Properties of a Well-Written

Text
THESIS STATEMENT: For a text to be well-written, one must keep
in mind these four properties:
I. Organization
II. Coherence and Cohesion
A. Arrangement of details according to…
1. Chronological Order
2. Spatial Order
3. Emphatic Order
B. Signal Devices
1. Transitions
a. Time e. Comparison
b. sequence f. Contrast
c. Space g. Cause and Effect
d. Illustration h. Conclusion
2. Repetitions
3. Synonyms
4. Pronouns
III. Language Use
IV. Mechanics
I. ORGANIZATION
* It is said that ideas are well-developed
when there is a clear statement of purpose,
position, facts, examples, specific details,
definitions, explanation, justifications or
opposing viewpoints.
* Organization is achieved when these
ideas are logically and accurately arranged.
II. COHERENCE AND COHESION
COHERENCE: This means that sentences
are arranged in a logical manner, making them
easily understood by the reader.
COHESION: connection of ideas at
sentence level.
COHESION
- the property of unity in a written
text or a segment of spoken discourse that
stems from links among its surface
elements, as when words in one sentence
are repeated in another, and especially
from the fact that some words or phrases
depend for their interpretation upon
material in preceding or following text.
- readers must feel that they move easily from
one sentence to the next, that each “coheres”
with the one before and after
- Refers to how a group of sentences “hang
together.” Sometimes, to achieve better
cohesion, “violating” other writing “rules” is
thought to be sacrosanct.
Take for example the following sentences:
a. The collapse of a dead star into a
point perhaps no larger than a marble
creates a black hole.
b. A black hole is created by the
collapse of a dead star into a point perhaps
no larger than a marble.
Which of the following two passages flows
better
A. Some astonishing questions about the nature
of the universe have been raised by scientists
studying black holes in space. The collapse of a
dead star into a point perhaps no larger than a
marble creates a black hole. So much matter
compresses into so little volume changes the
fabric of space around it in puzzling ways.
B. Some astonishing questions about the nature
of the universe have been raised by scientists
studying black holes in space. A black hole is
created by the collapse of a dead star into a
point perhaps no larger than a marble. So much
matter compressed into so little volume changes
the fabric of space around it in puzzling ways.
“old-to-new” – one of the most important
principles of a cohesive writing style. The
principle of old-to-new are:
1. Begin sentences with information
familiar to the readers.
2. End sentences with information the
readers cannot anticipate.
II. Coherence and Cohesion
A. Arrangement of details according to …
1. Chronological Order
2. Spatial Order
3. Emphatic Order
1. CHRONOLOGICAL. The details are
arranged in the order in which they
happened.
 The morning was crazy. My alarm was set
for PM instead of AM, so I woke up really late. I
just threw on some clothes and ran out the
door. I rode my bike as fast as I could and
thought that I was going to be late for sure, but
when I got there everyone was outside and
there were fire trucks all lined up in front of
school. I guess somebody pulled the fire alarm
before the class started. It worked out though,
because nobody really noticed or minded that I
was tardy.
2. SPATIAL – The sentences of a
paragraph are arranged according to
geographical location, such as left-to-right,
up-to-down, etc.
 The inside of Jenny’s refrigerator was
horrible. On the top shelf was a three week old
carton of milk. Next to it sat a slice of melon that
had started to get moldy. To the right of the
melon sat the remains of a macaroni and cheese
dinner that had been served a week earlier. On
the shelf below was a slice of cake from her
sister’s birthday party. Though there was food,
none of it was edible.
3. EMPHATIC – is when information found
in a paragraph is arranged to emphasize certain
points depending on the writer’s purpose.
The coherence of the paragraph is
established in one of two ways: (a) from least to
most important, or (b) from most to least
important.
 After looking at all the brochures and
talking to several salesmen, I decided to purchase
an SLR camera. For several years I had been
dissatisfied with the results I was getting from my
point-and-shoot camera. The framing was
imprecise and the focus was not always accurate.
I had planned a vacation to an area that promised
many fabulous photo opportunities, and I wanted
to capture each one with accuracy. But the most
important reason I decided on the SLR camera
was the great versatility it offered.
 In the above paragraph, the organization
moves from the least important idea
(dissatisfaction with the results of the point-and-
shoot camera) to the most important idea (the
versatility offered with the SLR camera).
B. Signal Devices
-words that give readers an idea
of how the points in your paragraph
are progressing
Examples:
1. TRANSITIONS (words that connect one idea
to another, in order for our ideas to flow
smoothly)
a. Time (first, immediately, afterward, before,
at the same time, after, earlier, simultaneously,
finally, next, in the meantime, later, eventually,
then, meanwhile, now, subsequent, etc.)
b. Sequence (moreover, furthermore, next,
also, finally, last, another, first, second, third,
besides, additionally, etc.)
c. Space (above, next to, below, behind,
beside, etc.)
d. Illustration (for instance, specifically, for
example, namely, in this case, to illustrate, etc.)
e. Comparison (similarly, also, in the same
way, still, likewise, in comparison, too, etc.)
f. Contrast (but, despite, however, even
though, yet, on the other hand, although, on the
contrary, otherwise, conversely, etc.)
g. Cause and Effect (because, as a result,
consequently, then, so, since, etc.)
h. Conclusion (thus, therefore, in conclusion,
in short, etc.)
2. Repetitions (repetitions of main ideas keep
continuity and highlight important ideas)
-it could be a word, a phrase, or a full
sentence, or a poetical line repeated to
emphasize its significance in the entire text
Examples of Repetitions:
1. If you think you can do it, you can do it.
2. The boy was a good footballer, because his
father was a footballer, and his grandfather
was a footballer.
3. The judge commanded, stamping his mallet
on the table, “ Order in the court, order in
the court.”
4. The president said, “Work, work, and work,”
are the keys to success.
3. Synonyms (these are words similar in
meaning to important words or phrases that
prevent tedious repetitions.
4. Pronouns (words that connect readers to
the original word that the pronouns replace)
Example of Pronouns used in actual sentence:
INCORRECT: Rodrigo Duterte is the 16th President
of the Republic of the Philippines. Aside from that,
Rodrigo Duterte also served as Davao City’s Mayor
for a long period of time. Rodrigo Duterte is also
known by the populace as an adamant leader…
CORRECT: Rodrigo Duterte is the 16th President of
the Republic of the Philippines. Aside from that,
he also served as Davao City’s Mayor for a long
period of time. He is also known by the populace
as an adamant leader…
III. LANGUAGE USE
III. LANGUAGE USE

