READING AND WRITING SKILLS

Module 2 (Third Quarter) S.Y. 2020-2021

Name: _______________________________________ Teacher: Ms. Diane Goco

Grade/Section: ________________________________ Assigned Date:
Barangay: ____________________________________ Time Frame: 2 WEEKS

MODULE 2
READING & THINKING STRATEGIES ACROSS TEXT TYPES

TARGET LEARNERS:
Grade 11 students

OVERVIEW:
This module is all about Reading and Thinking Strategies across Text Types. As a student, you will be asked
to read and write different types of academic texts—and you need to work hard and work smart to succeed in the tasks
given to you. This module will teach you the different strategies and techniques in reading and writing to help you with
your tasks.

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, the learners are expected to;
a. evaluate a written text based on its properties (organization, coherence and cohesion, language use and mechanics).

RESOURCE MATERIALS:
Reading and Writing - Senior High School
Alternative Delivery Mode 2020
Quarter 1 – Module 1: Reading and Thinking Strategies across Text Types
First Edition, 2020

PRE-ASSESSMENT
A. Directions: Read the statements carefully, and determine what is being referred to, then write your answers on the
blanks provided before each number.

____________________1. This is achieved when ideas are logically and accurately arranged.

____________________2. This refers to when the details of a paragraph are arranged according to the order in which they
happened.

____________________3. It is a set of conventions on how to spell, abbreviate, punctuate and capitalize.

____________________4. This means that the sentences are arranged in a logical manner, making them easily understood
by the reader.

____________________5. To attain this property, one must be consistent with the use of pronouns.

B. Complete this figure by writing what do you think makes up an effective or a well-written text.

What is a
well-written
text?

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LESSON 2.1 Reading & Thinking Strategies: Organization, Coherence and Cohesion

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.

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:

 Physical format
 Signal words
 Structure

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.

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.

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
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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

ACTIVITY 10: Underline the signal words and phrases that the author has used for arranging the details in the
paragraphs.

Northern Mindanao is a region rich in culture, which can be seen in their numerous festivals. One of the most
popular festivals in the region is the Higalaay Festival in Cagayan de Oro City. They celebrate the feast day of St.
Augustine every 28th day of August. Another festival is Kaamulan festival in Bukidnon. It is an ethnic cultural festival
wherein people allocate a relative amount of their time to remember the culture and traditions of the seven ethnic tribes in
their area. It is also considered as a thanksgiving festival to celebrate their bountiful harvest. Moreover, another famous
festival in the region is the Lanzones festival in Camiguin, which is a 4-day celebration of this fruit. It is held every 3rd
week of October. It is essential to note that the sweetest Lanzones can be found in the islands of Camiguin. Regularly
celebrating different causes as one whole community shows that the citizens of Region 10 value camaraderie and
friendship. 

Some parts of this region are known to have preserved their tribal beliefs and customs. An example is the
Higaunon, a mountain tribe in Bukidnon. Apparently, they still believe in the existence of spirits and gods. Furthermore,
they have a god for each element. Another superstition is they need to please the spirits so they will experience something
good in return. People in this tribe still live according to their traditions with farming as their primary source of income.
Additionally, the ancestors of its current inhabitants mentioned that the region was occupied by four tribes but when
northern-central Mindanao was divided into provinces, migrants from Visayas and Luzon began to dominate the region.
Since that happened, the tribal communities went to the mountains and forests to continue living out their cultural
heritage.

The region’s culture can also be seen in their establishments and churches. These include: the Immaculate
Conception Parish Church in Misamis Oriental, Macapagal-Macaraeg Heritage House in Lanao Del Norte, General
MacArthur Maker and Saint Augustine Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro. These places represents a glimpse of Northern
Mindanao’s history because the events that occurred in these locations moulded Region 10 to be what it is today. The
province of Camiguin is home to century old churches such as the Santo Rosario Church and Old Catarman Church
Ruins. Baylao Church is considered as a miraculous place because a lot of individuals connect it to how its existence
saved numerous lives during the eruption of Mount HibokHibok. Besides that, there are also a lot of ancestral homes that
can be found in this region that date back all the way to the Spanish era.

http://www.nnc.gov.ph/index.php/regional-offices/region-x-northern-mindanao/54-region-10-profile/306-region-x-
profile.html

If there is a clear
statement of purpose,
position, facts, examples,
specific details, IDEAS are formed
definitions, explanation, and well-developed ORGANIZATION
justifications or opposing
viewpoints

And if there is ORGANIZATION, there is…

Coherence and Cohesion – 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. On the other hand, cohesion means that the overall text has meaning.

