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 Reading and Writing

Contexts of Written Texts

Presented by: Group 2
 Overview
Being a critical reader also involves understanding that
texts are always developed with a certain context. A text
is neither written nor read in a vacuum; its meaning and
interpretation are affected by a given set of
circumstances. Thus, there is a need to identify the
context of text development.
 What is CONTEXT?
• Context is defined as the social, cultural, political, historical,
and other related circumstances that surround the texts and
form the terms from which it can be better understood and
evaluated.
• It also refers to the occasion or situation that informs the
reader about why a document was written.
 Context, according to Moxley
• refers to the occasion, or situation that informs the reader about why a
document was written and how it was written. The structure, organization
and purpose of a written text is heavily influenced by its context.

• The way writers shape their texts is dramatically influenced by their

CONTEXT.
• Context is important as a foundation for the author in constructing his/her
written text.
 Moxley posed the following questions on the analysis of context:

What is going on in the world Does the intellectual content of the

document rest on the shoulders of
What background
of readers that will influence
other authors? Will readers expect the information can you assume
the reader's thoughts and
author to mention particular scholars your reader is already
feelings about the document?
or researchers who did the original,
familiar with?
ground-breaking work on the subject
you are exploring?
 Example: Romeo and Juliet Context
1. What is going on in the world of readers that will
influence the reader's thoughts and feelings about the
document?

This period was 'The Renaissance': a time of significant

change in the fields of religion, politics, science, language
and the arts. Romeo and Juliet was set during a time of
religious and political disturbance.
 Example: Romeo and Juliet Context
2. Does the intellectual content of the document rest on
the shoulders of other authors? Will readers expect the
author to mention particular scholars or researchers who
did the original, ground-breaking work on the subject you
are exploring?

William Shakespeare shaped the ideas of Romeo and

Juliet all by himself.
 Example: Romeo and Juliet Context
3. What background information can you assume your
reader is already familiar with?

Real-world social and political events influenced William

Shakespeare shaped the ideas of Romeo and Juliet.
HYPERTEXT
• HYPERTEXTUALITY allows readers to study a
text in a different manner.
• In a hypertext, pieces of information are
connected semantically. There is an undefined
beginning, middle and end.
• Hypertext creates a network of materials linked because of various
connections they share. This encourages and, at times, requires
readers to go through the material at their pace.
• Hypertextuality according to Amaral, 2010 is simply a non-linear way
of presenting information. Rather than reading or learning about
things in the order that an author, or editor, or publisher sets out for
us, readers of hypertext may follow their own path, create their own
order their own meaning out the material.
• This is accomplished by creating-links between information.
These links are provided so that the readers may jump to further
information about a specific topic being discussed
• Hypertext is text which contains links to other texts. The term
was coined by Ted Nelson around 1965. It is when you type a
word and attach a link to that word so that upon clicking on that
word, the reader is sent to the site attached.
• Hypertext is the foundation of the World Wide Web
enabling users to click on link to obtain more
information on a subsequent page on the same site
or from website anywhere in the world.
• Hypertext materials include pictures, video
materials animated and audio illustrations.
• Hypertext connects topic on a screen to related
information, graphics, videos, and music information is
not simply related to text.
• This information appears as links and is usually accessed
by clicking. The reader can jump to more information
about a topic, which in turn may have more links. This
opens up the reader wider horizon of information to a new
direction.
• In reading with hypertext, you are given more flexibility and
personalization because you get to select the order in which
you read the text and focus on information that is relevant to
your background and interests.
• Every time you search on the web, you see words or clusters of
words that are underlined and are in blue. When you click these
words, you will be transported to another site
• Information directly/indirectly related to the topic written
may be referenced through hyperlinks in which the reader
can access the direct source or reference through a single
click.
• The reader may choose to focus only on the information that
is related to his/her background, thus creating a personal
meaning out of the given material.
Example of Hypertext
Intertext
When reading, the readers try to make meaning of the material that
they are absorbing through many different processes.
Unintentionally, sometimes, the patterns in the materials read are
apparent in another text. Theorists term this as intertextuality.
• Intertextuality is also the modelling of a text's
meaning by another text.
• It is defined as the connections between language,
images, characters, themes, or subjects depending on
their similarities in language, genre and discourse.
• Intertextuality, as defined by Tiongson (2016), is the modeling of a
text's meaning by another text.

• Intertext is the relationship between texts and how culture and other
writers influence a text. This is often seen on works wherein the
author borrows and transforms an existing text or when one
references a text on his own written work. The text will then contain
a wide accumulation of cultural, historical and social knowledge.
• Intertextuality, as a literary device, is the complex interrelationship
between a text and other texts taken as fundamental to the creation and
interpretation of the text (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2015).
• Intertext excludes irrelevant data. It underscores the main point/s of the
text by making explicit those data that are only implied or presupposed
in the text, thus defining their relevance. Spurred by this context, a
healthy dialogue among different texts and interpretations, audience, is
born.
Example of Intertext
He was lying so obviously, you could almost see
his nose growing. He's asking her to the prom.
It's like a happy version of Romeo and Juliet.
Remember this!
• As readers, the ability to create connections among various texts enhances
the meaning of the reading material.

• Context is defined as the social, cultural, political, historical, and other

related circumstances that surround the text.
• Hypertext is a non-linear way of presenting information.
• Intertext on the other hand, is defined as the connections between language,
images, characters, themes, or subjects depending on their similarities in
language, genre or discourse.
You can now ask any question related to the topic.