LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET IN ENGLISH 8

Worksheet No. 5, Quarter 4

Learner’s Name: ________________________________________________

Strand/Track/Section:________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________

I. LEARNING SKILLS
A. Most Essential Learning Competency

Develop paragraphs that illustrate each text type (narrative in literature,

expository, explanatory)

B. Objectives
1. Differentiate narrative in literature, expository, and explanatory text types
in terms of structure and language features;
2. Identify the text type of the given paragraph; and
3. Write an expository or explanatory paragraph.

II. INTRODUCTORY CONCEPT

What are text types?

Texts are written for a variety of purposes, using different forms and
standards of composition. These forms of writing are known as text types. Broadly
speaking, there are two main text types; factual and literary. Within these are
many more narrowly defined text types. Factual text types include such types as
factual description, recount, or persuasive. They are meant to inform, instruct, or
persuade through the use of facts and information. On the other hand, literary text
types such as poetry, narrative or personal response seek to entertain, enlighten,
or elicit emotion through a creative use of language and structure. (Central Rivers
Area Education Agency)
The text types depend on their purpose, structure and language features.
Teaching text types is different from assigning texts. If you are to use text types to
write for different purposes and audience, you need to understand how each text
type works.

NARRATIVE

This type of paragraph describes one primary topic and narrates or tells its
story. The topic usually involves one main event, adventure, scene, or happening.
This story is usually from your own personal experience, but it may also be an
event that happened to someone else or a historical event.
Because narrative paragraphs resemble fiction (an untrue story), you have
a little more freedom to write the story in the style you prefer. This is known as

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artistic freedom or artistic license. In some cases, narrative can be referred to as
‘creative writing’ or story writing. You can use the first person narrative style and
include words that clearly refer to you (I, me, my, mine, etc.), or you can try to tell
the story from a purely objective point of view that is not personal, but gives a
straight-forward, factual account of what happened.
(paul@learnamericanenglishonline.com)
Narratives usually have a beginning, middle, and an end, but the story does
not have to be told in chronological order. Your narrative should have a purpose
for being told, and the audience should gain some new insight or perspective after
reading it. When writing a narrative in response to a prompt, be sure that the
connection between the prompt and your narrative is clear. For example, if you are
asked to write a narrative that demonstrates your leadership experience, it should
be clear to the reader how the story you’re writing about demonstrates this
experience.
Some narratives contain a coda in which the writer provides a final
commentary, going beyond the retelling of events.

EXAMPLE OF NARRATIVE:

I never thought I could do it, but I finally conquered my fear of public

speaking.
My English teacher gave the assignment (to speak for three minutes in front
of my class) at the beginning of the semester, and I worried about it for two
months. I have always been afraid of making a speech in public. I wrote all of my
ideas on note cards.
I practiced my speech with my notes in front of a mirror, in front of my dog,
and in front of my husband. Would I be able to make my speech in front of my
class? When the day of my speech came, I was ready. As I reached the podium,
I looked at my audience and smiled. Then I looked down at my note cards. At that
moment, I realized that I had the wrong information. These were the notes for my
biology test, not the information about my speech! I closed my eyes and took a
deep breath. Suddenly, I began the speech. To my surprise, the words flowed
from my mouth. Three minutes later, it was over. Everyone applauded my speech
that day, and I left the podium feeling like a winner.
(Source: e-learnig.univ-saida.dz)

 The first sentence in the paragraph -the topic sentence- gives background
information about the story. The writer introduces the characters and
prepares readers for the action that will come.
 After the beginning part, you will find the middle part of the story. This is where
the main action or problem occurs.
 The end of the story gives the final action or result. If there is a problem or
conflict in the story, the solution is presented here.

