Cenizal-Raymundo (2016) defines organization as the
READING AND WRITNG SKILLS CM3
PROPERTIES OF A WELL WRITTEN TEXT
Now that you have unlocked your first set of
achievements as BOO (Brainstormer, Organizer,
Outliner), we move on to the next level. As you know,
organizing a large pool of data (such as information
from essays and news articles) will be totally useless if
you do not know the principles, i.e., how, and why we
do it. A discourse material (e.g. essay, article, book
chapter, etc.) must possess certain properties to
achieve the objective of their composition: to effectively
deliver the message that they are trying to convey to a
certain audience. This two-part CM will make you
understand just that. Part 1 will deal with Organization,
Cohesion, and Coherence, which tackles why you need
to organize acquired information, as well as to connect
different thoughts into one united piece so that your
readers clearly understand your train of thought.
Part 2 will deal with Mechanics and Language Use,
which discuss why you need to go back to your basic
punctuations, capitalizations, spelling, and other
technical aspects of writing, as well as words specific
only for a particular community.
Organization
key point: A well-thought-of essay, although functional,
informative, and objective, will be worthless if the
information enclosed therein is not organized properly.
Organizing your ideas in a logical manner helps your
readers understand your text clearly.
After gathering information and generating your ideas,
you are now left with a multitude of resources to write
about. What do you write about first? Which ideas go
together? What information can you omit, and what
other information do you need to add? You may be
overwhelmed with these questions, making writing your
essay even more challenging than it already is. This is
where organization will come to your rescue. We all
need order in our lives, and that includes our writing,
too!
Organization, also known as arrangement, is achieved
when ideas are logically and accurately arranged with
focus on the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence,
or details in a definite order in a paragraph, essay, or
speech. Simply put, organization is developing your
ideas into a logical and sensible pattern.
effective strategic plotting of ideas in a text. Just like
what we did with the definition of graphic organizers in
the previous CM, let’s chop the definition into three
keywords:
Effective, a writer does not live on organizing
information alone; s/he must be able to organize such
thoughts, concepts, and facts in a way that it will be
easily understood by everyone regardless of their level
of comprehension.
Strategic plotting, organizing information is deliberately
decided, depending on the need of those who may read
your essay, article, or any other discourse material you
are asked to make.
Ideas, the root of it all. Remember that the reason we
organize ideas is to easily understand them should we
need them right now, or in the future.
This organizational pattern is called the IBC format,
standing for Introduction (the overview and the pre-
test), Body (the lectures themselves), and Conclusion
(the summary, activities, and the learning output). This
is also the most common organizational pattern when
writing an essay. Aside from brainstorming lists, GOs,
outlines, and the IBC format, there are other ways to
organize your information when writing essays and
other discourse materials, namely:
a. Topic subordination Commonly applied to
paragraphs (which, when combined, make up the whole
essay/discourse material), topic subordination is the
explicit highlighting of the topic sentence, and the
supporting details which are clipped onto it.
Suppose you want to define the term “vlog” as a topic for
your essay. For you to successfully introduce the term to
your prospective readers, you may want to establish the
definition itself first, turning it into your topic sentence in
the process. After you have established the definition, you
may want to give some supporting details to augment the
argument being presented in the topic sentence. Refer to
the example below:
A vlog is a form of blog for which the medium is a video,
and is a form of web television, as defined by New
England Film (2006). The word itself is the condensation
of two separate terms, “video” and “blog” (or “log”,
depending on what you wish to believe).
Observe closely: the first sentence is the topic sentence, since
it introduces you to what a vlog is. The sentence that comes
after it is its supporting detail; it gives you an idea about the
origin of the term.
b. Generalization to specification This organizational
pattern allows you to expand the reach of the thought
that you present in your topic sentences by giving
examples. Let’s go back to the definition of “vlog”
above. If I want to give additional supporting details
about it, I can do so by giving some examples of vlogs,
as well as the people and/or institutions that allow
people to share their vlogs. This is executed in the
example below
A vlog is a form of blog for which the medium is a video,
and is a form of web television, as defined by New
England Film (2006). The word itself is the condensation
of two separate terms, “video” and “blog” (or “log”,
depending on what you wish to believe). There are
many kinds of vlogs, such as personal vlogs, where you
can share personal experiences of any kind and topic;
informative vlogs, such as news, general knowledge,
debates, and trivia; instructional vlogs, such as DIY
videos, item unboxings, and make-up tutorials; and
novelty vlogs such as pranks and jokes. The most
famous platforms where you can share your vlogs are
YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion, where the views that
your vlogs get are monetized at certain rates.
The additional sentences, if you will observe, now contain
more supporting details, which solidifies your knowledge of
