READING AND WRITING SKILLS REVIEWER
READING
Defined according to two types
(Lapp and Flood, 1978)
1. A decoding process (breaking down of written codes)
2. A comprehension process
What’s our aim when we read?
-Comprehension
-Word Recognition
-Fluency
Why do we read?
-To develop background
-To anticipate and predict
-To create motivation and interest
-To build a good vocabulary
-For pleasure and enjoyment
Benefits of Reading
-Exposes readers to accurate spelling and correct forms of writing
-Shows reader how to write more complex sentences
-Invites readers to be more experimental in their own meaning
-Allows readers to hear thoughts of others
WRITING
-A method of representing language in visual or tactile form.
-A system of graphic symbols that can be used to convey meaning.
Why do we write?
-express
-describe
-explore and learn
-entertain
-inform
-explain
-persuade
-solve problems
Benefits of Writing
-Allows writers to voice their thoughts
-Provides writers with a vehicle to use their imagination
-Gives writers a chance to engage in a conversation with other writers
-Aids writers in reading critically on other works
-Motivates writers to engage with the texts they are reading
READING IS LIKE BREATHING IN, WRITING IS LIKE BREATHING OUT.
-PAM ALLYN
DISCOURSE
-A discourse is a formal and often lengthy discussion of a topic, where concepts and insights
are arranged in an organized and logical manner.
Purposes of a Discourse
1.To inform – A discourse that aims to inform provides a descriptive and comprehensive
discussion on the topic. It points out what one should know about a topic or subject.
2. To persuade – A discourse that aims to persuade tries to convince the readers that the
proposed claim or solution is better than any other proposal.
3. To entertain – A discourse that aims to amuse provides a source of entertainment for its
readers.
Analyzing a discourse is usually contextual
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.
Types of Discourse
1.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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
A literary discourse is generally focused on creative works, including nonfiction. Also, it
includes texts that are used strictly for business communication.
Three types of Literary Discourse:
1. Poetic – This type of discourse is commonly found in creative works like poems, novels, short
stories, and plays. It focuses on how language is used to form themes and convey ideologies.
Some meanings in creative works are explicit, while some are implied, especially in poems.
Ordinary words, especially those used in a poem, are made appealing through sound patterns.
2. Expressive – This type of discourse is commonly found in academic journals, letters, diaries,
and blogs. It is a personal narrative and is typically written in the first person point of view. In the
process, the writer reveals something about his or her identity. In literary terms, expressive
discourses are referred to as creative nonfiction.
3. Transactional – This type of discourse is commonly found in instructional materials,
advertisements, and editorial articles, among others. It is directive in nature as it provides
detailed information on how something is done or achieved. Moreover, it encourages the reader
to do something or to take action.
BRAINSTORMING
-Process of writing down specific topics from different sources.
Types of Brainstorming list:
- Idea listing
-Idea mapping
-Cubing
-Free writing
-Researching
Idea Listing – simply involves listing down ideas about a particular topic.
Idea Mapping – Visual presentation of ideas and their connections with one another, also called
web clustering.
Cubing – an idea is examined from 6 distinct view points:
1.Describe
2.Compare
3.Associate
4.Analyze
5.Apply
6.Argue
Free Writing – writing what comes to your mind; continuous writing without inhibitions and not
minding errors in spelling and grammar.
Researching – Going to the library or checking out websites on the internet, then making list or
map of new ideas.
Advantages of Brainstorming
-It encourages creative thinking
-All ideas are accepted
-It makes everyone part of the team
-It is exciting and easy
Disadvantages of Brainstorming
-It only works where everyone in the room has something to say
-Without strict control or leader present, the group may take a long time to get the solution
-Group with a large number of members will not be effective
-People with high emotions are not allowed
“A group or individual technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion
for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed
by it’s members.”
-Alex Faickney Osborn
GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
-Visual presentations of concepts that help us structure information into organizational patterns.
-Present information and connect these pieces of information into a coherent framework.
-Help others focus on the relationships or connections of the ideas presented with other details.
KINDS OF GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS:
VENN DIAGRAM
-Used to compare ideas and events and show similar and different attributed using two or
more overlapping circles.
PROBLEM-SOLUTION MAP
-Displays the nature of the problem and how it can be solved.
CHAIN DIAGRAM
-Use to show the logical sequence of events.
NETWORK TREE
-Used to represent hierarchy, classification, and branching or showing relationships of
scientific categories, family trees or even lineages.
TIMELINE
-Used to show how events occurred chronologically through a long bar labeled with dates and
specific events.
Types of Timeline
LINEAR TIMELINE
-Shows how events happened within one period of time.
COMPARATIVE TIMELINE
-Shows two sets of events that happened within same period of time.
FISHBONE MAP
-Use to better understand the causal relationship of a complex phenomenon by showing
factors that cause specific event or problem, as well as details of each cause.
PERSUASSION MAP
-Use to map out argument and evidence that prove a viewpoint, especially useful when
processing persuasive or augmentative text.
SPIDER MAP
-Used to investigate and enumerate various aspects of a central idea, which could be a
concept, topic or theme; also known as semantic map.
PLOT DIAGRAM
-Used to map events in the story and/or analyze major parts of a plot.
CYCLE
-Describes series of events interact to produce a set of results repeatedly.
Benefits of Graphic Organizers
-Helps visualize or present information in a way that is easier to comprehend.
-Provides the opportunity to actively contribute and participate in the learning process.
-Develops cognitive skills such as brainstorming, critical and creative thinking, categorizing and
prioritizing content, reflection, and etc.
What is an Outline?
-An outline is the skeleton of any written text. It serves as a guide in organizing your ideas.
Usually, it is done before you write your piece. It is a tool for reading, too. You can outline the
ideas of a piece of work to better understand it.
-The two basic types of outline are the topic outline and the sentence outline. A topic
outline uses words and phrases to list ideas, while a sentence outline uses complete sentences
to define the subject matter.
1. TOPIC OUTLINE
-A topic outline is divided into three levels: the headings, the subheadings, and the subsubheadings.
-In choosing the headings of your outline, look for the main ideas in the passage or text. Roman
numerals (e.g., I, II, III…) are used to identify the headings. For subheadings, get the supporting
ideas that further explain the main ideas. Use capital letters (e.g., A, B, C…) to present the
subheadings. Sub-subheadings are the specific details or concrete examples of the supporting
ideas. Arabic numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3…) are used for sub-subheadings. However, subsubheadings are only given when necessary.
Remember the following points about topic outline.
-Use short words and phrases only in writing.
-Do not forget to indent the subheadings and sub-subheadings.
2. SENTENCE OUTLINE
-A way of selecting and organizing information is through a sentence outline. Like a topic
outline, a sentence outline consists of headings and subheadings. However, unlike a topic
outline which consists of words, phrases, or fragments, a sentence outline presents the main
and supporting ideas in complete sentences.
-A sentence outline presents the main ideas and minor details of a piece of writing in complete
sentences. It consists of headings, the main points that support the thesis statement,
and subheadings, the supporting details of the main points. The headings are usually
designated by Roman numerals (I, II, III), while the subheadings are marked by uppercase or
capital letters (a, b, c) (A, B, C). The sentence outline for a longer piece of writing can have subsubheadings, the levels or divisions under the subheading. They are usually marked by Arabic
numerals and lowercase letters (1, 2,3).
-After determining the audience and purpose, you make the thesis statement, a sentence that
tells the main idea of your writing. Then you gather information to support the main idea.
By: Vivs <3