EXPOSITORY

This type of paragraph provides new information to the reader or

explains/ gives information about a topic.
According to Fountas & Pinnell in their Genre study: Teaching with fiction
and nonfiction books, expository text is a type of informational text that provides

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factual information about a topic using a clear, non-narrative organizational
structure with a major topic and supporting information.
 Expository texts can include topics such as historical, scientific or
economic information.
 Information is presented with a clear organizational text structure which
includes but is not limited to: description, chronology, comparison,
cause/effect, problem/solution.
 The language in expository text is precise, specific to the subject, and
includes domain specific vocabulary to explain concepts and
information.
 Expository text often includes organizational tools such as table of
contents, headings, index, glossary, pronunciation guide, appendices.
 Includes text features that support or enhance the text such as
photographs, illustrations, captions, charts, diagrams, tables, graphs,
and timelines.
 Examples of expository text may include: trade books, articles, reports,
textbooks, interviews, and essays.

EXAMPLE OF EXPOSITORY:

Going to college can be expensive. First, college tuition and room and
board can cost anywhere from P20,000 to more than P100,000 per semester.
Other expenses make going to college even more expensive. For example,
books typically cost between P1,000 and P5,000 each term. Second, materials
are also very expensive. Paper, notebooks, writing utensils, and other supplies
required often cost more at the college bookstore than at any local discount
department store. For instance, a package of notepaper costing P50 at a
discount store might cost P100 at a college bookstore. Finally, there are all
kinds of special fees added onto the bill at registration time. A college student
might have to pay a P500 insurance fee, a P200 activity fee, a P150 fee to the
student government association and anywhere from P200 to P500 for parking.
There is another fee if a student decides to add or drop classes after
registration. The fees required to attend college never seem to end.

The topic sentence in the example informs the reader that the paragraph
will talk about the expenses of going to college. Immediately following the topic
sentence is the first supporting sentence and two detail/example sentences.
Finally, the closing sentence neatly ties back to the topic sentence by
rephrasing it.
Notice the use of transitional words to help the reader follow the ideas.
Also, notice the use of third person point of view in this paragraph. The third
person point of view (he, she, one) is most commonly used for expository
writing, technical writing, and any other sort of writing that has a business-
minded or persuasive intention or purpose.

EXPLANATORY

This type of paragraph is required if you are asked to describe how

something works or is done.

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 According to Brook Williams in his article How to Do an Explanatory
Paragraph, explanatory paragraphs give an overall description of something
that may be difficult to understand. These paragraphs are comprised of
information that concisely and clearly explain a process or present other
people's opinions or views in detail without being overly analytical or critical,
according to Word-Mart.com, an online grammar and writing resource. Effective
explanatory paragraphs are written smoothly and have fluidity.

 Topic sentence identifies what is being explained.

 Support sentences give a sequenced explanation of how and why
something works or happens.
 Concluding sentence gives a brief summary of the process in conclusion
(optional).

Useful transitional words and phrases

 For beginning an explanation: at first, initially, to begin with, in the
beginning, first of all, the first step
 For continuing an explanation: while, as, at the same time, the next step,
after, next, then
 For ending an explanation: finally, eventually, at last, the final/last step

EXAMPLE OF EXPLANATORY:

How is cheese made?

The general principles of making cheese from milk have changed little
for nearly 3000 years. The aroma, texture, and taste of cheese depend on slight
variations of the process used to produce it, but all methods consist of two to
four basic steps. The first step consists of the coagulation of the protein ‘casein’
by adding acid or enzyme to the milk. Next, the liquid, called whey, is drained,
leaving a semi-solid cheese, called curds, which may be eaten in this form or
processed further. All soft or cream cheeses are of this type. Hard cheese
undergoes two additional steps in the process. The semi-solid cheese is
matured until it reaches the required level of acidity, at which time it is salted
and pressed into forms or moulds to give it the distinctive shape and size of a
particular cheese. The final step is the ageing process during which the world’s
most famous cheeses acquire their unique flavours from the place and length
of storage. (University of New England:
https://aso-resources.une.edu.au/academic-writing/paragraphs/for-an-explanation/ )

III. ACTIVITIES
A. Practice Tasks
Narrative
TASK 1: Directions: Compare and (Differences)
contrast narrative, expository, explanatory
text type in terms of structure and Narrative,
Expository,
language features. Use the given triple Explanatory
Venn diagram. You can also search for (Similarities)
additional information from other sources. Expository Expository
(Differences) (Differences)

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TASK 2: Directions: Read the following texts and answer the questions
below.

