A discourse is a formal and often lengthy C.
Exposition
discussion of a topic, where concepts and ✓ This aims to inform, clarify, and explain a
insights are arranged in an organized and logical phenomenon.
manner. ✓ It defines what something is and provides an
in-depth discussion about topics that are usually
✓ It refers to the way how language is used to less explored.
convey meanings or to propel action or provoke ✓ It gives a reader instructions on how
response. a specific something is done.
✓ It is often associated with speech, but it may
also be written. D. Narration
✓ Analyzing a discourse is usually contextual. ✓ It is like storytelling.
✓ It recalls events chronologically.
✓ It is told in the first, second, or third person
THREE FACTORS point of view.
✓ Its structure may be linear or nonlinear.
1. Culture includes the beliefs, customs,
attitudes, language, and other things that define
culture which may influence the author's CLASSIFICATION OF DISCOURSE
perspective on several issues.
A. Literary Discourse is generally focused on
2. Social environment involves author's physical creative works, including nonfiction.
surroundings and social relationships, as well as
the culture of the time that may have influenced ✓ It also includes texts that are used strictly for
his or her writing. business communication.
3. Experiences involve the personal accounts or TYPES
first-hand experience of events, though
subjective, establish credibility and reliability. of 1. Poetic
information presented in any discourse. ✓ This is commonly found in creative works like
poems, novels, short stories, and plays.
✓ It focuses on how language is used to form
TYPES OF DISCOURSE themes and convey ideologies.
A. Argumentation 2. Expressive
✓ The writer aims to persuade the audience or ✓ This is commonly found in academic Journals,
readers. letters, diaries, and blogs.
✓ He or she presents valid claims or ✓ It is a personal narrative and Is typically written
counterclaims, each supported by evidence, to in the first person point of view.
prove a point. ✓ In the process, the writer reveals some- thing
✓ In proving claims, the writer presents studies, about his or her identity.
experts' opinions, and statistical data. ✓ In literary terms, expressive discourses are
✓ It should appeal to logic or reason instead of referred to as creative nonfiction.
emotion.
3. Transactional
B. Description ✓ This is commonly found in instructional
✓ It is based on the main impression of the materials, advertisements, and editorial articles.
author about the topic or subject ✓ It is directive in nature as it provides detailed
✓ His or her impression is influenced by prior information on how something is done or
knowledge, culture, environment, and experience. achieved.
✓ As the writer describes, it triggers sensory ✓ It encourages the reader to do something or to
images among readers. take action.
B. Academic Discourse is expository or ✓ It uses overlapping circles to represent
argumentative in nature. different objects or ideas that share similar
characteristics in some way.
✓ It presents individual's an insights regarding a
concept or method in a scholarly way. 3. Flow chart is used to show the different steps
✓ It uses formal language and the third person in a process. It contains information on stages of
point of view; it maintains an objective tone. a process in order that must be completed.
✓ It avoids using figures of speech and idiomatic
expressions. 4. Hierarchical topical organizer shows the
✓ Its examples include essays, journals, book order of ideas and their place in the hierarchy.
reviews, synthesis, literature review, and
research. STEPS
1. Think of a general topic for writing.
TECHNIQUES IN ORGANIZING INFORMATION 2. Brainstorm ideas based on the topic and write
them down.
A. Brainstorming List 3. Select a graphic organizer to arrange your
✓ Brainstorming helpsyou generate topics and ideas.
narrow them down to one.
✓ It improves your creative thinking skills and
deepens your understanding of possible a topic. C. Topic Outline
✓ A topic outline is a list of ideas arranged in a
STEPS specific order, and it shows how information is
presented in writing.
1. Think of a general topic. ✓ It is a list of the main points and supporting
2. Brainstorm ideas based on the topic and make ideas that the writer intends to discuss in writing.
a list. ✓ It uses keywords or key phrases instead of
3. Take a look at the list and see which ideas are complete sentences.
related.
