Properties of a

Well-Written
Text
READING AND WRITING
By the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

1. discuss the meaning and components of a well-written

text;
2. explain the steps in achieving a well-written text;
3. read and explore texts and determine if they are well-
written or not;
4. create a well-written text; and
5. reflect on your learning on the properties of a well-
written text
Activity: What you know?
Directions: Read the statements
carefully, and determine what is being
referred to. Use the jumbled letters to
come up with a correct answer.
Activity: What you know?
1. This is achieved when ideas are logically
and accurately arranged.

hercoence
Activity: What you know?
2. This refers to when the details of a paragraph are
arranged according to the order in which they
happened.

oontizainagr
Activity: What you know?
3. It is a set of conventions on how to spell,
abbreviate, punctuate and capitalize.

meicshanc
Activity: What you know?
3. It is a set of conventions on how to spell,
abbreviate, punctuate and capitalize.

meicshanc
Activity: What you know?
4. This means that the sentences are arranged in a
logical manner, making them easily understood by the
reader.

ocehnios
Activity: What you know?
5. To attain this property, one must be consistent
with the use of pronouns.

mehancisc
One must keep in mind these three properties:

ORGANIZATION
COHERENCE
COHESION
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.
 TEXT ORGANIZATION
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
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.
 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
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 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

Write down the signal words

and phrases that the author
has used for arranging the
details in the paragraphs