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DISCOURSE TYPES Module 1

This document discusses different types of discourse, including: 1. Descriptive discourse which can be static or process-based. 2. Narrative discourse which portrays causally related incidents in chronological order. 3. Expository discourse which gives explanations and clarifications through examples and illustrations. 4. Argumentative discourse which aims to persuade by using techniques like definition, comparison/contrast, and evidence. It also outlines organizational structures and language techniques for informative, persuasive, and entertainment writing. The purpose is to teach students how to organize information in different types of academic writing.

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Aliyah Ali
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71 views

DISCOURSE TYPES Module 1

This document discusses different types of discourse, including: 1. Descriptive discourse which can be static or process-based. 2. Narrative discourse which portrays causally related incidents in chronological order. 3. Expository discourse which gives explanations and clarifications through examples and illustrations. 4. Argumentative discourse which aims to persuade by using techniques like definition, comparison/contrast, and evidence. It also outlines organizational structures and language techniques for informative, persuasive, and entertainment writing. The purpose is to teach students how to organize information in different types of academic writing.

Uploaded by

Aliyah Ali
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DISCOURSE TYPES

MODULE 1 – GATHERING AND PROCESSING INFORMATION


CHAPTER 2 OF THE TEXT
What Is Discourse?

• Discourse is a coherently-arranged, serious and systematic


treatment of a topic in spoken or written language.
• It constitutes the categories of academic writing aimed at
teaching students the method of organizing, narrating and giving
detailed description of events in expository paragraphs.
Classes of Discourse
• Discourse may be classified into descriptive, narrative, expository (technical/scientific), and
argumentative.
1. Descriptive Discourse
• A descriptive discourse often takes two forms; it can be in static form, or the form called process
description.
• The static description draws a verbal picture using words that appeal to the senses, while the process
description tends to explain the various degrees or levels of advancement involved in carrying out a
task. Again, static description may either be the technical or the imaginative form.
• The technical form gives a lucid description and objective delineation of details; whereas, the
imaginative uses suggestive words and connotations to create a dominant effect about the subject
being described.
• Thus, we may have an equipment being described technically by thoroughly giving details of its parts
and the functions of such parts, or imaginatively — where figures of speech and associated
connotations are used to describe it.
Classes of Discourse
• 2. Narrative Discourse
• A narrative discourse is that which in its description, portrays causally related incidents; here
the occurred incidents are often arranged one after another in an order of chronology.
• The narrative discourse in its typical form is often referred to as fiction; this is because it
both provides a highly detailed and structured conception of anecdote.
• 3. Expository Discourse
• An expository discourse consists in giving definitive explanation and clarification by means
of examples and illustrations, details, comparison and contrast, definition, and other
rhetorical devices of like nature.
Classes of Discourse

• 4. Argumentative Discourse
• The argumentative discourse is used with the sole purpose of persuading the audience
(hearers or readers) to either accept or reject opinions. As a primary prerequisite,
argumentative discourse only takes effect where there is a contentious or controversial topic.
• A topic is said to be controversial if there are at least two sides of analyzing or resolving it,
and if both sides are logical as well as equally debatable and defensible. It is unnecessary
writing an argumentative discourse if the resolution to the issue is obvious.
• Credibility of sources and logic of presentation are important factors in writing an
argumentative essay. Also important is combining a number of rhetorical devices to add
rhetorical nuances.
• The most common of such devices are definition, comparison and contrast, classification,
example and illustration, and similar other devices.
Classes of Discourse
Classes of Discourse
Organisational features of Expository,
Argumentative and Persuasive Discourse

• Cause and effect • Juxtaposition


• Classification • Lists
• Comparison and contrast • Order of importance
• Concession and rebuttal • Problem and solution
• Counterarguments • Reasons
• Definitions • Refutations
• Evidence
• Illustrations and examples
Organisational features of Narrative and
Descriptive Discourse
• Flashback
• Flash forward
• Foreshadowing
• Time sequence
• Comparison
• Contrast
• Description
• General to specific
• Spatial order
Writer’s Purpose

• The purpose must ALWAYS be stated as “to do…”


• For example, “The writer’s purpose in this extract is to persuade,
inform or entertain (PIE)”
• The three main types of discourse will lead you identify the 3 main
purposes of any particular piece-
• PERSUADE (argumentative/persuasive)
• INFORM (expository/descriptive)
• ENTERTAIN (narrative/descriptive)
PERSUASIVE/ARGUMENTATIVE