A text with coherence has ideas that are logically sequenced in a way that is easy to follow for the reader . Although
without cohesion, no central concept links all these ideas together. The main point of the text remains unclear for readers.

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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.
Cohesion and Coherence
A text with both cohesion and coherence has a central concept linking all the ideas in the text, and these ideas are
presented in a logical manner. The main point is clear, and the text is easy to follow and understand.

Example:
International Women’s Day is celebrated on the 8th of March of every year. It began as a Socialist political event in
several Western countries. Then, other countries also started celebrating the holiday just as a way to express their love for
women. Currently, the United Nations observes the holiday as a way to bring to light women’s issues around the world.

Explanation:
The main topic of the text is International Women’s Day, which was stated in the first sentence. The paragraph proceeds
to outline the history of the holiday starting from some Western countries and its spread to other nations. It ends with the
current way that the whole world celebrates the day. The writer can present different ideas about the holiday in a logical
manner and without veering away from the topic.

Remember the following when trying to evaluate if your text has cohesion and
coherence:

 A text with cohesion but no coherence is difficult to follow.

 A text with coherence but no cohesion has no definite point.
 A text with both cohesion and coherence is logically sequenced and stays on topic.

Activity 11: Create a coherent paragraph by arranging the following jumbled sentences. Then write your arranged
paragraph on the space provided. Don’t forget to observe proper mechanics in writing your paragraph!

 In these areas, 70 % of the agricultural land suffers from dryness and lack of irrigation.
 As a result, the crops are usually marginal with hardly enough production to feed the farmer’s family.
 The first fact to consider is that over 60% of the population lives in rural communities.
 In my country, one of the most urgent problems facing the government today relates to agriculture.
 And without irrigation, agricultural production is wholly dependent on the uncertain rainfall.
 To understand the nature of this problem, one has to look at some facts.
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 To solve the problem of overpopulation, he devised a great war, which would sweep like a conflagration over
Greece.
 This was the Trojan war.
 Zeus, the ruler of the gods, seemed to have realized that the earth was getting terribly overcrowded.
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ACTIVITY 12: UNDERSTANDING COHESION: Read each of the following paragraphs. Underline the sentence that
does not belong to the paragraph, to make it more coherent and cohesive.

1. Oceans and lakes have much in common, but they are also quite different. Both are bodies of water, but oceans are very
large bodies of salt water, while lakes are much smaller bodies of fresh water. Lakes are usually surrounded by land, while
oceans are what surround continents. Both have plants and animals living in them. The ocean is home to the largest
animals on the planet, whereas lakes support much smaller forms of life. When it is time for a vacation, both will make a
great place to visit and enjoy. I want to swim in the lake.

2. Sunset is the time of day when our sky meets the outer space solar winds. There are blue, pink, and purple swirls,
spinning and twisting, like clouds of balloons caught in a blender. Sunset is the opposite of sunrise. The sun moves slowly
to hide behind the line of horizon, while the moon races to take its place in prominence atop the night sky. People slow to
a crawl, entranced, fully forgetting the deeds that still must be done. There is a coolness, a calmness, when the sun does
set.

3. Here is the perfect system for cleaning your room. First, move all of the items that do not have a proper place to the
center of the room. Get rid of at least five things that you have not used within the last year. Take out all of the trash, and
place all of the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. Now find a location for each of the items you had placed in the center of
the room, for any remaining items, see if you can squeeze them in under your bed or stuff them into the back of your
closet. 5s is a Japanese cleaning system. See, that was easy!

LESSON 2.2 Reading & Thinking Strategies: Language Use and Mechanics

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.
Determine when it is appropriate to use formal language or when informal language is acceptable.

1. Appropriate Language
Informal language is usually used in writing for oneself or in writing to family, friends, and colleagues. On the other
hand, formal language is used in writing academic, business, and official texts.

Examples:
 We asked the secretary to call the professor and get her permission for us to continue our research.
 We requested that the secretary contact the professor and obtain her permission for us to continue our research.

