Text & Discourse: Understanding Coherence

• Text is a piece of written or spoken work for analysis, such as a conversation or poster
• Discourse is continuous spoken or written language conveying coherent ideas like a sermon or argument
• Connected Discourse refers to a continuous flow of speech or writing, common in conversations and discussions
• Coherence involves the logical arrangement of ideas in discourse

Transition Words

• Transition words are essential for linking ideas, sentences, or paragraphs
• They help sequence ideas, clarify relationships, and ensure a smooth flow in writing

Categories of Transition Words

• Argumentative Essays
• Compare and Contrast
• Cause and Effect
• Starting a Paragraph
• Conclusions
• Parallelism is a grammatical structure arranging words or phrases similarly for balance and clarity
• Brainstorming is a group discussion method for generating ideas and solutions

Brainstorming Strategies

• Cubing involves considering a topic from six perspectives: describing, comparing, associating, analyzing, applying, and arguing for/against
• Freewriting involves continuous writing without focusing on structure to allow a free flow of thoughts
• Listing involves jotting down related words or phrases in a list format
• Mapping involves creating a visual diagram showing ideas branching out from a central topic
• Researching involves using the "big six" journalistic questions (who, what, when, where, why, how) to gather information
• Graphic organizers are visual tools representing relationships between facts, concepts, or ideas
• Sequence Charts, Venn Diagrams, Concept Maps, Spider Maps, T-Charts, KWL Charts, and Tables are examples of graphic organizers
• An outline is a structured list of headings and subheadings organizing main points and supporting details

Types of Outlines

• Topic Sentence Outlines use short phrases for primary development methods and are suited for brief documents
• Formal Outlines have a detailed structure with headings, subheadings, and supporting details

Patterns of Development Writing

• Narration tells a story or recounts an event
• Description provides detailed information about a person, place, thing, or event.
• Cause and Effect explores the reasons for an event or situation (cause) and the results or consequences (effect)
• Comparison and Contrast examines the similarities and/or differences between items, ideas, or concepts
• Definition explains the meaning of a term or concept
• Classification organizes ideas or items into categories based on shared characteristics
• Persuasion aims to convince the reader to adopt a viewpoint or take action
• Problem and Solution identifies an issue and presents possible solutions
• Organization in writing refers to how a writer arranges their ideas to ensure clarity and coherence
• Coherence refers to the unity of ideas in a paragraph
• Cohesion involves logically linking sentences or paragraphs
• Chronological patterns arrange events in the order they occurred, often using transition words
• Spatial or Geographical patterns organize details based on physical location to help readers visualize space
• Topical or Logical Order presents ideas based on related sub-topics or categories without a specific sequence
• Language use involves choosing the right tone, style, and clarity in writing, ensuring it's concrete, concise, clear, and formal
• Mechanics encompass the grammar rules, including subject-verb agreement, tense usage, capitalization, and punctuation.
• Annotating means interacting with the text by highlighting passages and writing notes to improve understanding and retention
• Contextual Reading involves reading with awareness of context, distinguishing facts from opinions, and understanding implicit and explicit meanings
• Explicit information is clearly stated, leaving no room for misinterpretation
• Implicit information is suggested without being directly stated. Requires inference based on context or clues
• Outlining is a structured plan for writing that organizes main ideas (thesis), supporting points, and evidence logically
• Summarizing condenses the original text into a shorter version capturing key ideas without personal opinions
• Paraphrasing rewording a passage to retain original meaning, demonstrating comprehension
• Comparing identifies similarities, contrasting highlights differences
• Considering an argument involves evaluating arguments for balance, logic, consistency, relevance, and potential bias
• SQ3R is a reading comprehension method

SQ3R steps

• Survey: Skim the text to get an overview
• Question: Turn headings into questions
• Read: Actively read to find answers
• Recite: Summarize key points from memory
• Review: Go over material to ensure understanding

Claims in text

• Claim of Fact asserts something is true or false
• Claim of Value involves judgments and evaluations.
• Claim of Policy proposes solutions or actions
• Critical reading aids in evaluating arguments and reasoning
• Evaluative statements assess something based on set criteria and evidence
• Textual evidence involves referencing, paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting sources