- appropriateness of word/ vocabulary

usage
Words and Phrases one must avoid to use in
order to practice appropriate Language Use:
Words and Phrases one must avoid to use in
order to practice appropriate Language Use:
Table of contents
1. Too informal
2. Too unsophisticated
3. Too vague
4. Other tips
Too informal
Taboo Example
A bit The interviews were a bit difficult to schedule.
Alternative
The interviews were (difficult/somewhat difficult) to schedule.
America A researcher in America.
Alternative
A researcher in the (the United States/the US/the USA).
Til, till From 2017 till 2018
From 2017 (until/to) 2018.
Bad A bad result.
A (poor/negative) result.
Big, A big sample.
Humungous A (large/sizable) sample.
Get This model gets attention.
This model receives attention.
Good A good example.
A (useful/prime) example.
IV. MECHANICS
-set of conventions on how to spell,
abbreviate, punctuate, and capitalize
-Avoid contractions and exclamation points
(unless part of a direct quotation)
*Mention the full names before the
abbreviation.
* Numbers from 0-10 must be spelled out.
 Exercises
Instruction: Combine the sentences in each set
into two clear and concise sentences,
eliminating needless repetition. Add a
transitional word or phrase (in italics at the head
of each set) to the beginning of the second
sentence to show how it relates to the first.
1. Instead
Retirement should be the reward for a lifetime of work.
It is widely viewed as a sort of punishment.
It is a punishment for growing old.
2. Therefore
In recent years viruses have been shown to cause
cancer in chickens.
Viruses have also been shown to cause cancer in mice,
cats, and even in some primates.
Viruses might cause cancer in humans.
This is a reasonable hypothesis.
3. In fact
We do not seek solitude.
If we find ourselves alone for once, we flick a switch.
We invite the whole world in.
The world comes in through the television screen.
4. On the contrary
We were not irresponsible.
Each of us should do something.
This thing would be of genuine usefulness to the
world.
We were trained to think that.
5. However
Little girls, of course, don’t take toy guns out of
their hip pockets.
They do not say “Pow, pow” to all their
neighbors and friends.
The average well-adjusted little boy does this.
If we gave little girls the six-shooters, we would
soon have double the pretend body count.
6. Next
We drove the wagon close to a corner post.
We twisted the end of the wire around it.
We stapled it fast.
We drove along the line of posts.
We drove for about 200 yards.
We unreeled the wire on the ground behind us.
7. Indeed
We know very little about pain.
What we don’t know makes it hurt all the more.
There is ignorance about pain.
No form of illiteracy in the United States is so
widespread.
No form of illiteracy in the United States is so
costly.
8. Moreover
Many of our street girls can be as vicious as any
corporation president.
Many of our street girls can be as money mad as
any corporation president.
They can be less emotional than men.
They can be less emotional in conducting acts of
personal violence.
9. For this reason
The historical sciences have made us very
conscious of our past.
They have made us conscious of the world as a
machine.
The machine generates successive events out of
foregoing ones.
Some scholars tend to look totally backward.
They look backward in their interpretation of the
human future.
10. However
Rewriting is something that most writers find they
have to do.
They rewrite to discover what they have to say.
They rewrite to discover how to say it.
There are a few writers who do little formal rewriting.
They have capacity and experience.
They create and review a large number of invisible
drafts.
They create and review in their minds.
They do this before they approach the page.