Reading and

Writing Skills
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to:

Academic writing is one of the
most useful skills to have and yet
not everyone has the ability to write
an organized and well-written text
and appreciate its value. This ability
begins with practice.
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to:

"Start writing, no matter what.
The water does not flow until
the faucet is turned on.”

– Louis L’Amour
You have
probably read or
seen a recipe, a
literary critique,
or a diary entry
before.
These are all
different types of
texts, but they are
all examples of
discourse.
Definition and Purposes
of a Discourse
 Learn about It!

Definition of Text
● comes from the word texere
○ “to weave”
● refers to written or printed pieces of work
● to weave or put together words in order to
form ideas and meaning.
 Learn about It!

Definition of Discourse
● comes from the word discursus
○ in medieval Latin - “argument”
○ in late Latin - “conversation”
● refers to a connected series of utterances in a
written or spoken communication.
● to exchange ideas with others either in written or
spoken form.
Try it

Identify the following as text or discourse.

1. essay 6. joke
2. street signs 7. job interview
3. dialogues 8. documents
4. sermon 9. news article
5. billboard 10. lecture
 Learn about It!

Examples of Discourse
Critique
● states a writer’s opinion about the good and the bad
parts of another piece of writing or a work of art
● uses formal language
● contains ideas that are arranged in an organized and
logical manner
 Learn about It!

Examples of Discourse
Diary
● a daily record of someone’s personal experiences and
thoughts
● gives readers a sense of the writer’s character or values
 Learn about It!

Purposes of Discourse
To inform
● provides a descriptive and comprehensive discussion
on the topic
● points out what one should know about a topic or
subject
 Learn about It!

Purposes of Discourse
To persuade
● tries to convince the readers that the proposed claim
or solution is better than any other proposal
● tries to convince the readers to believe in or do
something
 Learn about It!

Purposes of Discourse
To entertain
● aims to amuse its readers
● provides a source of entertainment for its readers
 Learn about It!

Analyzing Discourse
Culture
● The beliefs, customs, attitudes, language, and other
things that define culture may influence the author’s
perspective on several issues.
● Knowing about the author’s culture may help the
reader understand his or her biases.
 Learn about It!

Analyzing Discourse
Social Environment
● The author’s physical surroundings and social
relationships, as well as the culture of the time, may have
influenced his or her writing.
● For example, an author living in a bustling city might write
about urban life, while one living in a rural area might
focus on nature and small-town dynamics.
 Learn about It!

Analyzing Discourse
Experiences
● Personal accounts or firsthand experience of events,
though subjective, establish credibility and reliability of
information presented in any discourse.
 Learn about It!

Read the text and answer the questions that

follow.

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Photographer
 Learn about It!

Guide Questions

1. What is the purpose of the text? Cite evidence to

support your answer.
2. For whom was this text written? Justify your answer.
3. Who could have possibly written this text? Explain.
4. Could this text be helpful for brides and grooms? Use
your knowledge of identifying the purpose of discourse
to justify your answer.
Types of Discourse
 Learn about It!

Argumentative Discourse

● aims to persuade the audience or

readers
● should appeal to logic or reason instead
of emotion
 Learn about It!

Argumentative Discourse
● the act or process of making and presenting arguments
● Arguments are series of statements for or against an
idea.
○ comes from the Latin word argumentum, which
means evidence, ground, support, or a logical
argument.
 Learn about It!

Example of Argumentative Discourse

A recent study confirmed that playing video games may cause
children to become violent. However, this is only true for some
children. Dr. Charlotte Cooper and Dr. Markey Vitasa of ABC
University explained that children who manifest a combination of
three personality traits―high neuroticism, disagreeableness, and
low levels of conscientiousness―are more likely to be aggressive
toward others after playing video games.
 Learn about It!

Descriptive Discourse
● Descriptive discourse is based on the main impression
of the author about the topic or subject.
● Its purpose is to transmit that impression through
concrete, colorful, and vivid language so that readers
can fully imagine the topic or subject.
 Learn about It!

Example of Descriptive Discourse

When I first saw my childhood friend Margarette, she was

about my younger sister Viv’s height. Her hair was curly
and dark, and her skin was pale. But what really struck
me when I first saw her was her big round blue eyes.
 Learn about It!

Expository Discourse
● Expository discourse aims to inform about, clarify,
and explain a phenomenon.
● It defines what something is and provides an in-depth
discussion about topics that are usually less explored.
 Learn about It!