A. It is not quite six in the morning, and I am squashed half asleep into a cube
van that in the US would seat maybe six people. Here in Ghana though, its
insides have been gutted and replaced with wooden benches that can
accommodate twelve of us. I use the term “accommodate” loosely; we are
squeezed so tight in together that sometimes my arm goes numb. There are
no seat belts, no elements of comfort. I do this every morning, Monday to
Friday, for two hours and then back again in order to get to the slum town
school I teach in.
Midway through the journey, there is a stop at a depot where we
switch buses. It is here that you get the real sense of Ghana; the chaos of
hundreds of these so-called buses (or Tro-Tros), the merchants selling
everything and anything. It is absolute chaos, but finally weeks in to this
daily journey I am learning how to confidently navigate this market.
https://www.livingthedreamrtw.com/2017/04/my-volunteer-experience.html

B. Injera. A yeast risen flat bread made out of Teff flour, slightly sour, slightly
bitter, with a spongy texture, is the national dish of Ethiopia. It is usually
topped with meat of some nature. You tear off a piece of injera, grab a little
meat with it, and eat it with your hand. It is easier to manipulate than bread.
It doesn’t fall apart like rice. Of all the cultures with the tradition of eating
with your hands, injera would win the award for being the most practical.
There are a few variety of toppings, or centerpiece if you will, that
comes with injera. Wat is a stew of onions, spices and meat (beef, goat,
chicken) and tibs is a sauté of onions, meat and spices. Technically a wat is
different from tibs; wat is more stew like, while tibs is dryer. Yet on the palate,
the difference is akin to a Snickers Bar with peanuts versus almonds. Kitfo
is an Ethiopian specialty, a raw or semi-raw ground beef marinated in chili
powder, served with injera. Tere Sega is cubes of raw beef with chili powder
on the side for dipping. Injera is served and eaten morning, noon and night.
It is imperative you grow a taste for injera if you are to survive in Ethiopia. I
like injera just fine, but the lack of variety from the wat to tibs to kitfo to tera
sega is troubling; a bit of meat, cook, semi-cooked, uncooked, with chili
powder. (Charlie Grosso September 3, 2013 published at
http://spytravelogue.com/2013/09/east-africa-food-riddle/)

C. Africa is the second-largest continent in the world in both area and

population. It is an almost entirely isolated landmass with only a small land
bridge in the northeast, connecting the African Mainland with Western Asia.
It covers six percent of the world's total surface area, roughly 30,244,000
km² (11,700,000 mi²). Including its adjacent islands, the continent occupies
about 20 percent of Earth's total land area. Africa's largest country is Algeria,
followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa), and Sudan.
An estimated 1.34 billion people live in the second-largest continent,
representing about 14 percent of the world's population (as of 2020). By far
the most populous country in Africa is Nigeria, with a population of more
than 190 million. (Source: UN World Population Prospects)
https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/africa.htm

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1. Which of the text types does the given text belong to?
2. What grammatical features are in the text that allow you to say it belongs
to a particular text type? Notice that there might be features which have
not been included in the discussion above.

TASK 3: Directions: Choose any of the given topics below then write a
paragraph/essay, either narrative, expository, explanatory or a combination
of both. You can use the given rubric as a
guide to give you an idea of the way your essay may be
graded.

 What are your thoughts about the recent pandemic that we are facing
today? Does it stress you? What are the changes brought by COVID-19
in yourself, in your family, or way of living?
 What real-life situations would work out better for you if you were a
different gender? Why?
 If the internet were to crash forever, what would the benefits be for you?
The drawbacks?
 Write a scene that features a) a classmate/friend/enemy, b) P100 million,
and c) magical shoes/power.
 If you starred in a television show about your life, what would the show
be called? What genre would it be? Summarize the plot of an episode.

