Reading and Writing Lesson 1-5: Text as Connected Discourse

Outlining

• Two main systems of outlining: Alphanumeric and Decimal
• Alphanumeric system uses Roman and Hindu-Arabic numbers, as well as uppercase and lowercase letters
• Decimal system uses symbols that look like decimal numbers
• Outlining helps organize ideas and shows the hierarchical relationship or logical ordering of information

Graphic Organizers

• Visual and graphic displays that show relationships among concepts or ideas
• Types of graphic organizers:
• Pie/Circle/Sector Graph: presents proportions and percentages
• Line Graph: shows progress or development
• Venn Diagram: compares and contrasts
• Organizational Chart: presents lines of responsibility and accountability in an organization
• Schematic Diagram: shows how something works or is organized

Patterns of Development

• 8 patterns to organize and develop ideas:
• Narration: tells a story and shows a sequence of events
• Description: uses concrete and specific details to create a vivid picture
• Definition: explains a concept, term, or subject
• Exemplification: provides typical cases or examples
• Division and Classification: separates items and creates clear distinctions
• Comparison and Contrast: shows how something is like or different from other things
• Causal Analysis: tackles causes and effects
• Persuasion: intends to convince readers to do or believe in something

Properties of a Well-Written Text

• 4 key properties:
• Organization: organizing ideas through paragraphing and using appropriate signals
• Coherence and Cohesion: overall understandability and the glue that holds the structure together
• Language Use: using specialized language, figurative language, and tone
• Reading and Writing: integrating reading and writing skills

Text as Connected Discourse

• Text: a stretch of language perceived as a purposeful connected whole
• Discourse: conversation, argument, or speech
• Purpose of a discourse:
• To inform
• To persuade
• To entertain
• Types of discourse:
• Argumentation: making and presenting arguments
• Description: transmitting impressions through language
• Exposition: informing, clarifying, and explaining a phenomenon
• Narration: storytelling and recalling events chronologically

Techniques in Selecting and Organizing Information

• Brainstorming: generating ideas in a group or individual setting
• Idea List: listing broad topics and identifying related, narrower topics
• Concept Map: starting with a main concept and adding branches for subtopics
• Mechanics: technical aspects of writing, including spelling, punctuation, and capitalization

Critical Reading and Writing

• Critical readers recognize a deeper meaning beyond the presented text
• Three types of analysis:
• What a text says: restatement
• What a text does: description
• What a text means: interpretation
• Techniques to develop:
• Thinking: constructing and deconstructing ideas
• Reasoning: expressing ideas and opinions and justifying one's stand
• Elements for evaluation:
• Content: substance
• Objectivity: stand of the author
• Significance: intention and value
• Types of claims:
• Claim of Fact: asserts empirical truth
• Claim of Judgment or Value: asserts a judgment
• Claim of Action or Policy: asserts an action should be taken

Intertextuality and Hypertextuality

• Intertextuality: connections built on social meanings, involving the interrelationship between texts
• Hypertextuality: creating links between information, such as hyperlinks