WELCOME!

It's Writing time.

PROPERTIES OF A
WELL-WRITTEN
TEXT
What are the things I'll be talking about?
In todays discussion, you’ll be able to:

○ 1.determine the different properties of a well-written text;

○ 2.consider the given properties in evaluating and writing a text; and

○ 3.use the following properties in writing a text.

What are these
properties?
Coherence
Organization and
Cohesion

Unity / Focus Language Use

Mechanics
01

Organization
Organization

A well-written text should have development/organization. Each

paragraph should support the central idea of the paper. Individual sentence
should support the main point of the paragraph. Each of the details should
have a clear and consistent connection to the thesis and topic sentence.
Organization

A well-written text is organized. By organized, we mean that ideas

presented in the selection flows in a logical manner. Organization is
achieved when ideas are logically and accurately arranged. When we
write, we have to make sure that our readers will understand our thoughts
well.
Organization

A well-organized text has three main parts—the introduction, the

body, and the conclusion. You usually introduce the central idea and
preview your main idea in your introduction. Your main ideas are further
elaborated and explained in the body. Below are some ways you can
organize the body of your essay or paper.
Techniques in Organizing

Chronologically Spatially

Cause and
Topically
effect

Problem and
Solution
Text without Text with
Organization Organization
Although it is widely believed that Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison was simply the one who invented the light bulb, in reality he was simply the
created the first commercially viable light bulb. one who created the first commercially viable light
It is widely believed that he invented the light bulb. Along with his team, Edison improved the
bulb. What made Edison’s light bulb successful previous works of inventors who also worked on
was his use of carbonized bamboo as the the same project. Compared to previous versions,
filament. This made the bulb last longer and it what made his light bulb successful was his use of
was cheap enough to be available for the carbonized bamboo as the filament. This made the
masses. He only improved on previous works bulb last longer and it was cheap enough to be
of investors who also worked on the same available for the masses.
project.
02

Focus / Unity
focus/unity

Unity means “oneness” that is – all of the sentences in the paragraph

are related to the topic sentence. In a unified text, all the supporting ideas
are relevant and connected to the main thought. The whole paragraph
should begin and end with one focus only.
 A well-written text should have focus. An essay should have a single
clear central idea (thesis statement). Each paragraph should have a clear
main point or topic sentence.
 A well-written text should have unity. Each paragraph in an essay should
be related to the main idea. Each paragraph should stick to its main
point.
 An essay is unified when all of the paragraphs illustrate, clarify, explain,
and/or address the idea expressed in the essay’s thesis statement.
Text without Unity Text with
Unity
Viral videos circulating online expose the Viral videos circulating online expose the danger in
danger in sensationalist culture: anyone’s life sensationalist culture: anyone’s life can change in
can change in one single post. A like in one single post. For instance, the video of a
Facebook can change everything. For example, student who verbally abused a guard in the LRT
the video of the students who verbally abused has drastically altered the future of the student.
a guard in the LRT has changed the life of the She was bashed by netizens for her rude
students. Therefore, people must take note of behaviour, and the hashtag #AMALAYER taken
their actions wherever they may be, because after the way she pronounced, “I’m a liar,” trended
these might be documented and posted online. soon afterwards. News reports following the
In addition to that, everyone must be wary of incident soon revealed that the girl has received
the things they post, because they can never considerable flak and has even become a victim of
know who will share it, too. bullying.
03

Coherence / Cohesion
Coherence / cohesion

 Coherence is the quality of being logical, clearly organized, not

rumbling, or confusing.
 Cohesion is the connection or linking ideas in a test making it unified
and coherent.
Coherence / cohesion
coherence

 It enables the reader to follow the writer’s train of thought with ease.
 It is achieved when ideas flow smoothly within and between
paragraphs.
 It makes use of the right connectors to show relationships of ideas in
sentences, paragraphs, and themes.
cohesion

 Cohesion can be applied using three techniques:

 The use of pronouns to refrain from using a specific word
repeatedly.
 The use of transitional devices to connect sentences with linked
ideas.
 The repetition of keywords to tie up the paragraphs subtly.
TRANSITIONAL
DEVICES
04

Language Use
 They are cues that help the reader to interpret ideas a paper develops.
 Transitional devices are words or phrases that help carry a thought from
one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph
to another.
 They link sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so that there are
no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas.
Time Sequence
 immediately
 first
 afterward
 before  second
 prior to
 third
 at the same time
 after  next
 earlier
 finally
 simultaneously
 during  last
 at last
 finally
 in the meantime
 sooner or later
 when
 whenever
 until
 eventually
Addition Space

 moreover  above
 furthermore  next to
 also  below
 another  behind
 not only  beside
 but also
 additionally
 as well as
Illustration Comparison

