Lesso Properties of

n a Well-Written Text
1
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
 identify the meaning and components of a well-written text;

For a text to be well-written, one must keep in mind these three properties:
 Organization - this is the structural framework for writing. It is important to
effective writing because it provides readers with a framework to help them
fulfil their expectations for the text. This is the logical progression and
completeness of ideas in a text.
Organization is achieved when ideas are logically and accurately arranged.
 Coherence – 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.
 Cohesion - means that the overall text has meaning

A. ORGANIZATION
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:

1. 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.

Explanation:
The words in bold are the three most important Marxist theories that the first
sentence is referring to. By emphasizing these words, the reader can identify the
correct term for the concepts along with their definitions; this would also aid in
remembering the theories since they stick out from the rest of the text.
2. 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.
Explanation:
By using sequential signal words (first, second and third) before the beginning of
every sentence, the reader can follow what seems to be the writer’s list of three reasons
why the novel influenced him. The word thus also signals the conclusion and the end of
the list.
3. 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.
Explanation:
Organization in this paragraph is not readily noticeable as it does not use cues like
formatting or signal words. However, the text is organized in this way:
 Beginning: Introduce topic of aura
 Middle: Definition and evidence of existence of auras
 End: Ending message about forces in the world
B. COHERENCE
This means sticking or holding together. It pertains to the sentences that solely
support the man idea of the paragraph. In a coherent paragraph, the ideas are logically
arranged. The ideas and sentences are in an order that makes sense to the readers. If
the ideas are arranged, the readers can easily follow the progression of ideas. The
readers will be able to follow a paragraph easily if the paragraph has a smooth flow.
This characteristic of a paragraph is called cohesion.
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.
Explanation:
Connecting words in the text suggest a sequence of ideas that the writer wants to
convey. “As a result” implies an effect of the previous statement while “in the end”
indicates the conclusion. However, the writer jumps from one topic to another
resulting in a lack of cohesion. For instance, the writer talks about his or her
favourite colors “as a result” of Picasso’s painting even though they are not
connected in any way. It can be inferred that the choice of favourite colors was
inspired by the colors of the painting, but the writer does not make this clear.
C. COHESION
Cohesion means that the overall text has meaning. It expresses the continuity
that exists between one part of the text and another. It occurs where the interpretation
of some element in the discourse is dependent on that of another. Although without
cohesion, no central concept links all these ideas together. The main point of the text
remains unclear for readers. To achieve Coherence Devices are applied in writing;
a. Repetition:
The use of repetition is to focus on the main idea by repeating a key word
or phrase. This is to keep you as a writer as well as your readers on track on
the idea being discussed.
Example:
1. If you think you can do it, you can do it.
2. The judge commanded, stamping his mallet on the table, “Order in the
court, order in the court.”
b. Synonyms:
It is to use the words with the same meaning in the sentence. This can
keep you as a writer and also your readers mindful of the connections between
sentences. The use of synonym provides some variety in your word choices.

Example:
 During the visit, what caught my eyes first was a widespread view of
Cebu City with a blanket of mist hovering the city. (2) Lying opposite to the city
are ranges of mountains covered by lush green foliage with the heavenly rain
showering the entire scene. (Mendoza 2011, E12 A9)

c. Pronouns:
The use of pronouns is to replace the nouns with words like he, she, it,
they, we, us, him or them. Each pronoun should clearly refer to back to a
specific noun mentioned earlier in the text.

Example:
Kobe Bryant is one of the best professional basketball players in the
world. He is the only player who played 20 seasons (his entire career) with
the same team, the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball
Association (NBA). He is the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer and won five NBA
championships.
d. Transitions:
It is to use a transition word or phrase that links the sentences of a
paragraph together. This guides the readers with the movement of an idea
from one sentence to the next sentence or the relationships among ideas.
Example:
Dominic Anderson, the financial officer at a small university, managers
all aspects of the financial aid program for needy students. First, Anderson
receives requests for aide from students and determines whether the
students meet the aid criteria. He also authorizes aid payments and notifies
the applicants that their request has been either approved or denied. In
addition, he writes the financial aid checks on the account he controls.
Finally, he requires that the students come to his office to receive the check
in person.

Language Use and Mechanics

Language Use
 Language Use – refers to the appropriateness of word/vocabulary use.
An effective language is specific, concise, familiar, correct and appropriate.

It is important that you make good choices when it comes to language use
because how you use language affects the tone of the text and the readers’
interpretation of it. Before writing, you have to think about and consider your target
audience.

The following elements of effective language should be used in writing:

 Concise Language- It is use of the fewest number of words possible. To
achieve this, you must use short, simple sentences and active verbs. Get to the
point to communicate effectively without sacrificing clarity and completeness.
 Include only what the reader needs to know and omit excessive adjective and
adverbs. Make every word count. One way to achieve conciseness is to eliminate
redundant or lengthy words or phrases.

The following are examples of long expressions which can be replaced with
shorter ones.
At all times Always
At this point in time Now
Attached herewith Attached
With regard to Concerning, About
In the event that If
By means of By. Though
Due to the fact that Since, Because of

 Concrete Language- It is to use concrete words rather than abstract words

which are ambiguous. You must choose the right words that most express your
meaning or specific words to clarify ideas and images. Use concrete words which
descriptions can lead the readers visualize through details or bring to the readers
the specific visual images. To be concrete is to be clear, firm and unchanging
based on our senses: sight, touch, sound, smell and taste. Abstract words are
concepts, ideas, qualities, emotions, and process which can draw many and
different interpretations, while concrete or specific words are easily imagined and
are less open to multiple and various interpretations.

 Common Language- It is to use common words in writing which are easily

under stood and recognized by the readers. They are common because they are
used most of the time. They usually work well as they bring in the right meaning
that you wished to convey with your day-to-day vocabulary which is the same as
your reader’s vocabulary.

Here are few common substitutes for formal words office/people/bureaucrats

frequently use:
Concur Agree
Commence Start
Demonstrate Show
Facilitate Help
Forward Send
Implement Do
modify Change

 Precise and Clear Language- It is to give your readers clear and precise word
imagery to make your writing easier to understand and to follow. Precise and
clear language like a vocabulary of precise nouns and understand and vivid
verbs help you create strong mental pictures for your readers, and this will
eliminate confusion and wordiness. Words can be interpreted in different ways
 and it is for this reason that must have a precise and clear language and their
potential interpretations.

REMEMBER
When you use words improperly, readers are left confused as to what you are
trying to say. So, always choose words according to their correct definition and
connotation. Also, keep your language simple enough to make your text easier for
readers to understand.

Mechanics
 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 - 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.

Explanation:
The first example does not make use of proper punctuation marks,
while the second example presents two sentences that are correctly
punctuated. In the third example, the sentence denotes that the author’s
parents are Noel and Corazon. In the fourth example, the use of the serial
comma denotes that the book is dedicated to four persons: the author’s
mom, the author’s dad, Noel, and Corazon. The simple act of adding a
comma completely changed the meaning of the statement.

 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 Grandma, Dad, Aunt Paz,
personal names and are followed Uncle Alvin
by personal names
 adjectives, verbs, adverbs, nouns, Through the Looking-Glass,
and pronouns in a title and the and What Alice Found There
first and last word in a title (literature)
 historical periods, events, Great Depression, the
documents Renaissance, the Constitution