Reading and Writing Skills

Scope: Text as Connected Discourse, Techniques in selecting and organizing information, Brainstorming,
Graphic Organizer, Topic Outline, Scanning/Skimming, Close Reading, Organization, Cohesion &
Coherence, Transitional Devices, Types of Essay, Politically Correct language

HUMSS - 201 | 2nd term Mid term reviewer

Text as Connected Discourse

Text as Connected Discourse

Text: composed of words on a page Speaking Writing

on a page or notation on sheet
music. The original words and form Unplanned Planned, changed
of a written or printed work. through editing and
revision
Discourse: A verbal interchange of
ideas especially: conversation. Verbal and Written words to
non-verbal cues to convey meaning
Reading: a form of language elicit reactions
processing, is the complex
Offers immediate Has delayed
cognitive process of decoding
feedback response or none at
symbols to derive meaning.
all
When certain symbols such as letters Usually informal Formal and
of the alphabet combine in a certain and repetitive compact
way to make certain words, and such
words combine into phrases, into
sentences, into paragraphs, into Speaking and writing: active or productive
compositions, the next becomes a skills in language learning because such
connected discourse. actions require learners to produce
language.
Content word: nouns, verbs,
adverbs, adjectives. Listening and reading: passive or receptive
skills because learners are on the receiving
Function word: articles, prepositions, end of language.
conjunctions
Writing skills: are the ones most often used
Certain combinations of words by teachers to gauge the learner’s language
create certain kinds of discourse, proficiency level.
therefore certain kinds of meaning.
Speech: is public and more often an issue of
confidence, whereas, writing, because it is in
black and white, reflects the learner's level
more accurately.
 Reading Strategies 5. Word parts (affixes): Follow it and
you’ll know the meaning of the word.

In 2019, the Programme for International “ Piscatorial creatures live in the

Student Assessment (PISA) results created coldest parts of the ocean. “
quite a stir when it announced the 2018
results that the Philippines ranked The base word may look familiar to you as it
second to the last among 79 countries in is a cousin of the zodiac sign Pisces, which is
terms of reading, mathematics, and science Latin for “fish”. “-ial” is usually attached to
literacy. We had the lowest score in reading. an adjective and means “of relating to, or
characterized by.”
Skimming: quickly reading a text to get only
its main idea. Close Reading: is a thoughtful, critical
analysis of a text that focuses on significant
Scanning: as searching for specific phrases details or patterns to develop a deep,
in text to answer some questions. The precise understanding of the text’s form,
keyword is keyword. craft, meanings, etc.

Context Clues: clues that help you

understand the meaning of a word based on Selecting and Organizing
its context. Information

1. Synonyms: a repetition of an idea

expressed in familiar words nearby. Brainstorming list: Originally used by the
American businessman Alex Osborn in 1953
“ this situation is a conundrum, a as a strategy for his advertising agents to
puzzle that’s difficult to solve. “ pitch in highly innovative marketing plans.

2. Definition: use of that is or i.e, Parts:

commas, dashes, and parentheses.
1. Problem: Supposed to brainstorm
“ His emaciation, that is, his about
skeleton-like appearance, was 2. Suggestions: Things, concepts, ideas
frightening to see. “ that you wish to contribute to
alleviate the problem, if not solve it.
Skeleton-like appearance is the
definition of emaciation Brainstorming list

3. Antonyms: words like although, 1. Cubing (examining viewpoints)

however, and but may signal 2. Freewriting (writing unlimited,
contrast or antonym clues. uninhibited ideas about the topic)
listing (listing things associated with
4. Explanation: may also be in the form the topic)
of an example. Words like including, 3. Mapping (also called webbing or
such as, and for example points clustering where you write down all
these out. their connections to each other)
 4. Researching (discovering fact writers, and others use to organize and
investigation) structure.

Flow chart: used to show chronology of

Graphic Organizers (GO)
events in a narrative or stages in a process.
Graphic Organizers (GO): are visual
representations of a structurally arranged Plot Diagram: used to map events in the
set of discourse elements. Also known as story and analyze major parts of the plot.
knowledge map, concept map, story map,
cognitive organizer, advance organizer, or Topic Outline
concept diagram. It is a pedagogical tool
that uses visual symbols to express
Topic Outline: outlining organizes
knowledge and concepts through
information in a neat list, depending on your
relationships between them. It provides a
specific need for the information you just
visual aid to facilitate learning and
arranged.
instructions.
Outline: Is generally defined as a group of
Visual representations: They usually take
information structured in an organized list.
the form of tables, graphs, and charts,
which stimulate the eyes.
2 formatting styles of outlines:
Structurally arranged: They help you
1. Alphanumeric Format:
compartmentalize the pool of data you have
with you making them appeal to you and
1st
others. Level: Roman numerals
2nd Level: Capital letters
Discourse Elements: only vital information 3rd Level: Hindu - Arabic numerals
should be compartmentalized 4th Level: lowercase letters
5th Level: lowercase Roman numerals
The simplest and most widely utilized GO is 6th Level: parenthesized lowercase
the table. letters
7th Level: parenthesized Roman
numerals
Venn Diagram: It is used to compare and
contrast ideas.
2. Decimal Format:

Cause and Effect: Also called a fishbone 1st Level: x (the number of the data in concern)
diagram, it is a graphical tool for displaying 2nd Level: x.1 (the supporting detail of the
a list of causes associated with a specific previous level)
effect. 3rd Level: x.y.1 (the specific example of the
supporting detail)
Cycle: Describes how a series of events 4th Level: x.y.z.1 (a more specific example of the
interact as a set of results repeatedly. general example) AND SO ON...

Concept map: Depicts suggested

relationships between concepts. Used by
instructional designers, engineers, technical
Sentence Outline: ​when you compose Organization
and finish sentence outlines, writing
the essay itself will be a breeze,
a. Topic Subordination: Commonly
because all you need to do is to
applied to paragraphs, topic
connect those sentences by using
subordination is the explicit
transitional devices. highlighting of the topic sentence,
and the supporting details which are
Properties of a Well-written text clipped onto it.
b. Generalization to Specification:
Allows you to expand the reach of
Organization: ​also known as the thought that you present in your
arrangement, is achieved when ideas topic sentences by giving examples.
are logically and accurately arranged
with focus on the arrangement of ideas, Cohesion
incidents, evidence, or details in a
definite order in a paragraph, essay, or Cohesion: The fluid connection of ideas
speech, Developing your ideas into a between sentences and paragraphs. Sticks
logical and sensible pattern. The the idea in sentences together to become
effective strategic plotting of ideas in a grammatically and logically correct. Ideas
text. are connected at the sentence level.

Effective: They must be able to organize “Cohere” means “to stick together”
such thoughts, concepts, and facts in a way
that it will be easily understood by everyone Transitional Devices
regardless of their level of comprehension.

Strategic plotting: ​organizing information Sequences: Again, also, and then, besides,
finally, first, second, third, furthermore, last,
is deliberately decided, depending on
moreover, next, still, too
the need of those who may read your
essay, article, or any other discourse Time: After a few days, after a while,
material you are asked to make. afterward, as long as, as soon as, at last, at
that time, before, earlier, immediately, in the
Ideas: ​the root of it all. Remember that meantime, in the past, lately, later,
the reason we organize ideas is to easily meanwhile, now, presently, simultaneously,
understand them should we need them since, so far, soon, then, thereafter, until,
right now, or in the future. when

IBC: ​Introduction, Body, Conclusion. Contrast: Although, but, despite, even

though, however in contrast, in spite of,
instead, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the
contrary, on the one hand, on the other
hand, regardless, still, though, yet
Examples: After all, for example, for All your supporting sentences should come
instance, indeed, in fact, of course, from the topic sentence.
specifically, such as, the following, example,
to illustrate Cohesion happens because of coherence.

Causes and Effect: Accordingly, as a result, Coherence occurs when the reader
because, consequently, for this reason, understands the text because the writer
hence, if…then, since, so, then, therefore. uses cohesive devices/words that stock or
Thereupon, thus, to this end. connect the idea logically together.

Place: Above, adjacent to, below, beyond,

closer to elsewhere, far, father on, here, Generational Subcultures
near, nearby, opposite to, there, to the left,
to the right
- Jeproks
- Hippie
Concession (admission or
- New Wave
acknowledgment): although it is true that,
- Goth
granted that, I admit that, it may appear
- Emo
that, naturally, of course
- Hypebeast
- Jejemon (jeje slang) : It doesnt have
Summary, Repetition, or conclusion: As a
a sense of organization, thus
result, as has been noted, as I have said, as
confusing the reader.
mentioned earlier, as we have seen, in any
event, in conclusion, in other words, in short,
on the whole, therefore, to summarize Mechanics of Writing
Michael Alexander Kirkwood (M.A.K) Mechanics: It is generally defined as the
Halliday: British linguist who studied and surface-level conventions that give a
made known the concept of cohesion in the well-thought, professional look to a certain
English language in the mainstream in 1976, text. Covers knowing what to write and how
with the help of his wife, linguist Ruqaiya to write.
Hasan.
Some grammatical/syntactical rules in
Coherence formal writing:

Coherence: Ideas are connected at the 1. Always use standard English

conceptual level. The connection between 2. Avoid contractions (shouldn’t, gonna,
the whole text and the reader. Refers to the etc.) always spell the words out.
overall sense or quality of a passage. 3. Avoid exclamation marks as much as
possible unless part of a quotation.
How to achieve Coherence: 4. Mention the full name in the first
mention. Thereafter, use
1. Connecting old and new information abbreviations.
2. Contextualization of content 5. Spell out numbers, unless pertaining
3. Meaning-making to dates/years. As a rule too, spell
out numbers from one to ten (1-10).
 Eleven (11) and onwards may be Abbreviations:
written as numerals, except when
found at the beginning of the a. Titles: commonly attached to the
sentence. start of a professional’s name
6. Citations are used in academic and
formal texts, but sparingly used in - Dr. = Doctor
business texts. - Arch. = Architect
- Engr. = Engineer
Mechanics of Writing: - Prof. = Professor
- Instr. = Instructor
1. Spelling: If a certain expression
needs to be defined or discussed, use b. Honorifics: used when you are not
the English term for that expression sure of the profession/nature of work
as much as possible. If you need to of the person you are referring to.
use a foreign term due to its unique
nature, then use that foreign term, - Mr. = for males, regardless of marital
provided that you explain it and social status.
afterwards in English. The Philippines - Ms. = a generalized honorific for a
uses American lexicon (set of female whose marital status is
vocabulary) uncertain
- Miss = for unmarried females
- Etymology = word origin - Mrs. = for a married woman
- Ma’am = generalized honorific for
2. Abbreviations and Acronyms: female
- Abbreviations: are - Sir = Generalized honorific for a male
condensed forms or shortcuts whose marital status is uncertain
of certain terms.
- Acronyms: are formed when Acronyms:
combining the first letters of
long name. a. Shortening the names of
organizations:
Ex:
- WHO = world health org
SCUBA = Self-contained underwater - UAAP = university athletic
breathing apparatus association of the philippines
Et. al = and others - OCW = overseas contract worker
Capt. = Captain
PIN = Personal Identification Number b. Basic scientific and technical terms:
I.e = in other words
CAPTCHA = Completely Automated Public - DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid
Turing Test to tell Computers and Humans - KB = kilobyte
Apart - MB = megabyte
E.g = for example - GB = gigabyte
H&M = Hennes & Mauritz
A.D = Anno Domini
SWAT = Special Weapons and Tactics.
 c. Postnominals: commonly connected Informal or personal: friends, family
after the names of certain members
professions
Academic or standard language:
- MD = Doctor of Medicine professors and officials in the academe or in
- EMT = Emergency Medical any other formal context
Technician
Mood: presented in the kind of text you are
d. Backronyms: became words in their required to write and how you present your
own right due to constant usage by arguments.
English speakers.

- Radar = Radio detection and ranging Types of Essay

- Zip code = Zone identification
protocol 1. Expository essay: Problem &
- RnB = rhythm and blues evidence
2. Descriptive essay: new and
3. Colon, Semicolon, and Comma: unfamiliar topic/idea
- Colons: are used when 3. Narrative essay: Document an event
starting a list, when 4. Argumentative essay: written
emphasizing the next debate
sentence/independent
clause/word Conciseness: right words for a certain
- Semicolon: used for quick thought.
replacement for the
conjunctions, when Brevity: thoughts in fewest words possible.
connecting two related, equal
independent clauses, using Precise and clear: Reflects the intended
conjunctive adverbs in meaning & uses accurate word.
connecting two unrelated
independent clauses Jargon: Medical professionals, for instance,
- Comma: a certain usage of have: Stat = immediately, used when a
comma when you are writing patient needs to be revived by defibrillation.
a very long list of unrelated
terms, and constantly using it Blue chip = used to describe a performing
in an effort to avoid mixing company, which is sometimes used as the
those terms. gold standard for a particular industry.

Language use Flambe = chefs and cooks also use this term
while preparing food, to cook food in
flaming liquor.
Register: is the variety of language used
depending on the context and the people we
Politically correct language: refer to
talk with.
language that seems intended to give the
least amount of offense.
Instead of You may use

Fireman/Firewoman Firefighter

Salesman/Saleslady Salesperson/ Sales

Clerk

Steward/Stewardess Flight attendant

Cameraman Camera Operator

Waiter/Waitress Server/Table
attendant/ Waitron