Example of Expository Discourse

Many people believe that having a more outgoing or extroverted
personality trait is advantageous for people trying to learn a second
or foreign language since language learning requires authentic
practice through social interactions. However, a number of studies
also suggest that having an introverted personality trait has several
advantages too. Language researchers emphasize a very complex
relationship between language learning and personality so it is
difficult to generalize which personality trait presents more benefits
to learners.
 Learn about It!

Narrative Discourse

● Narrative discourse recalls events chronologically.

● The general purpose of narration is to relate a series
of events.
● A narrative discourse may have a linear or nonlinear
structure.
 Learn about It!

Example of Narrative Discourse

I remember the time when I learned how to swim. I was only eight
years old and afraid to bathe in a pool. I envied the kids who played
with inflatable balls and animals. Whenever my family would visit
the clubhouse, I would sit beside the pool and never really jump in
to join them. A summer camp opened in our neighborhood, and my
mom thought of enrolling my brother and me in a swimming class.
Two days before the class started, my mom gave me a pep talk; that
made me realize that I did not want to miss out on the fun just
because I was afraid.
 Key Points

● Discourse may be classified into four different types,

namely argumentative, descriptive, expository, and
narrative.

● In an argumentative discourse, the writer aims to

persuade the audience or readers.
 Key Points

● The goal of descriptive discourse is to convey an

author’s impression about a topic or subject through
concrete, colorful, and vivid language.

● Expository discourse aims to inform about, clarify, and

explain a phenomenon.

● The goal of narrative discourse is to relate a series of

events.
Literary Discourse
 Learn about It!

Poetic Discourse

● commonly found in creative works like poems, novels,

short stories, and plays
● focuses on how language is used to form themes and
convey beliefs
● Meanings conveyed are implied and not explicit.
 Learn about It!

Example of Poetic Discourse

The Road Not Taken (An Excerpt)
By Robert Frost

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
 Learn about It!

Expressive Discourse
● commonly found in journals, letters, diaries, and blogs
● a personal narrative and is typically written in the first-
person point of view
● also sometimes referred to as creative nonfiction
 Learn about It!

Example of Expressive Discourse

The Diary of a Young Girl (An Excerpt)
By Anne Frank
Sunday, 21 June 1942

Everyone at school is waiting to hear what happens next. Who will move up a
class, and who will stay down? We’re all trying to guess! I think my girlfriends and
I will be OK, though we’ll have to wait patiently to find out. Most of my teachers
like me, but old Mr Keesing gets angry with me because I often talk too much! He
made me do some extra homework and write about ‘Someone Who Talks Too
Much.’
 Learn about It!

Transactional Discourse
● commonly found in instructional materials,
advertisements, and editorials
● directive in nature as it provides detailed information
on how something is done or achieved
● encourages the reader to do something or to take
action
● does not often use literary devices
 Learn about It!

Example of Transactional Discourse

How to Cook Chicken Tinola

Ingredients:
1/2 kg chicken wings
1 red onion, peeled and sliced
1 clove of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 small ginger, peeled and julienned
1 small green papaya, peeled and cut into wedges
1–2 stalks of malunggay
 Learn about It!

Example of Transactional Discourse

1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of pepper
3–4 cups of water

Procedure:
1. Prepare all the ingredients.
2. Heat the pan on a medium flame. Add 2–3 tablespoons of oil.
3. Sauté garlic, onion, and ginger. Add chicken wings and sauté for 3–4 minutes.
4. Pour 3–4 cups of water. Let it simmer.
 Learn about It!

Example of Transactional Discourse

5. Add the papaya. Simmer until the chicken becomes tender.
6. Add the malunggay leaves.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve and enjoy.
 Analysis

Read the text and answer the questions that follow.

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Seniors
 Analysis

Guide Questions
1. What kind of literary discourse does the text represent?
2. What are the features of the text that support your answer
in the previous question?
3. Why is this kind of literary discourse important for readers?
4. Justify the importance of the message of the text in your
own life.
5. Who do you think are the target readers of this text?
 Let’s Think

1. Divide the class into groups.

2. Each group will be assigned one of the following topics:
a. poverty
b. discrimination
c. obesity
d. selling local products
e. buying local products
f. transportation issues in the Philippines
 Let’s Think

3. Think of a more specific topic from the

general topic and choose a type of
discourse.
4. Write a short essay on the specific topic
using the type of discourse you have
chosen.