what vlogs are. Maybe you can now explain to your mother
how they work and start your own.
Cohesion
Key point: Discourse materials must not only be
organized on the outside (through the different
organizational patterns) but also be organized from the
inside through a smooth flow of thoughts.
Cohesion is the second property that you need to look for
to evaluate whether a text is well-written or not. Halliday
and Hasan define it as the fluid connection of ideas
between sentences and paragraphs (1975).
The never-ending thoughts and ideas that we read about
and write every day must be fluid, like water connected
through pipes of various degrees so they can flow in a
single, unified direction all throughout your household.
And to do that in reading and writing different texts, we
enlist the use of transitional devices. When you were in
your Elementary and Junior High School years, they were
simply called conjunctions. Sure, the FANBOYS mnemonic
(For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) is still correct and
applicable, but since you’re in Senior High School, you
must broaden your scope.
We could also look at it in another way. From the root
word “cohere” which means “to stick together”,
cohesion sticks the ideas in sentences together to
become grammatically and logically correct. Imagine
that your essay is a tall building which was built by using
the right bricks. The cement that holds the bricks
together represent cohesion, and the finished building
is now the coherent essay. Your paragraphs must be
cohesive as cement and fluid as water at the same time!
Below are more examples of transitional devices for
specific purposes:
Sequence again, also, and, and then, besides, finally,
first, second, third, furthermore, last, moreover, next,
still, too.
Time after a few days, after a while, afterward, as long
as, as soon as, at last, at that time, before, earlier,
immediately, in the meantime, in the past, lately, later,
meanwhile, now, presently, simultaneously, since, so
far, soon, then, thereafter, until, when
Comparison again, also, in the same way, likewise, once
more, similarly
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 instance, indeed, in
fact, of course, specifically, such as, the following
example, to illustrate
Cause and Effect accordingly, as a result, because,
consequently, for this reason, hence, if . . . then, since,
so, then, therefore, thereupon, thus, to this end
Place above, adjacent to, below, beyond, closer to
elsewhere, far, farther on, here, near, nearby, opposite
to, there, to the left, to the right
Concession although it is true that, granted that, I admit
that, it may appear that, naturally, of course
Summary, Repetition, or Conclusion as a result, as has
been noted, as I have said, as mentioned earlier, as we
have seen, in any event, in conclusion, in other words,
in short, on the whole, therefore, to summarize.
Coherence
Key point: Cohesion occurs when ideas are connected at
the sentence level; coherence, at the conceptual level.
In addition to the fact that all of your sentences and
paragraphs must be interconnected to each other, the
whole text itself (the essay, the book, this CM, whatever
else) must be able to make a connection with the
reader. This specific connection is called coherence. The
moment your essay fails to connect with the reader is paragraph arrangement. All the supporting sentences
the moment you must realize that there is something are connected and related to the topic sentence which
wrong with your sentences and paragraphs. Your pipes is the first sentence of the paragraph.
may have leaks that you need to fix immediately. No
Cohesion vs. Coherence
cohesion, definitely no coherence.
More or less, it was not that challenging for you to
You can achieve coherence through these ways:
identify the correct transitional devices in the previous
a. connecting old and new information - As facts are
activities. In fact, as you were reading, some of you may
created and changed every day, you must be able to
already have the possible answers in mind, without
connect with the reader by providing both sides of the
having to look back on the list of transitional devices
coin: what was said then, and what is proven now. This
given. This is because your basic knowledge of grammar
is highly effective when you write informative and
and sentence construction are the foundations of
argumentative essays, where facts are the stars of the
cohesion. That being said, coherence and cohesion are
show.
closely related with only a subtle difference that
b. contextualization of content - You must also be able
separates them. Take note that coherence is a result,
to make a connection with your readers by tailor-fitting
while cohesion is the process (cohesion = cement;
your content to what they want/what they are
coherence = building). Coherence occurs when the
interested with.
reader understands the text because the writer uses
c. meaning making - Your readers must be able to make
cohesive devices/words that “stick” or connect the
sense of what you have said.
ideas logically together.
Coherence, in other words, refers to the overall sense
As you have read, it is an easy mistake to write
of unity in a passage, including both the main point of
cohesively but miss out on writing coherently. However,
sentences and the main point of each paragraph. A
it is difficult to write coherently without writing
coherent passage focuses the reader’s attention on the
cohesively first. Cohesion is determined by lexically and
main ideas and the specific people, things, and events
grammatically overt inter-sentence relationships,
you are writing about. Coherence reflects the quality of
whereas coherence is based on semantic (meaningful,
a writer’s text, and this is judged by a reader depending
logical) relationships.
on how well they understood the text, based, in turn,
on how well it was written.

