Text as a

Connected
Discourse
 Learning Targets:

1. 2. distinguish 3. identify
describe a between and properties
written among patterns of a well-
text as of development written
connected in writing text
discourse across
disciplines
 We understand that what happened
in the first part was the cause of
what happened in the second part.

Trains collide, two die.

No ID, no entry.
We can also understand that a
conditional relation exists
between the two parts.
 My Town
My natal was in a small town, very close to
Riyadh capital of Saudi Arabia. The distant
between my town and Riyadh 7 miles exactly. The
name of this Almasani that means in English
Factories. It takes this name from the peopl's
carrer. In my childhood I remmeber the people
live. It was very simple. Most the people was
farmer.- Eric Nelson
• How do we make sense of what we read?
• How can we recognize well-constructed texts as
opposed to those that are jumbled or
incoherent?
• How do we understand speakers who
communicate more than what they say?

DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
 Text vs. Discourse
• While text is defined as the sequence of
paragraphs that represents an extended unit
of speech, discourse is the language beyond
these sentences. It is language use relative to
social, political and cultural formations
(Jaworski & Coupland, 1993)
 Analyzing a discourse is usually contextual.
The reader tries to consider several factors
that may have influenced the writer to make
certain claims. Those factors explain the
author’s biases, philosophy, and educational
and professional backgrounds, among
others. Below are three of those factors.
1. Culture – The beliefs, customs, attitudes, language, and other things that
define culture may influence the author’s perspective on several issues. Knowing
about the culture the author belongs to, the reader may understand his or her
biases.

2. Social environment – The author’s physical surroundings and social

relationships, as well as the culture of the time may have influenced his or her
writing. For instance, during the early decades of the 20th century, most writers
produced works that were classified as “modern” because of its distinct feature:
stream of consciousness.

3. Experiences – Personal accounts or first-hand experience of events, though

subjective, establish credibility and reliability of information presented in any
discourse.
 DISCOURSE may…
 persuade/argue
 describe
 inform
 narrate
TYPES OF DISCOURSES
• Argumentation – In this type of discourse, the writer
aims to persuade the audience or readers. He or she
presents valid claims or counterclaims, each
supported by evidence, to prove a point. In proving
claims, the writer presents studies, experts’ opinions,
and statistical data, among others. Moreover, an
argumentative discourse should appeal to logic or
reason instead of emotion.
Example:

A recent study confirmed that playing video games may cause

children to become violent. However, this is only true for some
children. Dr. Charlotte Cooper and Dr. Markey Vitasa of ABC
University explained that children who manifest a combination of
three personality traits―high neuroticism, disagreeableness, and low
levels of conscientiousness―are more likely to be aggressive toward
others after playing video games.

In order to convince the readers, the author of the passage mentioned a study to
support his or her claim about video games. The author did not simply state that
video games may cause children to become violent; he or she proved it by citing
two experts.
 TYPES OF
DISCOURSES
• Description – This type of discourse is based
on the main impression of the author about the
topic or subject. His or her impression is
influenced by prior knowledge, culture,
environment, and experiences, among others.
As the writer describes his or her
observations, it triggers sensory images
among readers.
Example:

When I first saw my childhood friend Margarette,

she was about my younger sister Viv’s height. Her
hair was curly and dark, and her skin was pale. But
what really struck me when I first saw her was her
big round blue eyes.

Through the author’s description, the reader can infer what the
person Margarette looks like.
 TYPES OF
DISCOURSES
• Exposition – This aims to inform, clarify, and
explain a phenomenon. It defines what
something is and provides an in-depth
discussion about topics that are usually less
explored. Moreover, it gives reader
instructions on how something is done.
Example:
How to set up an email account

1. Choose the web host.

2. Look for the sign up button. Click it.
3. Provide the required information.
4. Think of a unique username and a password. (Tip: For
the password, type in uppercase or add characters.)
5. Start using the newly setup email account.

