Discourse

 Discourse is a formal speech or writing that discusses a certain topic. In other words, discourse is
the presentation of language in its entirety, while performing an intellectual inquiry in a particular
area or field, such as theological discourse or cultural discourse.

Classifications of Discourse
Discourse can be classified into four main categories, namely:

Exposition

 The main focus of this type of discourse is to make the audience aware of the topic of the
discussion. Definitions and comparative analyses of different ideas and beliefs are examples of
discourse exposition.

Exposition discourse can be seen in the following examples:

Harry and Draco: Not As Different as They Seem

The struggle of a single parent 
Why Do Cats Purr?

Narration
 The main goal of narration or speaking is usually to tell a story, often to make the audience feel
differently about a certain topic. Narratives might take the form of a play, novel, folk tale, memoir,
or myth. Things usually unfold from a single person or character’s perspective and tend to be very
descriptive. This type of communication usually appeals to an audience’s humanity, often by
drawing on common experiences or emotions that are easily relatable or by depicting
circumstances that pique the imagination.

Narration discourse can be seen in the following examples:

He Left So I Could Learn

A Ticket to the Fair by David Foster Wallace
Death of a Moth by Virginia Woolf

Descriptive
 This type involves describing something in relation to the senses. Descriptive discourse enables
the audience to develop a mental picture of what is being discussed. Descriptive parts of a novel
or essay are descriptive discourse examples

Descriptive discourse can be seen in the following examples:

What Makes a Film Great?

The Most Expensive Photograph Ever Sold
Wonders of the Ancient World

Argument
 This type of discourse is based on valid logic and, through correct reasoning, tries to motivate the
audience. Examples of argumentative discourse include lectures, essays, and  prose.

Argumentative discourse can be seen in the following examples:

The Legalization of Gambling: A Question of Friend or Foe?

School Choice – An Educational Custom Fit
Positive and Negative Sides of Twitter for Adolescents
Claims of Fact, Value or Policy: 
 Statistics, surveys and studies out of academic journals (written by experts in the field) found in
Library Databases provide credible resources to support a program, initiative or policy claim.

Claims of Fact
 Asserts that a condition has existed, exists, or will exist. To support a claim of fact, use factual
evidence that is sufficient, reliable, and appropriate.

The following are some examples of claims of fact:

Philippines detects 81 COVID-19 cases of new XBB Omicron subvariant – DOH

Ateneo de Manila University is the leading Philippine university in latest global ranking
Cancer Is a Very Common but Is Not Contagious

Claims of Value
 Makes a judgment by expressing approval or disapproval, attempting to prove that some action,
belief or condition is right or wrong, good or bad, beautiful or ugly, worthwhile or undesirable.
Value claims about morality express judgments about the rightness or wrongness of conduct or
belief.

The following are some examples of claims of value:

The Android Operating System Is Better Than the iPhone

Palawan is the most beautiful place in the Philippines.
The criminal justice system of the Philippines is rotten.

Claims of Policy
 Claims of policy or solutions propose and promote policies and solutions based on changing an
existing policy that is either inadequate for dealing with a bad situation or conducive to its
perpetuation.

The government should be open and transparent with the public regarding its public spending
decisions.
Working conditions in infrastructure projects should be improved by the government.
The environment must be taken care of