Remember the topic sentence? This sentence contains

the main topic of the paragraph. All your supporting
sentences should come from this topic sentence.

The writer introduces the topic of the paragraph in the

first sentence, then creates a connection of cause and
effect with the use of “consequently” at the beginning
of the next sentence. Sentence 3 creates coherence by
creating another cause and effect relationship with the
phrase, “as a result”, and by referring to the previous
sentence. Sentence 5 creates a narrative relationship
between events with the use of “after” and the Other materials may have the terms unity, coherence,
repetition of a key concept (eye problem) from the topic and emphasis instead to refer to the properties of a
sentence. The writer then creates coherence in well-written text. In this case, cohesive devices unite
sentence 6 by using the pronoun “this” to refer to an the sentences together to achieve coherence and your
event described earlier in sentence 5. Finally, the circle order of organization ensures that what you place
is completed in sentence 7 by referring to another key prominently or predominantly in the paragraph is what
idea in his topic sentence, that of reading. The you emphasize.
paragraph above shows how all of the sentences are
related to each other based on a cause and effect
READING AND WRITNG SKILLS CM4
PROPERTIES OF A WELLWRITTEN TEXT
MECHANICS
key point: Academic texts must look presentable, as
much as it is important that the information written
there feels and sounds presentable as well. The surface-
level technicalities of writing must not be ignored when
you wish to achieve your goal.
The fourth property of a well-written text, called
mechanics.
It is generally defined as the surface-level conventions
that give a well-thought, professional look to a certain
text (Cenizal-Raymundo, 2016). These are the
immediate fixtures that we commonly observe when we
skim, or scan anything we read. In this CM, we are going
to tackle the most commonly ignored conventions, so
that you may master them as well as the other
fundamental conventions of capitalization, punctuation,
and grammar.
We may have the best ideas in mind, but if we do not
use proper mechanics, then it would be not as effective
– in fact, - in academic writing, it would be marked as
wrong! All your academic life with the English subject
has prepared you for this. All those lessons in sentence
construction with correct grammar are all for this.
Knowing what to write is as important as how to write
it. Mechanics covers that.
Since mechanics covers several grammatical/syntactical
rules in formal writing, here are some general principles
that we must take note of:
- Always use standard English.
-Avoid contractions (shouldn't, gonna, etc.). Spell the
words out.
-Avoid exclamation marks as much as possible unless
part of a quotation.
-Mention the full name in the first mention. Thereafter,
use abbreviations.
-Spell out numbers, unless pertaining to dates/years. As
a rule, too, spell out numbers from one to ten (1-10).
Eleven (11) and onwards may be written as numerals,
except when found at the beginning of the sentence.
-Citations are used in academic and formal texts, but
sparingly used in business texts.
Grammar is the “science” of writing. It is made up of a
set of rules that are as important as the content.
etymology or word origin also plays a huge part in
spelling.
A. Spelling Since the Philippines is using the American
lexicon (set of vocabulary), we are expected to always
use properly spelt words. The dictionary is your best
friend if you are highly doubtful of how letters are
sequenced in some words. A dictionary app is one of the
most essential mobile applications you must have on
your smartphones and/or tablet PCs as a digital native.
Now, there are some words of foreign origin that have
made its way into everyday English lexicon, the most
dominant languages being French, Spanish, German,
and of course, Latin. Refer to this list by Lexico on how
to properly spell them.
Take note, if a certain expression needs to be defined or
discussed, use the English term for that expression as
much as possible. If you really need to use a foreign
term due to its unique nature (such as the German term
schadenfreude, the Japanese umami, or even the
Filipino term sari-sari store), then use that foreign term,
provided that you explain it afterwards in English.
B. Abbreviations and Acronyms
To recap, abbreviations are condensed forms or
shortcuts of certain terms. Acronyms are formed when
combining the first letters of a long name.
1. Abbreviations Here are some of the things that call
for abbreviation:
a.) titles (commonly attached at the start of a
professional’s name)
Dr. for Doctor; Arch. for Architect; Engr. for Engineer
Prof. for Professor (generally used for a teacher
instructing students in the tertiary/college level)
b.) honorifics (used when you are not sure of the
profession/nature of work of the person you are
referring to; commonly used to show courtesy and
respect to a person)
Mr. (for all males, regardless of marital and social
status) Ms. (a generalized honorific for a female whose
marital status is uncertain) Miss (for unmarried females)
Mrs. for a married woman (originally the abbreviation
of the formality “mistress”) Ma’am (another generalized
honorific for a female whose marital status is uncertain;
from the French formality Madame [“my lady”]) Sir (a
generalized honorific for a male whose marital status is
uncertain; from the French formality Monsieur, and the
Middle English term sire [“senior”])
2. Acronyms We use acronyms for the following
situations:
a.) shortening the names of organizations WHO (World
Health Organization) UAAP (University Athletic
Association of the Philippines) OCW (Overseas Contract
Worker; the term used to identify a Filipino working
abroad temporarily in the 1970s-1980s)
b.) basic scientific and technical terms DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) SARS-COV2 (Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome related Coronavirus, 2nd Strain;
the virus that causes Coronavirus Disease of 2019, or
COVID-19) KB (kilobyte); MB (megabyte); GB (gigabyte);
TB (terabyte)
c.) postnominals (commonly connected after the names
of certain professions) MD (Doctor of Medicine; from
the Latin title Medicinae Doctor, which has the same
meaning in English) EMT (Emergency Medical
Technician; “First Aiders” connected to/working with a
hospital/ambulance service, and are trained with more
advanced life saving/supporting procedures)
d.) backronyms Backronyms (a portmanteau of the
terms “back” and “acronym”) are acronyms that
became words in their own right due to constant usage
by English speakers. They may be written as regular
acronyms, and as conventional words. Radar (Radio
detection and ranging) Zip code (Zone identification
protocol) RnB (rhythm and blues; rap songs added with
some “slow-jams” flavors)
C. Colon, Semicolon, and Comma
These three other punctuation marks are the ones that
students seldom use in essays, and it is understandable:
they look similar, but they are used differently. Let’s
clear the air and delve into these three:
1. colon ( : ) Commonly used for the following
situations:
a.) when starting a list The following students are
considered Dean’s Listers: Marielle, Marjory, Gabriel,
and Diana.
b.) when emphasizing the next sentence/ independent
clause/word What I’m going to say is true: You are
going to succeed in whatever endeavor you pursue!
2. semicolon ( ; ) Used for the following situations:
a.) a quick replacement for the conjunctions under the
FANBOYS mnemonic The tickets for the One Direction