• Convincing someone to believe you by using logical arguments; challenge


opposing ideas; using supporting judgment; or by emotional language
(LOGOS, PATHOS, ETHOS)
• LOGOS – appeal to logic and reason
• PATHOS – appeal to emotions and feelings
• ETHOS – appeal to credibility and ethics
• Types of writing - political speeches, ads, critical essays, letters to the editor,
letters of recommendation
PERSUASIVE/ARGUMENTATIVE
ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES
- (the layout/the structure of the dish)
• Compare and contrast • Source of authority
• Cause and effect • Scientific appeal
• Advantages and disadvantages • Counter argument
• Problem and solution • Analogy
• Transition words/phrases (words • Use of evidence
that lead into another paragraph,
smooth flow of ideas)
PERSUASIVE/ARGUMENTATIVE

LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES -
INGREDIENTS USED FOR THE DISH
Direct personal appeal (use of you) Adjectives
Emotive language (Logos, ethos, pathos) Alliteration
Rhetorical devices Rhymes
Repetition Songs
Exaggeration Catchy phrases
Exclamations Sarcasm
LOGOS
• Logos is the persuasive technique that aims to
convince an audience by using logic and reason. Also
called “the logical appeal,” logos examples in
advertisement include the citation of statistics, facts,
charts, and graphs.
• Logos can be developed by using advanced, theoretical
or abstract language, citing facts (very important),
using historical and literal analogies, and by
constructing logical arguments.
• For example:
• The rise in violent crime that lasted from the 1960s to
the 1990s can be explained by higher levels of lead in
the atmosphere. Since leaded gasoline has been phased
out, crime levels have plummeted.
• Cats should not be allowed to roam the
neighbourhood. A study conducted in Lemmington,
Michigan, showed that when cats were kept on a leash
or indoors, the song bird population rose by 23%.
ETHOS
• Appeals to an audience by highlighting credibility.
• Serve to invoke the superior “character” of a speaker,
presenter, writer, or brand.
• Purpose is to convince the audience that the advertiser
is reliable and ethical mainly because it’s easier to make
a decision when someone you respect signs off on it.
• An ethos advertisement plays off the consumer’s
respect for a given spokesperson - through that respect,
the spokesperson appears convincing, authoritative and
trustworthy enough to listen to.
• In terms of the persuasive essay, your audience is being
asked to trust you and what you are saying, you have to
prove credible to them, they have to TRUST you.
Example of ethos in advertising: Jennifer Aniston in a
campaign for Glaceau Smart Water
PATHOS
• Pathos is the appeal to the emotions.
• Pathos techniques appeal to the senses, memory,
nostalgia, or shared experience. Pathos examples
pull at the heartstrings and make the audience feel.
• Anytime your writing has an emotional impact you
are dealing with pathos. Consider the following
two statements:
• I think we need to provide more mental health
instruction.
• I lost my daughter to suicide.
• A teenager tries to convince his parents to buy him
a new car, as the old one continually breaks down,
by saying if they cared about their child's safety
they'd upgrade him.
INFORMATIVE/EXPOSITORY

• Types of informative/expository writing;


• Academic texts
• Statistical reports
• Incident reports
• Biographies
• News stories
INFORMATIVE/EXPOSITORY

• ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES -
• Sequencing
• Process
• Cause and effect
• Compare and contrast
• Classification
• Problem and solution
INFORMATIVE/EXPOSITORY

LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES -
• Historical data
• Statistical data
• Factual data from websites
• Sequence transition words
ENTERTAIN/AESTHETIC
TYPES OF WRITING -
• Short stories
• Novel/novella
• Poetry/Spoken word
• Fables/folktales
• Plays/dramatic pieces
• Realistic fiction
• Journal/ diary/ blog
• Biography/autobiography
• Essays
• Songs
ENTERTAIN/AESTHETIC

ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES -
• Chronological order
• Evidence of conflict, action, problem and resolution (plot)
• Characters
• Dialogue
• Point of view
ENTERTAIN/AESTHETIC

LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES -
• Figurative language
• Imagery
• Sense data
• Action words
• Adjectives
• Transition words
REVIEW

Match each of the following to ONE or MORE of the writing genres discussed:
• 1. Poetry
• 2. Historical writing
• 3. Eulogy
• 4. Debates
• 5. Song
• 6. Research
• 7. Advertisement
PRACTICE

• Module 1 Practice.pdf
LISTENING PRACTICE

• 2005 Listening.pdf
ESSAY PRACTICE – 2003

• 2003 Module 1 Essay.pdf

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