 for instance  equally

 specifically  equally important
 for example  similarly
 namely  also
 in this case  in the same way
 to illustrate  still
 most compelling evidence  likewise
 in comparison
 too
 by the same token
Contrast Cause and Effect
 but  although  because
 despite  on the contrary  for this reason
 in spite of  otherwise  since
 however  conversely  therefore
 nonetheless  while  as a result
 nevertheless  whereas  consequently
 even though  although this  thus
 albeit may be true  hence
 yet  in reality  then
 on the other  notwithstanding  under those circumstances
hand
Persuasion Conclusion
 in fact  certainly  thus
 as a matter of  besides  therefore
fact  undeniably  in brief
 again  apparently  by large
 to point out  indubitably  all things considered
 another key  in the first  in conclusion
point place  in short
 indeed  not to mention  all in all
 truly  it is important  on the whole
 obviously to realize  overall
 evidently  given these points
 A well-written text should have correctness.
 A paper should be written in generally correct standard English, with
complete sentences, and be relatively error-free.
Do’s and Dont’s
 Use clear and concise sentences. On average, a sentence is 18 words long. Note
that this does not require every sentence to be composed of exactly 18 words.

DON’T DO
Image is a very important factor in politics Image is a very important factor in
because once the reputation of a person is politics. Once the reputation of a person is
smeared by accusations, the people’s smeared by accusations, the people’s
perception of the person is forever tainted perception of the person is forever tainted.
and it may cause him to lose credibility The person may lose his credibility, even
and trust even when the truth behind when the allegations is not yet verified.
allegations is not yet verified.
 Avoid redundancies, wordiness, clichés, and high falutin language.

DON’T DO
Although offsprings are taught not to Although children are taught not to take
obtain free gifts from strangers, at the gifts from strangers, many still do.
present moment many still do.
 Avoid excessive use of “there” and “it” structures. These sentences can be
revised by dropping the “there” and “it” phrase and transforming the sentences
appropriately.

DON’T DO
There are many people walking on this Many people walk on this street during
street during Sundays. It is important to Sundays. Keeping your valuables close to
keep your valuables close to you. you is important.
 Use precise vocabulary. Be accurate and condense lengthy phrases into fewer
words.

DON’T DO
Shafts that control the break during urgent Emergency levers are installed in every
situations are built inside MRT trains to MRT train for the safety of the passengers.
keep the passengers free from harm.
 Be consistent with your pronoun’s point of view.

DON’T DO
We should accept that fate is simply an We should accept that fate is simply an
illusion; you must not leave our decisions illusion; we must not leave our decisions
to something that does not exist. to something that does not exist.
 Avoid sexist language. This issue can be addressed by using articles (a, an, and
the), using plural nouns, using his or her instead of his, writing through a second
person point of view, or using gender-neutral nouns (e.g. chairperson instead of
chairman). Make sure not to overuse the his or her technique as it breaks up the
flow of your compositions.

DON’T DO
Every employee should submit his All employees should submit their
credentials. credentials.
 Use the appropriate level of formality. The more formal texts use an academic
tone while the less formal ones use a personal or colloquial tone.

DON’T DO
Yes, diskettes are like things of the past, Diskettes may be outdates, but they are
but they’re still totally cool. still fascinating.
05

Mechanics
 When we talk about mechanics, we refer to the conventions we follow
when it comes to capitalization, spelling, contractions, numbers and
numerals, punctuation marks, gerunds, abbreviation, participles, and
documentation among many others.

 We must understand that there are so many considerations to think about

and follow when writing academically and professionally.
Rules to observe in writing:

 Always use Standard English.

 Avoid contractions (e.g., shouldn’t)
 Avoid exclamation marks unless they are part of a direct quotation.
 Mention the full name of an institution or organization with the
abbreviation in parenthesis, in first mention.
 Numbers from zero to ten should be spelled out while numbers higher than
ten should be written in figures.
 Generally, citations are used in academic and formal texts.
Text without Mechanics

Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet in 2006 after the General Assembly of the
IAU, as it only met 2 out of the association’s three requirements to qualify as a
Planet (Library of Congress). The dispute started when Caltech astronomy prof
Mike Brown discovered an Asteroid bigger than Pluto in 2005 (Cain, 2012). The
science community went wild! Brown’s findings sparked a debate on whether this
new planet, which he named eris, should be added to the roster of 9 Planets. The
controversy prompted the International Astronomical Union to meet up and
delineate what a ‘planet’ is. They came up with three requirements to classify a
celestial body as a planet and removed the Planet Status of Pluto based on the new
definition.
Text with Mechanics

Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet in 2006 after the general assembly of the
International Astronomical Union (IAU), as it only met two out of the association’s
three requirements to qualify as a planet (Library of Congress). The dispute started
when Mike Brown, a professor of astronomy at the Californian Institute of
Technology (CalTech), discovered an asteroid bigger than Pluto in 2005 (Cain,
2012). Brown’s findings sparked a debate on whether this new planet, which he
named Eris, should be added to the roster of nine planets. The controversy
prompted the IAU to meet up and delineate what a ‘planet’ is. They came up with
three requirements to classify a celestial body as a planet and removed the planet
status of Pluto based on the new definition.
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