reunion concert sold like hotcakes; the General
Admission seats were the fastest category to be sold
out.
b.) when connecting two related, equal independent
clauses I ordered a cheeseburger for lunch; life’s too
short for counting calories.
c.) when using conjunctive adverbs in connection two
unrelated independent clauses (moreover, also,
nevertheless, however, otherwise, therefore, then,
finally, likewise, consequently) Reports of the damage
caused by the hurricane were greatly exaggerated;
indeed, the storm was not a “hurricane” at all.
3. comma ( , ) The Oxford Comma, named after the
academicians from one of the oldest Catholic
universities in the world, is a certain usage of the
comma when you are writing a very long list of
unrelated terms, and constantly using it in an effort to
avoid mixing those terms. One group says it is self-
explanatory and no longer needs to be used; the other
says that it should be enforced on all sentences of the
English language, since it is more common in the British
English variety (hence, Oxford Comma) than in
American English. Due to this heated argument, memes
have popped up all throughout the internet to express
their support, and dissent in using it.
LANGUAGE USE
key point: Above anything else, an academic text has to
be formal and objective, and such qualities can only be
achieved when appropriate language use is put into
consideration.
Just like mechanics, this final property of a well-written
text has a lot of conventions that you need to
remember. Some of these you are already practicing;
the others, you may be reading for the first time.
Nevertheless, let us now dive into the following things
you need to watch out for your next essay to look
formal, objective, and informative, all at the same time.
For one, we use a different register or variety of
language depending on the context and the people we
talk with. When we talk with friends, family, and other
familiars, we often use informal or personal language
that abound with codes known only to you.
But when we talk with professors and officials in the
academe or in any other formal context, we usually use
academic or standard language which has widely
accepted words and phrases that are found in books,
magazines, and the like.
On the other hand, when in business and other month of the government-mandated Enhanced
technical contexts, we usually use scientific terms, Community Quarantine (ECQ) from March 15 to April
special expressions, and other jargon in our language. 15. The general point of writing narrative essays is to
highlight the vital events that have happened on a
a. tone and mood We either have a constructive or a
particular day. For instance, you may want to highlight
destructive tone in our texts. As much as possible, we
the ruckus that had built up on all border checkpoints of
must be very constructive on the thoughts we share
the National Capital Region on the very first night of the
through our written works. We tend to have a
ECQ, such as the ones in the Cavite-Las Pinas border,
destructive tone in our texts when:
the Muntinlupa Laguna border, the Caloocan-Bulacan
♣ we sound too superior towards the reader, to the
border, and the Marikina-Rizal border.
extent of being condescending/belittling of their
4. argumentative essay This essay is considered to be a
intellect ;
“debate on paper”. You will expose a proposition (i.e.
♣ we are indifferent or apathetic about how important
the argument to be debated about) and present your
the issue is to the readers/audience ;
stand about it (are you in support, or in dissent of it?),
♣ we are highly biased about a particular topic ; and
then you present BOTH the affirmative, and the
♣ we have the tendency to “control ” and/or “conquer”
negative points to let the reader have a balanced view
the readers’ sense of judgment (such as fake news sites
of the argument, and then conclude by justifying the
and their articles)
personal stand that you laid out earlier. If you want to
Mood, on the other hand, is presented in the kind of
present your stand on whether the Armed Forces of the
text you are required to write and how you present
Philippines should be the lead agency of the mass
your arguments. You may have encountered it in some
vaccination against COVID-19, then you will have to take
books about Reading and Writing Skills as the “types of
a stand, while presenting why it may be okay, or why it
essays”, namely:
may be not, of course supported by reputable sources.
1. expository essay You write expository essays when
The next CM will enhance your skill in setting the mood
you want to present a certain problem and present your
(and tone) of the next essay you’re about to write.
evidence (i.e. supporting details) leading to a
b. Conciseness and Brevity
conclusion. Suppose you want to investigate the
Brevity is when you can present a certain thought with
problem about water distribution systems in certain
as few words as possible. Conciseness, on the other
provinces in the Visayas region. Initially, you are going
hand, is when you can use the right words to present
to provide your own evidences on why such systems
that certain thought. They always go hand in hand when
may or may not be properly implemented, and then ask
composing essays, as they help the reader pick up your
the readers to continue the investigation by continuing
arguments effectively, not to mention that they also
your “exposition”. You may also write the causes of a
help you minimize your word count.
poor water distribution system, as well as their effects
Writers have a particular “18-word rule”, in which you
and/or consequences.
must be able to present an argument in eighteen (18)
2. descriptive essay Descriptive essays are for content words (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjective, and
introducing a particular idea to a group of people who adverbs) or less. This is to pave way for other
may not have heard of it. For example, some may be thoughts/arguments to be accommodated in the
familiar with a federal government system because they paragraph.
may be aware that the United States has a federal
Here are additional tips:
government , but some may not be. Nevertheless, you
Use active verbs. Whenever possible, make the subject
will “describe” what federalism is through an essay
of a sentence do something.
written with a highly objective tone for everyone’s
Original: The grant proposals were reviewed by the
attention and awareness .
students.
3. narrative essay You write narrative essays if you want Revised: The students reviewed the grant proposals.
to document a particular event as it unfolds. A good Also, use the verb forms of nouns as much as possible
example of this is a narrative report on what happened O: The presentation of the arguments by the students
during the Taal Ashfall of January 2020, or the first was convincing.
R: The students presented their arguments
convincingly.
Cut empty phrases. Remove phrases that do not add to
the meaning of the sentence. O: As a matter of fact,
staying at home is the best option. R: Staying at home is
the best option. This also applies to redundancies,
clichés, and highfalutin words that are gratuitous and
just for show.
representation in terms of the names of certain
professions, while our brothers and sisters in the
LGBTQIA++ group demanded their own sense of identity
when signing up for formal documents such as
passports and marriage/union certifications (the most
prominent being the endorsement of the usage of the
honorific “Mx.”) With these changes in mind, here are
some of the alternative terms we can use to avoid
sexism, and promote gender neutrality in our essays,
articles, and other discourse materials:

c. precision and clarity the words we use in writing

must reflect our intended meaning. To achieve this,
make sure to give careful thought to choosing the
accurate word. An extensive vocabulary is useful in this
regard.
Example: Vante is an acquaintance. We had one class in
art. My colleague, Justin, has been in the company
longer. We were friends from high school. My buddy,
Jin, will be the best man. Along with the feminist and the LGBTQIA++ movements,
various races, cultures, and social groups have also
Also, replace vague or ambiguous nouns such as area, called for the English-speaking community to be
aspect, case, factor, manner, situation, something, sensitive enough to address them by using what we call
thing, type, and way) with more specific words—or as “culturally appropriate terms”. Here’s another table
eliminate them altogether. O: After reading several for us to be aware of some of the culturally appropriate
things in the area of business-type subjects, I decided to terms and a brief explanation of why we should use
put myself in a situation where I might change my these terms instead of what we have been oriented
major. R: After reading several business books, I decided
to change my major.

Pronouns must also be consistent. O: We should simply

accept that fate is an illusion; you must not leave our
decisions to something that does not exist. R: We
should simply accept that fate is an illusion; we must
not leave our decisions to something that does not
exist.

d. jargon and politically correct language These are

somewhat the most controversial and must be given
consideration in terms of use.
1. Jargon Some communities and interest groups use
terms that are built from a common interest, which we,
as lay persons, do not understand. This is the main
principle behind jargon.