D. Assessment
Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following statements BEST describes expository writing?

a. Expository writing seeks to explain or inform the reader about a
subject.
b. Expository writing is a form of writing that exposes the readers to
different types of literary genres.
c. Expository writing is mainly used in plays to expose the actors to
the play and the vision of the director.
d. Expository writing is a form of writing that exposes readers to the
life of an author.

2. When is a paragraph considered unified?

a. when all sentences are grammatically correct
b. when each sentence relates directly to the main idea of the paragraph
c. when each sentence has at least some common thread to the one
next to it
d. when each sentence says essential the same thing, but rephrased in
different ways to address the needs of a diverse audience

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 3. Which of the following statements DOES NOT support the given topic
for expository paragraph?
Stress is defined as a state of extreme difficulty that causes
mental or physical tension.
a. In a recent study, teenagers were shown to experience stress as often
as adults.
b. When we feel emotional stress, it is also often experienced as physical
pain.
c. These stressors can greatly change the way teens act in many
circumstances.
d. According to the study, the most common causes of stressors to teens
include divorce of parents, death of a loved one, loneliness, moving to
a new neighborhood, and having difficulty in a social environment.

4. The following are good examples of introductory statement for a

narrative paragraph EXCEPT one.
a. “I will always remember my first day of junior high school because of
the kindness a fellow student showed towards me.”
b. “One day a father and his rich family took his young son on a trip to
the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can
be.”
c. Sunday is the most rewarding day for me because it is the only day
when my family and I can do what we like together.”
d. “I am sure that you know that smoking harms your body. Then why do
you continue smoking?”

5. Choose the best transition word to complete the sentence.

Natives in the Desert Southwest built pueblo and hogan shelters using
adobe and sod from the earth. ______ tribes in the Pacific Northwest
relied on the dense cedar forests to build plank houses out of wood.

a. Also, c. On the other hand,

b. Similarly, d. For instance,

IV. RUBRIC FOR SCORING FOR TASK 3

Rubric for a Well-Written Paragraph

Content 40%
Organization 30%
Mechanics 30%
TOTAL 100%

Comments and Suggestions: __________________________________

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V. REFERENCES
Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2012). Genre study: Teaching with fiction and
nonfiction books. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Page 1 of 2 Curriculum 2.0 -
2012
. (n.d.). Characteristics of Expository Text. Retrieved from
http://mcnair5thgrade.yolasite.com/resources/Characteristics%20of%2
0Expository%20Text.pdf
Iowa Core English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies,
Science and Technical Subjects. (2011). Des Moines, IA, Iowa
Department of Education.
Explanation paragraphs. (2021). Retrieved March 30, 2021, from Une.edu.au
website: https://aso-resources.une.edu.au/academic-
writing/paragraphs/for-an-explanation/
c2020 Leaf Group Ltd./ Leaf Group Media
How to Do an Explanatory Paragraph | Synonym. (2011). Retrieved March 30,
2021, from Synonym.com website:
https://classroom.synonym.com/explanatory-paragraph-10028660.html
Text Types and Purposes - Central Rivers AEA. (2021, January 14).
Retrieved March 30, 2021, from Central Rivers AEA website:
https://www.centralriversaea.org/curriculum/literacy/text-types-
purposes/

Prepared by:
AILEEN T. BAJARO, T-III, Catanduanes NHS, SDO Catanduanes
Quality Assured by:
GINA B. PANTINO, EdD, EPS, English, SDO Catanduanes

Reviewed by:
JAEL P. OLAÑO, HT-I, San Jose Pili NHS, SDO Cam. Sur
MYLENE P. ABABA, MT-I, Pili NHS, SDO Cam. Sur
GIRLYN F. AVILA, T-III, Don Servillano Platon Memorial NHS, SDO Cam. Sur

Validated by:
ANGUSTIA P. ORAA, P-I, Visita de Salog NHS, SDO Cam. Sur
PRECIOSA R. DELA VEGA, EPS-I, English SDO Cam. Sur

Layout Artist:
MARY JANE S. SAN AGUSTIN, T-II, Fundado ES, SDO Cam. Sur