship.
 Some parts of this region are known to have preserved their tribal beliefs and
customs. An example is the Higaunon, a mountain tribe in Bukidnon. Apparently, they
still believe in the existence of spirits and gods. Furthermore, they have a god for each
element. Another superstition is they need to please the spirits so they will experience
something good in return. People in this tribe still live according to
their traditions with farming as their primary source of income. Additionally, the
ancestors of its current inhabitants mentioned that the region was occupied by four
tribes but when northern-central Mindanao was divided into provinces, migrants from Visayas
and Luzon began to dominate the region. Since that happened, the tribal communities went to
the mountains and forests to continue living out their cultural heritage.
 The region’s culture can also be seen in their establishments and churches. These
include: the Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Misamis Oriental, Macapagal-Macaraeg
Heritage House in Lanao Del Norte, General MacArthur Maker and Saint Augustine Cathedral in
Cagayan de Oro. These places represents a glimpse of Northern Mindanao’s history because
the events that occurred in these locations moulded Region 10 to be what it is today. The
province of Camiguin is home to century old churches such as the Santo Rosario Church and
Old Catarman Church Ruins. Baylao Church is considered as a miraculous place because a lot
of individuals connect it to how its existence saved numerous lives during the eruption of Mount
HibokHibok. Besides that, there are also a lot of ancestral homes that can be found in this
region that date back all the way to the Spanish era.
 if there is a clear
statement of
purpose, position,
facts, examples, IDEAS are
specific details, formed and well- ORGANIZATION
definitions,
explanation, developed
justifications or
opposing viewpoints

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.
 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.
 Create a coherent paragraph by arranging the following jumbled sentences.
Then write your arranged paragraph on the space provided. Don’t forget to
observe proper mechanics in writing your paragraph!

 In these areas, 70 % of the agricultural land suffers from dryness and lack
of irrigation.
 As a result, the crops are usually marginal with hardly enough production
to feed the farmer’s family.
 The first fact to consider is that over 60% of the population lives in rural
communities.
 In my country, one of the most urgent problems facing the government
today relates to agriculture.
 And without irrigation, agricultural production is wholly dependent on the
uncertain rainfall.
 To understand the nature of this problem, one has to look at some facts.
 To solve the problem of overpopulation, he devised a great war, which
would sweep like a conflagration over Greece.
 This was the Trojan war.
 Zeus, the ruler of the gods, seemed to have realized that the earth was
getting terribly overcrowded.
 Read each of the following paragraphs. Identify the sentence that does not
belong in the paragraph, to make it more coherent and cohesive.

Oceans and lakes have much in common, but they are also quite different. Both are
bodies of water, but oceans are very large bodies of salt water, while lakes are
much smaller bodies of fresh water. Lakes are usually surrounded by land, while
oceans are what surround continents. Both have plants and animals living in them.
The ocean is home to the largest animals on the planet, whereas lakes support
much smaller forms of life. When it is time for a vacation, both will make a great
place to visit and enjoy. I want to swim in the lake.
Sunset is the time of day when our sky meets the outer space solar winds. There
are blue, pink, and purple swirls, spinning and twisting, like clouds of balloons
caught in a blender. Sunset is the opposite of sunrise. The sun moves slowly to hide
behind the line of horizon, while the moon races to take its place in prominence atop
the night sky. People slow to a crawl, entranced, ful y forgetting the deeds that stil
must be done. There is a coolness, a calmness, when the sun does set.
Here is the perfect system for cleaning your room. First, move all of the items that
do not have a proper place to the center of the room. Get rid of at least five things
that you have not used within the last year. Take out all of the trash, and place all of
the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. Now find a location for each of the items you had
placed in the center of the room, for any remaining items, see if you can squeeze
them in under your bed or stuff them into the back of your closet. 5s is a Japanese
cleaning system. See, that was easy!
Language Use and Mechanics
 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.
 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/
You should also be sensitive enough to use unbiased language so that you wil
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
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.
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 Priscil a and her sister after their fishing boat was damaged
in the storm.
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.
Spot the informal words in the following sentences.
1. He’s gonna be angry.

2. I wanna learn how to ski.

3. Didja like the movie?

4. We hafta leave now.

5. I bought ya apples and grapes.

  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. 
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
Activity
In not more than 10 sentences, explain what you like or don’t like about
Senior High School. Your paragraph will be rated based on the rubric below. You
may write your paragraph on the space provided.
Criteria Performance Indicators Points Score
CONTENT Complete and thoughtful explanation of ideas 2
Strong organization and structure 2
Vivid supporting details included 2
MECHANICS Written in complete sentence 2
Correct and appropriate grammar, punctuation, 2
spelling, etc.
Total 10