LESSON 1 READING AND THINKING STRATEGIES ACROSS TEXT TYPES

A. INTRODUCTION

Reading is a way of life. It is a much needed skill in order to understand things around us. Almost all human
activities involve reading.

B. LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson the student will be able to:
1. Describe a written text as connected discourse
2. Distinguish between and among techniques in selecting and organizing information
3. Distinguish between and among patterns of development in writing across disciplines
4. Identify properties of a well-written text

C. CONTENT

1.1 Text as Connected Discourse

Connected Speech or Connected Discourse is more than just a string of individual target segments
joined together in series, since each segment is liable to influence the segments that surround it.
In linguistics, is a continuous sequence of sounds forming utterances or conversations in spoken
language. Analysis of connected speech shows sound changes affecting linguistic units
traditionally described as phrases, words, lexemes, morphemes, syllables, phonemes, or phones.

1.2 Techniques in Selecting and Organizing Information

1.2.1 Brainstorming List

Brainstorming uses words or phrases in listing down whatever comes to your mind about your topic.

What is it?

A gathering of ideas from your brain onto paper.

The variety of ideas and the use of your imagination assist you in producing a lot of material
with which to work.

Why do we need it?

It’s the best way to collect your thoughts.
It’s helpful for organization.
It ensures only quality ideas are used in the essay.

Brainstorming Technique #1: Freewriting

What is it?
Think about the topic. Then write, write, write. Whatever comes into your brain – even if it doesn’t
have to do with the topic.

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 Example:

"This paper is supposed to be on the politics of tobacco production but even though I went to all the
lectures and read the book I can't think of what to say and I've felt this way for four minutes now and I
have 11 minutes left and I wonder if I'll keep thinking nothing during every minute but I'm not sure if it
matters that I am babbling and I don't know what else to say about this topic and it is rainy today and
Inever noticed the number of cracks in that wall before and those cracks remind me of the walls in my
grandfather's study and he smoked and he farmed and I wonder why he didn't farm tobacco..."

Options:
Write for a specific time period
Write for a specific amount of paper

When is it helpful?
When you have NO ideas about a topic
When you have TOO MANY ideas about a topic

Brainstorming Technique #2: Making a Cube

What is it?
Imagine a cube. It has six sides. On each side, you have a different task regarding the topic.

Side One: Describe the topic.

Side Two: Compare the topic.
Side Three: Associate the topic.
Side Four: Analyze the topic.
Side Five: Apply the topic.
Side Six: Argue for or against the topic.

What is it?
When you write down words or concepts associated with the topic – any ideas that come into your
mind

Brainstorming Technique #3: Clustering

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 Global Warming
rainforests disappearing
emissions
extinction
dangerous

dying animals
toxic world
wide

Cars/SUVs
factories
landscape changes no
icebergs
expensive to fix?
hurricanes
Reversible?
Draw a bubble and write the topic above it. Then, brainstorm. Now look for words that connect with
each other. Circle the words and connect them with lines.

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Brainstorming Technique #4: Listing or Bulleting

What is it?
Create a list of terms/ideas/concepts about the topic. Create multiple lists depending on the
purpose.

Global Warming
➢ Toxic fumes
➢ SUVs/Cars
➢ Extinction
➢ Belief/Disbelief
➢ Kyoto Agreement
Brainstorming Technique #5: Venn Diagram

What is it?
Draw two circles that connect, like this:
List two topics above the circles.
Brainstorm about the topics – what do they have in common and what is unique about each one.

Capital Cities County seat

Became Anglophone
Paris in 400
Eiffel
A.D. Tower Founded in
1839
francophone

Brainstorming Technique #6: Tree Diagram

What is it?
This diagram has a central idea to which you add branches that focus on details.

When do you use it?

This type of diagram is helpful in classification essays.

Brainstorming Technique #7: Act a Like a Journalist

What is it?
Using the question words in English to explore the topic.

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 Who? Why?
Where? When?
What? How?

Brainstorming Technique #8: T-Diagram

What is it?
Using a T shape, list a category that you want to compare or contrast about a specific topic or topics.
Do this for a variety of categories.

When is it useful?
This technique helps when you are writing a contrast or comparison essay.

Paris, France and Paris Texas

location

Europe North America

Northern France Northern Texas

Brainstorming Technique #9: Spoke Diagram

What is it?
Write the topic in a circle. Then think of about causes and effects. Write these around the circle like
spokes on a wheel.

When is it useful?
Use this technique when you want to explore cause and effect.

too many people

cars/suvs not recycling

chopping
down trees

1.2.2 Graphic Organizer

A graphic organizer is usually a one-page form with blank areas for the student to fill in with related
ideas and information. Some organizers are very specific; others can be used with many topics. For the

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most part, the information on a graphic organizer could just as easily be filled in on a form or written as a
list. The organizer gives the child another way to see the information. Some of the organizers allow for
the information to be written or drawn, opening the activity up to the younger grades.

Graphic organizers are a helpful way to organize information. Graphic organizers are helpful because:
1. They help you understand how things go together.