2. Politically correct language With the rise of the

fourth wave feminist movement, and the LGBTQIA++
movement in the 21st century, the way we refer to
people in written and spoken texts have changed
drastically in contrast with how our parents did so
generations ago. Women clamored for equal
with back then.
READING AND WRITNG SKILLS CM5
PATTERNS OF PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT
We discussed the properties of a well-written text in the
previous two CMs. As you have observed, your essay
has improved so much through the revisions you made
as we discussed the properties one by one. Think of it
this way: your essay is like a Lego™ construction set.
Each block (that represents a particular property) makes
the finished product all the more beautiful. Lose an
important piece, and your plastic brick car, house, ship,
or castle loses some of its touch as well.
Now we shall tread into deeper waters and apply all five
properties in very specific situations. This is because
there are certain patterns that a writer can use to send
their messages, thoughts, and arguments to a specific
audience. This CM is also a two-part series. The first
part will focus on the first four (4) patterns, namely:
Narration, Description, Definition, and
Exemplification/Classification. The second part will
focus on the remaining four (4): Comparison Contrast,
Cause and Effect, Problem-Solution, and Persuasion.
Narration Narration (also known in other references as
Sequence) is a paragraph pattern where the writer
discusses realtime sequencing of a particular event,
past or present. Whatever may have happened during
this minute, of this time, of this day, of that month, you
are to narrate them according to how you saw it. Think
Ate Charo: when you see MMK, you immediately know
that what’s going to unfold is a narrative, a story of
what happened.
In the world of academic texts, usages of the narrative
pattern can come in the form of:
a. news reports Before a journalist publishes a news
article of a recent drug bust, they will have to narrate
first how the police officers tracked the whereabouts of
the drug suspects, how the buy-bust operation was
planned and executed, the actual arrest of the suspects,
and the filing of charges towards the suspects.
b. book reports (the first half of it, at least) When your
teachers in Literature class ask you to compose a book
report, the first instruction is usually to provide the
summary of the particular chapter, short story, essay, or
the whole book. Of course, you will take down the
important events of that story, and then condense it to
reach the word limit that your teacher has set on your
book report, so that you can have more space for the
other parts such as analysis of the events, and potential
lessons learned.
c. recipes You structure the process of your baking or
cooking journey by narrating it, starting with the
ingredients, the mixing of those mentioned ingredients,
the process of baking (and waiting), and the serving
itself.
The usual format of a narrative paragraph pattern
comes like this:
a. a short introduction of the event you are about to
narrate;
b. sequencing of events that comprise the whole
narration; and
c. a potential conclusion, or commentary about the
event that you just narrated.
Description
One can get superbly amazed by how criminal sketch
artists do their job in the police department. They only
base the composite sketches of the suspected criminals
assigned to them from mere clusters of details from
various sources. With the proper integration of such
details, they can construct the face that ruined
someone else’s property, dignity, and worst, life itself.
Short hair, wide forehead, golden locks of hair, broad
nose, flat lips, pointy earlobes, hazel eyes, tall neck –
these are some descriptions that witnesses may utter to
the sketch artist. Description is also the second pattern
of paragraph development we’re going to tackle.
To write a text in the descriptive pattern is to focus on
the superficial attribution, the division and breaking
down of parts, and the analysis of a particular topic.
This is one of the easiest patterns a writer of English
language texts can do, as we all encounter a situation
where we need to describe something from the comfort
of our own homes, to our school grounds, to our
favorite hangouts, and even describing our favorite
people.
Let’s divide description into three components, each of
which can be combined or done individually
a. superficial attribution This is the fundamental way of
writing descriptive paragraphs. It pertains to physical
attributes, innate values (such as personalities, abilities,
and skills), and additional descriptions given by other
people, aside from your own personal observations.
Example:
1. character sketches (when you want to introduce a
fictional character in a story you’re writing), and
2. introduction to a new concept (such as introducing a
new business idea, and how it will work and grow)
b. division Especially when the concept, or idea you are
about to describe is a large entity to describe on its
own, you may opt to divide it into smaller parts and
then describe them separately. It is recommended that
you allot one (1) paragraph for each division you have
made from the whole.
You can commonly encounter descriptive texts that
make use of division in:
1. organizational statements (when a large company
wants to discuss the different offices they have to their
potential investors),
2. different flavors of certain food items (like
cheesecakes, and coffee-based beverage items)
3. different functions of all family members in a
household
c. analysis This is the most tedious kind of description,
for all the right reasons. You write such texts when you
want to give an in-depth commentary about a particular
object, event, or even a person. Just be sure to practice
being objective in your descriptions, though.
Some situations where analytical descriptions may
come in handy are:
1. commentary about a recently concluded event (such
as a sports game, or the latest news item in your local
area)
2. unboxing of particular items of popular nature (such
as cosmetic products, clothes, computer hardware
upgrades, and even toys), and
3. in-depth interviews with famous personalities
To properly sketch a descriptive essay, here is a format
that you may want to follow:
a. a short introduction on the person/object/event to be
given a detailed description of,
b. a detailed list of the actual descriptions
- if describing a person, you may want to start with the
physical aspects of the person, then go deeper to the
innate attributes
- if describing an object, you may want to describe the
external features (top to bottom, or front to back), and
then get into the internal specifications.
- if describing an event, you may want to start with the
conception and planning of the event, the activities
slated for that event, and the actual event itself as it
unfolds (you may merge some elements of the
Narrative Pattern here)
- if the topic being described is too large, then it’s time
to use division; if you will be giving your own
commentary after this part, then use analysis
c. a closing statement for that person, object, or event
-if you wrote the previous paragraph as an analysis, you
may want to leave your personal observations here
Definition Definition is generally defined as the
thorough explanation of a term with regard to its
being, origin, purpose, and function. It is the most
fundamental way to introduce something to someone,
especially when hearing it for the first time. The very
first place where you can find definitions of various
words is of course the dictionary. But did you know that
you can define terms around you without even holding
your dictionary? All it takes is common sense and the
knowledge of these three vital words. Here now is the
anatomy of the definition:
a. Term This is the word that you are about to define.
You always start the definition by mentioning the term
at the very start of your sentence, or paragraph.
b. Genus This is the group that the term belongs to. It is
the classification or the association you make when you
hear the word. faster you pedal, the longer, and farther, the stitch will