The passage gives instructions on how to set up an email account. Some

examples of an exposition may be found in some magazine articles or
editorials, which usually include life hacks.
 TYPES OF
DISCOURSES
• Narration – This type of discourse is like storytelling.
It recalls events chronologically. It is told in the first,
second, or third person point of view. Moreover, its
structure may be linear or nonlinear. A linear structure
follows a typical format: beginning, middle, end; while
a nonlinear structure may start from the end or in the
middle.
Example:
I remember the time when I learned how to swim. I was only eight
years old and afraid to bathe in a pool. I envied the kids who played
with inflatable balls and animals. Whenever my family would visit the
clubhouse, I would sit beside the pool and never really jump in to join
them. A summer camp opened in our neighborhood, and my mom
thought of enrolling my brother and me in a swimming class. Two
days before the class started, my mom gave me a pep talk; that
made me realize that I did not want to miss out the fun just because I
was afraid.
The passage conveys a person’s experience about learning how to swim. The
events are told chronologically, and the story is told in the first person point
of view.
How do we ensure the connection
between text and discourse?
 • ties and connections
COHESION that exist within the
text
• My father once bought a
Lincoln convertible. He did it Analysis of cohesive ties
by saving every penny he within a text gives us some
could. That car would be insight into how writers
worth a fortune nowadays. structure what they want to
However, he sold it to help say, and they may be crucial
pay for my college education. factors in our judgments on
Sometimes, I think I'd rather whether something is well-
have the convertible. written or not.
COHESION, ITSELF, IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO
ENABLE US TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT WE READ.

• My father once bought a

Lincoln convertible. The car
driven by the police was
red. That color doesn't suit
her. She consists of three
letters. However, a letter
isn't as fast as a telephone
call.
The “connectedness” we
experience in our
interpretation of normal texts
in not simply based on
connections between the
words.
 everything fitting
COHERENCE together well.

*Telephone rings* • She makes a

HER: That's the telephone. request to perform
action.
HIM: I'm in the bath. • He states reason
HER: O.K. why can't comply
with request.
• She undertakes to
(Widdowson, 1978) perform action.
 TOP 5 COHERENCE AND COHESION MISTAKES

• No clear topic sentences – be sure that the main idea in your paragraph
will be in the first sentence
• Poor use of transition signals – don’t use them between every sentence in
a paragraph
• No progression – every sentence in your essay should add something more
to your argument
• Poor referencing – it is great to reference, but it should always be clear
what a pronoun refers to
• Parts of the essay cannot be understood – don’t let bad paraphrasing
destroy the content of your essay.
REVIEW
1. What is the purpose of informative
New Sydmouth Public
text? Library: What can I borrow
A) To persuade you to buy something. or hire?
There is a large
B) To describe how a scene might look in
collection of books including
a novel. paperbacks, non-fiction
C) To provide clear facts about books, ‘talking
something. books’, books in large print
and books in languages
D) To tell you how to do something. apart from English. Up to 6
2. The following passage is an example items can
of informative text: true or false? be borrowed for 3 weeks.

A) True
B) False
3.) What is this text passage
trying to persuade you to do?
A) To go on holiday.
B) To make some home
improvements.
C) To take out a loan with the
advertising loan company.
D) To buy something you’ve
always wanted
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4.) What type of discourse The boy was astonished by what
he saw inside. Never could he
is the following passage?
have imagined that, there in the
A) description middle of the desert, there
B) argumentation existed a tent like this one. The
ground was covered with the
C) exposition most beautiful carpets he had
D) narration ever walked upon, and from the
top of the structure hung lamps
of hand-wrought gold, each with
a lighted candle.
5.) What type of text would you need to use to tell someone how
to wire a plug?
A) persuasive B) instructive C) informative D) descriptive
6. The following passage contains descriptive text: true
or false?
Measure the first side. Measure three foot on the first side and
mark it off. Measure four foot on the second side and mark it off.
Everyone was in a state of high excitement, all the women in light
cotton saris worn specially for the occasion, now clambering over
the side, screaming when the boat rocked and clutching each
other in pleasurable panic.
SEATWORK
1.You just heard that your favorite band is playing at
the university gymnasium on Friday. Unfortunately, you
are scheduled to work at your part-time job. Through
writing a letter to your boss, explain why you need time
off on Friday.
2.Your friend plans to meet you at the university
cafeteria before seeing the concert. However, this friend
needs directions since he does not know the campus. In a
note to your friend, explain how to walk or drive to the
school and where to meet.
3.You have just seen a fantastic concert at the university
gymnasium. You want to capture the experience in your
diary. In a journal entry for yourself, describe the show
and your feelings.

4.You saw the concert last Friday. Your English teacher

wants you to write a creative story about the
experience. It could take the form of a brief story,
dialogue, or poem. In a short paper for your class, write
your creative response to the experience.
 General Rubric for grading
paper requirements
a. Content - 8pts
b. Organization (Coherence and
Cohesion) - 4pts
c. Correctness and format- 4pts
d. Presentation- 4pts
TOTAL: 20 pts