Explanation:
In the first sentence, the writer used casual words such as asked, call, and get permission, which made the
sentence informal. The second sentence used more serious words such as requested instead of asked, contact instead of
call, and obtain permission instead of get permission. This sentence is formal and is appropriate to use when talking or
writing to a person of authority.

2. Familiar Language
When you write, you should also make sure that the language you use is **direct and simple rather than complicated
so that readers would easily understand the text.** If your readers are the youth, then you should use words that are
familiar to young people.

Example:
Why Sunglasses Are a Must-Have for Kids (An Excerpt)

(NewsUSA) Most parents know how damaging the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can be to our skin,
which is why they dutifully slather sunscreen on their kids during the summer. But one thing that often gets overlooked is
protecting their children’s eyes. According to vision-care experts, kids receive three times more UV exposure than adults
annually, yet less than 30 percent of parents currently protect their children’s eyes with sunglasses. The reason for concern
is that children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the sun’s rays because their ocular lenses are not mature
enough to filter UV light as effectively as adults, causing damage to the retina.
“Everyone buys into what happens to your skin when it comes to sun damage, but many parents are really
surprised to learn about the cumulative UV damage to the eyes,” Dawn Hartman, an optometrist at Columbus
Ophthalmology Associates in Columbus, Ohio, told the Wall Street Journal in an interview. But the right sunglasses can
help, as parents become more aware that protection from the sun is not just skin deep.
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Source: 
(USA,NEWSUSA,2016)
http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com/health/why-sunglasses-are-a-must-have-for-kids/

Explanation:

The entire text uses simple words. This lets readers easily understand the significance of letting kids wear
sunglasses. There were a few technical scientific terms that were necessary to mention in the text, such
as ultraviolet radiation, ocular lenses, and retina. However, the message of the text is still easy to grasp.

You should also be sensitive enough to use unbiased language so that you will not offend any individual or any
particular group of people. Unbiased language is language that is free of racial bias, free of religious bias, and free
of gender bias.

Examples:
 A teacher should make it a point to motivate her students. (gender-biased)
 Teachers should make it a point to motivate their students. (no gender-biased)

Explanation:
In the first sentence, the pronoun used is she, but teachers may also be male, so the statement shows gender bias.
The second sentence, on the other hand, makes use of the gender-neutral pronoun their, making it unbiased.

3. Proper Language Use

Proper language use allows you to capture the message that you want to convey to your readers. It is all about
choosing the right words that accurately capture your ideas.

However, writers sometimes encounter problems with the following:

 Misused Words
 Words with Unwanted Connotations
 Technical or Highfalutin Words

Misused Words
A writer might sometimes use a word incorrectly, and this occurs when the word does not mean what he or she
thinks it does. So, it is important to be certain of the definition of a word before using it; this often happens with words
that sound or look alike.

Example:
There are many behaviors that past societies considered legal but are now deemed amoral including slavery, sexism, and
racism.

Explanation:
The writer confused the word “amoral” with “immoral.” The amoral means neither moral nor immoral (without moral
quality) while the latter means not moral. Sometimes, it is easy to guess the correct meaning of a word just by looking at
how it is spelled. The prefix a- signals that something is without such as in “anarachy” (without a government) or
“atypical” (without typical features). On the other hand, the prefix im- simply means not such as in “imperfect” (not
perfect) or “impossible” (not possible).

Words with Unwanted Connotations

There are words that take on a meaning specific to a context. Some writers might not be aware of these
connotations, so they end up using language that is unintentionally confusing, comical or even offensive to readers.

Example:
The coast guard salvaged Priscilla and her sister after their fishing boat was damaged in the storm.

Explanation:
The word “salvage” means to save usually from the wreckage of a marine vessel. However, the Philippine media and
police often use the term to mean a violent killing, which is opposite from its traditional English meaning. It comes from
the Spanish word “salvaje” that has a meaning similar to “savage.” Thus, if the writer produced this text for a Filipino
audience, the meaning that he or she intended would be lost. Using the word “saved” or “rescued” would remedy the
issue.

Technical or Highfalutin Words

Writers want to sound smart by using words that are very technical or have deep meanings. Though some writing
genres require the use of such words, writers should still be careful about using them since they make readers work
harder to understand texts.
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Example:
There is an ongoing discourse about the antidisestablishment assemblage and the administrative political body.