2. They help you remember information better.

3. They make it easier to write your final draft.
4. They help organize any type of writing.

Examples of Graphic Organizers:

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1.2.3 Topic Outline

An outline presents the whole paper at a glance, giving a list of the major and minor ideas. There
are two types of outline: topic outline and sentence outline.

A topic outline presents each point in a single word or in a phrase. The following is an example:

A Topical Outline Using the Modern or Numerical Labeling System

Thesis Statement: A thorough or wide knowledge of the library will help you a lot in producing a good
college research paper.

1. Nature of the Library

1.1 Definition
1.2 Importance
1.3 Card Catalogue
2. Kinds of Library Materials
2.1 General Circulation
2.2.1 Fiction
2.2.2 Non-fiction
2.2 Periodicals
2.2.1 Newspapers
2.2.2 Magazines
2.2.3 Journals
3. Arrangements of Library Materials
3.1 Dewey Decimal Classification System
3.2 Library of Congress Classification System
4. Sections of the Library
4.1 Filipiniana
4.2 Reserve
4.3 Periodicals
4.4 Circulation
4.5 Reference

1.2.4 Sentence Outline

A sentence outline presents each point in a complete sentence. The following is an example:

A Sentence Outline Using the Traditional Labeling System

Thesis Statement: A thorough or wide knowledge of the library will help a lot in producing a
good college research paper.

I. The library has its own inherent or basic quality.

A. The word library has its own inherent or basic quality.
B. The library is important in many ways.
C. One basic part of it is the card catalogue.
II. The library has different kinds of reading materials.
A. The library has books for general circulation.
1. Some of these are Fiction.
2. The others are Non-fiction.
B. There are periodicals in the library.
1. Newspapers are found in the library.
2. Magazines are housed in the library.
3. Journals are regularly seen in the library.

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 C. General reference materials are permanent parts of the library.
D. Special reading materials that are not in book form are in the library.
III. The reading materials in the library follow a certain system of arrangement.
A. The books are arranged according to the Dewey Decimal Classification System.
B. The Library of Congress Classification System is the other way of arranging books.
IV. The library has different sections.
A. The Filipiniana Section is for books written by Filipinos.
B. The Periodicals Section keeps newspapers, journals, and magazines.

Steps in Outlining:
1. Know the main idea of your paper.
2. Specify the main division of the author’s thoughts.
3. Establish comparison among the main parts.
4. Divided the main section into parallel parts.
5. Completely outline each main section before you go to the next section.
6. Arrange the ideas deductively.
7. Exclude anything that is not related to the main plan.
8. Have a minimum of two subpoints under a major point.
9. Stick to one method or style of outlining.

1.3 Patterns of Development

1.3.1 Narration
Relates a series of events – either real or imaginary – in chronological order and from a
particular point of view. It is often to tell a complete story. Everything is told from a single point
of view.

1.3.2 Description
Relates a series of events – either real or imaginary – in chronological order and from a
particular point of view. It is often to tell a complete story. Everything is told from a single point
of view

1.3.3 Definition
1. Explains or clarifies the meaning of a certain word or term
2. Answers the question “what is it?” by giving the precise meaning of words and ideas

1.3.4 Exemplification / Classification

Grouping ideas according to a particular basis or reason

1.3.5 Comparison and Contrast

Giving the similarities and differences of topics dealt with by the composition
The comparison connects two or more people, places, things, or ideas by describing how they
are alike.

1.3.6 Cause and Effect

Showing the connection between the basis or reason and results or outcome of the existence of
a thing or the occurrence of an event

1.3.7 Problem - Solution

Presents a problem to be identified, considered, explained, or solved

1.3.8 Persuasion
Aims to convince readers to perform an action or change someone’s opinion.

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1.4 Properties of a Well Written Text

1.4.1 Organization
Organization refers to the continuity of thought of a piece of writing. It is also the arrangement
of thought in a chronological order

1.4.2 Coherence and Cohesion

Coherence is the unifying element in good writing. It refers to the unity created between the
ideas, sentences, paragraphs and sections of a piece of writing. Coherence is what gives a piece
of writing its flow. It also gives the reader a sense of what to expect and, therefore, makes the
reading easier to follow as the ideas appear to be presented in a natural, almost authentic way.
In linguistics, it is the property of unity in a written text or a segment of spoken discourse that
stems from the links among its underlying ideas and from the logical organization and
development of its thematic content.

Cohesion is the use of repetition, transitional expressions, and other devices (cohesive cues) to
guide readers and show how the parts of a composition relate to one another. In Linguisitics, it
is 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 so words or phrases depend for their interpretation upon material
in preceding or following the text, as in the sequence.

1.4.3 Language Use

Language Use refers to the kind of language you have to use to express

1.4.4 Mechanics
Mechanics refers to the grammatical structure of the paragraph, its spelling, punctuation marks
and diction

D. VALUES INTEGRATION

Knowing how information is presented in a text allows the reader or audience to understand the intention
of the writer and to get the important information in a certain text. A reader will be able to absorb and
understand more what he or she is reading when he or she is able to get the whole picture of an article.
Likewise, before we are able to react or comment on a certain issue or topic, we should know first the
information and reasons for choosing decisions in life.

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