Reading and Writing SkillsGrade 11/12

PARAGRAPH RHETORIC MODELS

DESCRIBING DEFINING

Giving readers a mental

picture of what have

been seen or

experienced

Must observe and

record specific details

that appeal to your

readers’ senses

Introducing your

readers to new terms

which are unfamiliar to

them

Start with the

Dictionary meaning of

a term

May extend the

meaning of a term

How to Extend Meaning to a Term…

Illustrate how the term operates in a given context…

Classify its functions to explain how it differs from

the others…

Thus, a term may have multiple extended

meanings when it is defined according to its specific

usage.

Let us define CEO…

Chief-Executive-Officer

Dictionary meaning: it means the operations

manager of a business organization

Extended meaning: is the operations manager

who leads and inspires people in a business

organization

DESCRIBING

A descriptive paragraph relies on concrete, sensory

detail to communicate its point (the use of 5

senses)

It can be objective or subjective

Objective: would mention such facts as height, weight,

coloring, and so forth

Subjective: would include the above details, but would

also stress your feelings toward the subject, as well as its

personality and habits

Let us define EDUCATION…

Dictionary meaning: teaching people what they do

not know; teaching the youth to shapes of letters,

arithmetic ands literature

Extended meaning: training them into the perfect

exercise and kingly continence of their bodies and

souls… it is a painful, continual, and difficult work to

be done by kindness, by watching, by precept, and

by praise, but above all, by example.

DESCRIBING

1. Avoid being static or flat.

2. Think of what pieces readers need, in what order,

to construct a scene.

3. Description is not what you saw, but what

readers need to see in order to imagine the

scene, a person, or an object.

4. Record a series of detailed observations.

5. Use sensory details. Do not rely much on

adjectives and adverbs.

6. Give your description away as generously as the

world gives away sights.

DESCRIBING

7. Use an approach that show decay, change or

improvement.

8. Use the description to substantiate or elaborate your

point, or move your story along.

THINK: Readers first read this, now

this, now this; what do they need

next?

CLASSIFICATION COMPARE/CONTRAST

Elaborates on the

meaning by explaini8ng

the parts of a term

relate to its whole and

vice-versa

Ascertain the parts or

categories that make up

a term

Writing about 2 or more

subjects: focus mainly

on their similarities and

differences

Understand each of the

two subjects more

clearly and make sound

judgments

CLASSIFICATION

Example:

Medicine as a Profession

1. Pediatrician – a doctor specializing on children

2. Dermatologist – a doctor specializing on skin

and skin allergies

3. Cardiologist – a doctor specializing on heart-

related diseases

COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

1. BLOCK FORMAT

the details are organized according to the

subjects being compared and contrasted

2. POINT-BY-POINT FORMAT

the details are organized not according to

the subjects but according to the distinct

features of the two subjects

CAUSE AND EFFECT METHOD

An expository method of explaining

occurrences and reoccurrences of a

phenomena.

It is important that READERS need to

understand why such things about certain social

conditions, events, situations or even people’s

behaviors and emotions occur.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

You need to have factual evidences of the real

cause/s and effect/s of a certain phenomenon.

CAUSE

A factor that triggers something to

happen…

EFFECT

The consequence or the result of that

triggering factor…

TWO KINDS OF CAUSE AND EFFECT

DIRECT Cause

Skipping

breakfast

DIRECT Effect

Stomach and head

aches

INDIRECT Cause

Wake up late in

the morning and no

time of taking it

INDIRECT Effect

Not able to

concentrate in class

thus, failed the

morning subjects

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

Begin your paragraph by stating the direct

cause (in the topic sentence) first.

Support it with an indirect cause/related cause

when necessary, followed by the direct and

indirect effect/s or coincidence.

Alternatively, you may do it the other way

around starting with the effects (direct and

indirect) followed by the causes (direct and

indirect)

Reading and Thinking Strategies Across Text Types:

PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT

Content Standard:

The learner realizes that information in a

written text may be selected and organized to

achieve a particular purpose

Performance Standard:

The learner critiques a chosen sample of each

pattern of development focusing on information

selection, organization, development

Reading and Thinking Strategies Across Text Types:

PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT

Learning Competencies:

Distinguishes between and among patterns of

development in writing across disciplines:

a. narration

b. description

c. definition

d. exemplification/classification

e. comparison and contrast

d. cause-effect

f. problem-solution

g. persuasion

LESSON RECAP

expository, narrative, persuasive,

and descriptive

1. _____________ This type of paragraph is used to

present information, ideas, or opinions.

2. _____________ In this type of paragraph, the

author is writing about what a person, place, or thing

is like.

3. _____________ Which type of sentence would this

topic sentence best go with: My best friend's freckled

face always has a glowing, crooked smile.

4._____________ Which type of sentence would this

topic sentence best go with: Despite what dog lovers

might believe, cats actually make better pets.

expository, narrative, persuasive,

and descriptive

5. _____________Which type of sentence would this topic

sentence best go with: The Himalayan Mountains are

the tallest mountains in the world.

6. _____________ Which type of sentence would this topic

sentence best go with: The day I won first place in the box

car derby race was the proudest day of my life.

7. _____________ This paragraph is used to tell a story.

There is a logical sequence of events.

8. _____________ The goal of this type of paragraph is to

convince another person to change, or at least think about

changing, their opinion about something.