Explanation:
The text is complicated because it is filled with words that are difficult to understand. If the terms are important to
use, then the writer could define what they mean. Otherwise, the sentence could be rewritten simply this way: There is an
ongoing discussion between the opposition and the government. This sentence still “sounds smart” but it is easier for
most people to understand and it does not change the meaning of the original sentence in any way.

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.

ACTIVITY 13: Underline the informal words and change the sentence to formal language.

1. He’s gonna be angry.

2. I wanna learn how to ski.

3. Didja like the movie?

4. We hafta leave now.

5. I bought ya apples and grapes.

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.
Examples: BRITISH : flavour, humour, labour
U.S.A: flavour, humor, labor
Punctuation
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
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, Meljoy

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 proper adjectives
Canadian embassy, Canadian cotton
 days of the week
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
 months of the year
January, March, April
 specific course titles
Theater 10, English 10, Room 5
 kinship names used in place of personal names and are followed by personal names
Grandma, Dad, Aunt Paz, Uncle Alvin
 adjectives, verbs, adverbs, nouns, and pronouns in a title and the first and last word in a title
  Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (literature)
 historical periods, events, documents
 Great Depression, the Renaissance, the Constitution, Faculty Manual, Student Handbook

Source:
https://www.academia.edu/34256187/READING_AND_WRITING_First_Quarter_Period_PROPERTIES_OF_A_WELL-
WRITTEN_TEXT

ACTIVITY 14: Put a () if the phrases or sentences are following the proper mechanics. If the words or phrases are
incorrect, rewrite them below the given items to make it correct.

_______1. San miguel Corporation

_____2. Joe said, “he is my patient.”

_____3. do you believe me

_____4. Tom Cruise won the oscar award

_____5. Hon. Juan dela Cruz

_____6. girlie is one friend i know inside and out

_____7. i am from the Philippines

_____8. Anna can pass for a movie star as a deadringer of anne Hathaway.

_____9. Being the only daughter, sylvia is the apple of the eye of her father.

_____10. please keep an eye on her while I am out.

ACTIVITY 15: In not more than 10 sentences and not less than 5 sentences explain what you like or don’t like about
Senior High School. Your paragraph will be rated based on the rubric below. You may write your paragraph on the space
provided.

Criteria Performance Indicators Points Score

Complete and thoughtful explanation of ideas 2
CONTENT Strong organization and structure 2
Vivid supporting details included 2
Written in complete sentence 2
MECHANICS
Correct and appropriate grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. 2

Total 10

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POST-ASSESSMENT

I. Directions: Read the statements carefully, and determine what is being referred to, then write your answers on the
blanks provided before each number.

____________________1. This is the structural framework of writing.

____________________2. This refers to the arranged of paragraph in a logical order and the sentences are clearly related
to each other.
____________________3. It is a set of rules on how to spell, abbreviate, punctuate and capitalize properly.
____________________4. This means that the text is effective because the reader is able to follow the writer’s train of
thought with ease.
____________________5. This refers to the appropriateness of the words that you are using in your text.
____________________6. It 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.

____________________7. It refers to a set of conventions on how to spell, abbreviate, punctuate and capitalize.
Mechanics are conventions that have to be considered in writing.
____________________8. This is the structural framework for writing.
__________________9. 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.
__________________10. It means that the overall text has meaning.

II. LET’S PLAY A GAME

In this activity, the excerpts or examples from a text that are given. You will try to determine what property of a well-
written text is present/used (organization, coherence and cohesion, language use and mechanics) in it.

1. Michael took the children with him.

Answer: ____________________________________________________________

2. Central Idea: The Eiffel Tower is divided into three sections.

Main Points: The lowest section of the tower contains the entrance, a gift shop, and a restaurant.
II. The middle section of the tower consists of stairs and elevators that lead to the top.
III. The top section of the tower includes an observation deck with a spectacular view of Paris.
Answer: _____________________________________________________________

3. During the early twentieth century, in addition to industrialization, urban growth and technological development,
Australian society was experiencing a transformation of the domestic ideal.
Answer: ________________________________________________________________

4. Alternative: A poor or negative result.

Instead: A bad result.
Answer: ________________________________________________________________
5. President Rodrigo Duterte was the 16 th President of the Republic of Philippines. He is also the former Mayor in Davao
City for a long time.
Answer: ________________________________________________________________
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