4. Cross out topics that might not generate
enough information for writing.
WRITING ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES
B. Graphic Organizers A. Writing in the Sciences
✓ Graphic organizers are a way to organize ✓ Uses the third person point of view to maintain
information in a visual manner to see how ideas the objective tone.
relate to one another. ✓ Requires language precision; the words should
be clear and exact.
KINDS ✓ Jargon is commonly used since the readers
are filled experts or of similar disciplines with the
1. Mind map is used to represent knowledge of a author.
concept or idea. ✓ Most writings in the sciences contain a
✓ To create it, begin with an image or a word that hypothesis, an idea, or a theory that is not yet
represents the central idea. Then add branches of proven.
major ideas related to the central idea. You can ✓ Usually involves painstaking research.
further expand those ideas by adding more
branches. B. Writing in Business
✓ Aims to provoke actions or elicit responses
2. Venn diagram is used to show the similarities from the readers.
and differences between two or more people, ✓ It follows a strict format, employs an objective
objects, or ideas. tone, and uses formal language.
✓ The writer explicitly states his or her purpose ✓ It can be an announcement that is printed out
and avoids using figurative speech or idiomatic and distributed or that is disseminated via email.
expressions. ✓ Sometimes, it can be a letter of reprimand for
an employee who has violated a company policy.
C. Writing in the Humanities
✓ Humanities is a collective term for the arts, 2. Resume is a short document that shows a
languages, and philosophies. person’s educational and professional
✓ It also involves literature, music, film, and background.
history. ✓ It gives brief but detailed information about an
✓ Writings are persuasive and argumentative in applicant’s employment or work history.
nature. ✓ An applicant may include a list of references or
people who can tell about the applicant’s
character and abilities.
COMMON WRITINGS IN SCIENCES 3. Letter or request is persuasive in nature.
✓ It aims to convince a person in authority or
1. Case study is a careful and intensive study of change to grant permission for an action to be
a specific subject or variable. In which scientists done or accomplished.
or researchers identify what leads to its success ✓ The requester explicitly states the purpose of
or failure. the request.
✓ When gathering data, they often observe or
examine a single subject.
CITATION GUIDES:
2. Laboratory report is a format documentation The American Psychological Association
of an experiment, which includes the objectives, (APA)
methods, and results. & Modern Language Association (MLA)
✓ It is a staple in applied and natural sciences.
✓ Experiments or tests are conducted to prove or Citation guides: refer to carefully crafted formats
to identify problems. which are used to acknowledge sources of
✓ They follow a chronological pattern as events information.
or progresses are recorded step by step. ✓ APA is commonly used in social sciences.
✓ MLA is commonly used in humanities.
3. Field report is commonly done in the social
sciences. Most citations contain the ff. Elements:
✓ It aims to analyze behavior patterns ● Author
manifested by the subject based on specific ● Title of workI(book, article, etc.)
theories. ● Year of publication
✓ It is descriptive in nature as it provides a ● Page number(s)
detailed account of what the researcher has ● Volume or issue number(s) or editions(s)
observed among the subjects and his or her ✓ Text and nontext information require citations.
analysis of the situation. ✓ Whether a paragraph is directly lifted or
paraphrased, it still requires source attribution.
This way, one is safe from committing plagiarism.
COMMON WRITINGS IN BUSINESS
In-text citations are also known as parenthetical
1. Memorandum is commonly referred to as citations. When a writer uses a phrase or
memo. paragraph from another source, he or she
✓ It is a form of written communication in a encloses the verbatim piece in quotation marks or
corporate setting. paraphrase it and cites the source by placing the
✓ Its main purpose is to inform or convey information inside the parentheses.
messages to concerned people or departments.
1. Short quotations are usually less than 40
words. They are either paraphrased or enclosed
in quotation marks.
Reference List is usually found at the last section
of a published material.
✓ It is where the sources of the information are
completely cited.