c. Differentia From the Latin term that means be. (hate to break this to you but, this is how your
“different”, the differentia is the defining factor that grandmother’s Singer is supposed to work; it’s still nice
separates the term from the other members of the to ride underneath it and pretend to be the ship
genus it is classified to. Simply put, the differentia is captain, though)
what makes the term unique on its own right. 6. Outcome/Effect Abstract ideas can be defined by
But when situation dictates that you need to define a how they directly (or indirectly) affect the people or any
term for a particular intention (aside from the Term- other object or creature involved. e.g. Research has
Genus-Differentia format), you can do so by taking note proven that gasoline inhalation can deal long-term
of the following kinds of extended definitions: consequences to the body of pump attendants and
motorists alike, such as migraines, confusion, and
1. Listing and Description of Parts You can define a
cancers.
term by listing down the various components that
7. Historical references You may also give the previous
makes it whole. e.g. The conventional smartphone is
definitions of a term to show how it has progressed
composed of an LED screen, an audio jack, a built-in
through history, especially since some words change
speaker system, a built-in camera, an internal battery
meaning over time, depending on the context of usage
pack, and a SIM card slot.
and the people who use it. e.g. During the Great
2. Etymology You can discuss the origin of a particular
Depression, to have a “rocky road” is to lose a job and
word to get its original meaning and to know how it
become penniless. But also during that same time,
came to have its present meaning. e.g. The word
Willian Dreyer and Joseph Edy found a way to make
tourniquet comes from the French verb “tourner”,
“rocky road” one of the most iconic ice cream flavors in
which means “[to] turn.” (a tourniquet is a medical
the world to put smiles on faces. (now, you are now an
device used to constrict blood flow from a limb of a
ice cream expert with this tidbit of history!
person; it is usually used by turning the device to
tighten the arm/leg, hence the word’s origin) Exemplification/ Classification
3. Exemplification You can define terms by giving
Key point: When a certain term seems too large to define
specific examples to give the readers an idea of what
on its own, it is best explained by giving specific examples
you may be meaning with the term you are introducing
of that larger part or classifying it into smaller parts.
to them.
These two terms are different from each other, so don’t
e.g. Various systems of government that are being
get confused. When we say exemplification, we give
practiced around the world are presidential democracy,
specific examples or instances of a particular topic,
communism, parliamentary democracy, monarchy,
regardless if one example is higher than the other. On
federalism, theocracy, dictatorship, and military junta.
the other hand, when we do classification, we give
(just by the mention of the words “democracy” and
subordinated examples/instances that belong to a
“communism”, most of you must already know that you
hierarchy. Examine the examples below:
are being given examples of how people [or a group of
The Philippines, just like South Korea, also has its own
people] can rule a country, hence, understanding what
share of conglomerates. We commonly recognize them
a government technically is)
by the surnames of the people who own it, instead of
4. Negation You can also define terms by telling readers
the name of the actual company. For instance, we have
what it’s not, what it can’t do, or what it’s not to be.
the Ayalas, the Tans, the Sys, the Villars, the Pangilinans,
e.g. The M1 Helmet is not supposed to be used as a
and the Gokongweis. Observe in the
wash basin, a cooking pot, a head rest, or a shovel.
paragraph above that the surnames of the families who
(observe how different NON-functions of a helmet is
own a group of companies in the country are listed as
listed? Can you list other “odd” functions of a helmet?
examples of Filipino conglomerates. The names are
5. Function You can define something (particularly a
arranged without regard to wealth and number of
technical term) by simply describing how it works, and
companies owned. That is exemplification. SM
what it is initially for.
Investments Corporation is one of the Philippines’
e.g. The earliest types of sewing machine work by
largest conglomerates. It has subcompanies that deal
operating a foot pedal to constitute a stitch cycle on the
with retail, property development, banking and
fabric while moving the fabric at the same time. The
finance, lifestyle and entertainment, and education.
Under retail, it owns SM Supermalls, the recognized
brand of excellence in the shopping mall industry in the
country, as well as the national franchises of Ace
Hardware (an American hardware store chain),
Watson’s (a Hong Kong-based pharmacy), Uniqlo (a
Japanese clothes retailer), and Miniso (a Chinese-
Japanese low-cost goods retailer). SMDC is the
company’s prime contender in property development,
not to mention that they also own Taal Vista Hotel,
Conrad Hotel, and Pico de Loro Resort. They provide
banking and finance for Filipinos through BDO, a bank
conceived from the mergers of Banco de Oro, and
Equitable-PCI Bank in 2007, and China Bank, the
country’s first commercially owned bank. For lifestyle
and entertainment, SM Cinemas dominate the national
film theater scene, as well as the Mall of Asia Arena,
one of the largest private sports arenas in the
Philippines. In the field of education, it has the National
University under its wing since 2008, as well as the Asia
Pacific College, founded in collaboration with the
American computer magnate IBM. In the first
paragraph, you have been given the different
subdivisions of what SM Investments owns (boldfaced).
In the second paragraph, each of the subdivisions are
now given their specific examples (underscored),
emphasizing that the particular company is under that
division of SM Investments. That is classification.
READING AND WRITNG SKILLS CM6
PATTERNS OF PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT
CAUSE AND EFFECT
-is a pattern of paragraph development in which a
writer analyzes the reasons for—and/or the
consequences of—an action, event, or decision.
-it looks at the reasons (or causes) for something, then
discusses the results (or effects) (Smith, 2020)
COMPARISON AND CONTRAST
-this paragraph pattern is used if you are asked to
examine similarities and/or differences. Compare
focuses on similarities. Contrast focuses on differences.
-You may use transitional devices to effectively show
the similarities and differences of two entities being
compared.
-For comparison: similar to, similarly, in the same way,
like, equally, again, also, too, etc.
-For contrast: in contrast, on the other hand, different
from, whereas, while, unlike, however, but, although,
however, conversely, yet, unlike, etc.
PROBLEM & SOLUTION
-this pattern reflects a form of critical thinking that
tends to be more argumentative and evaluative.
-it is useful in writing case studies, critiques,
introductions, reports of scientific investigations,
literary reviews, and essay examinations.
PERSUASION
- this paragraph tries to convince the reader that a
particular point of view is worthy of consideration. It
wants you to consider both sides of an issue, but it
reveals a bias in favor of one side over another. Facts
may be presented in support of a position, but the
writer is not being objective. The point of view is
subjective.
Text and context connections
Critical reading: claim of fact, claim of value, claim of
policy
Critical reading
-An active way of reading
-A deeper and more complex engagement with a text
-Questioning both the text and how it was read
✔ What is the writers perspective?
✔ What relevant information is excluded from the
text?
✔ Do you agree with the writer?
✔ Is the writer objective and accurate?
✔ How would you describe the tone of the writer?
✔ Does the text challenge your own beliefs and
values?
✔ Are there assumptions made by the writer?
 ✔ Does the writer use reasonable generalizations
and inferences?

CLAIM A claim is a statement that is not considered

accepted by all. It may be unverified or controversial to
a certain degree. It is usually related to one side of the
issue. Claim is also called a position. A claim is
argumentative and specific.

Types of Claims

Claim of Fact (COF) Claim of Facts relate to statements

that can be easily verified and not dependent on a
person’s preference. It also asserts that a condition has
existed, is existing, or will exist and are based on facts or
data. *Facts that are universally accepted are not
considered claim of fact but instead a statement of fact.

Claim of Value (COV) Claim of Value involves

judgments and evaluations. It judges whether
something is good/bad, right/wrong, just/unjust,
ethical/non-ethical, etc. it is judging worth. It attempts
to prove that some things are more or less desirable
than others. Some claims of value are simply
expressions of taste, preferences, and prejudices. The
most important in proving claim of value is by
establishing standards of evaluation.

Claim of Policy (COP) Advocates a specific course of

action. It asserts that specific policies should be
instituted as solutions to problems. Claims of policy
argue that certain conditions should exist. Almost
always "should" or "ought to" or “must” are included in
this claim.

CONTEXT OF TEXT DEVELOPMENT

INTERTEXT & HYPERTEXT

INTERTEXT refers to the shaping of the text meaning by

referencing or calling to mind other texts as it aims to
add meaning to the current text.
-understanding the piece through parallel plot,
characters, premise, etc. with the wealth of the prior
knowledge, experience, and research.
Intertextuality

1. Quotation - it is the actual insertion of a text

within another

2. Travesty - is a practice of imitation an original text

a) Pastiche - rewriting of some ‘noble’ text as a new

text that retains the fundamental content but
presents it in another style in order to ‘debase’ it.

b) Parody - retaining the stylistic properties of the

original text while diverting its subject

3. Copy - it is a performance that aims at being

closest possible imitation of a pre-existent, usually
recorded performance

4. Covering it is a rendering a previously recorded

song that displays the usual stylistic configurations
of the covering artist.

5. Translation - it is a creation of new text from a

text of different language

6. Reply - an answer to the original text

7. Instrumental Cover - Instrumental/allosonic

rendering of a previously recorded song where the
main vocal line has been replaced by an
instrumental melodic line. 8. Instrumental remix:
a remix of the original song from which the
leading voice has simply been Removed.

Hypertext

Hypertext is characterized by external links embedded

in a text by the writer as it enables the reader to arrive
at the intended interpretation of the author In online
medium, hypertexts are the embedded links; while in
print media, these are the commentaries or footnotes
in the margin.

Hypertext materials include pictures, video materials

animated and audio transitions. All those possibilities
make hypertext material content high and suitable for
educational purposes.