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Reading and Writing Modules:
I. Tips in Determining Word Meaning
A. Context Clues
B. Word Structure
II. Identifying Main Idea and supporting details
III. Elements of Paragraph
A. Unity (Consistency in tenses, person and number)
B. Coherence ( Use of Transitions)
IV. Methods of Paragraph Development
V. Order of Paragraph Development
VI. Writing a Longer Discourse (Essay)
A. Expository
B. Narrative
C. Descriptive
I. Tips in Determining Word Meaning
1. Context Clues
Understanding the meaning of unfamiliar words can be made easy by looking into the surrounding words because they provide clues into the meaning of unfamiliar words. These surrounding words are also called context clues to help you get the correct meaning of words. Consider the examples below:
Murderers are usually incarcerated for longer periods of time than robbers.
You may infer the meaning of incarcerated by answering the question "What usually
happens to those found guilty of murder or robbery?”
Hence, the meaning of a word may be implied by the general sense of its context. The phrase for longer periods of time provides a clue to the meaning of incarcerated.
2. Antonyms
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings, such as happy and sad.
Ben is fearless, but his brother is timorous.
"If Ben is fearless and Jim is very different from Ben with regard to fear, then what word describes Jim?" Hence, timorous means fearful or afraid.
3. Word Structure
Suffixes/Prefixes
Prefix is A prefix is an affix which is placed before the stem of a word.
Prefixes like - im-, dis-, un- means not
Examples:
Immature – not mature or not grown up
Impossible – not possible or will not likely to happen
Unguarded - not guarded or not secured
Unusual - not usual or not common
Dissatisfied – not satisfied or not content
Disobedient – not obedient or not following orders from elders
re – means repeat or do it again
rewrite - write it again
redo - do it again
remake – to redo something in a different format
pro – means in favor of
pro- life - anyone who is pro-life protects life itself
Anti – means against
Anti –abortion – against abortion
Suffixes
-tion - the act of
Graduation – the act or process in which a person finishes a certain level in school
Attention - the act of attending to the message conveyed
Preparation – the act of preparing or getting ready
-er/-or - a prefix to refer to a person
Payer - a person who pays for the things bought
Receiver - a person who accepts or receives something
Manager – a person who runs or manages a business
Teacher – a person who teaches or facilitates learning of students
Exercise 1. Vocabulary
Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct meaning of the underlined word, and identify the context clues which aid you in arriving at the correct meaning of the word.
1. People from neighboring towns sail to Sadaya’s island to obtain salt, the precious commodity.
a. sell c. get
b. trade d. share
2. The kids save money to be able to purchase materials for building the homes.
a. Sell c. decorate
b. Buy d. keep
3. Batang Bayani movement teaches values that are not usually taught in school or at home like the value of heroism and the value of looking at the poor without discrimination.
a. inequality c. fairness
b. Difference d. equality
4. Apolinario Mabini was known as the sublime paralytic because of his heroism in fighting the Spaniards and Americans despite his handicap.
a. Ridiculous c. high-spirited
b. Indifferent d. inspiring
5. Mabini did not hesitate to rush out of the house despite the heavy rains to be able to find his horse.
a. Think twice c. be certain
b. Tremble d. fear
6. Mark disobeyed his mother when he went home late yesterday.
a. followed c. loved
b. never followed d. cared
II. Paragraph
A. Identifying Main Idea/topic sentence
B. Determining Supporting Details
Paragraph is a word derived from the Greek words para “by the side of,” and graphein, “to write.” The term originally referred to the symbol, which was written on the margin or in the text to indicate the end of one section of writing and the beginning of another. Today, paragraph is defined as a group of interrelated sentences that develop a single idea.
The sentences in the paragraph are unified by a central or main idea which is often stated in the topic sentence. A topic sentence may be directly expressed or implied.
A topic sentence that is expressed is found either at the beginning, middle or end of the paragraph. Topic sentence expresses the central thought of the paragraph. It is a sentence that answers the questions, “What is the topic of the paragraph?” and “What is said about the topic?”
Example:
Paul Smith wasn’t a liar; he just exaggerated a lot. Paul exaggerated so much that people always expected him. To exaggerate. Paul never disappointed them. Here are some examples of Paul’s exaggerations. If Paul ate three pancakes, he’d say, “ I ate fifty pancakes.” Also, if he walked a mile, he’d say, “I walked a hundred miles today.
Now, let us try to identify the topic of the paragraph by asking ourselves, “ What is the topic of the whole paragraph?” The answer is Paul’s exaggeration. Then, the next thing to ask is “what is said about Paul’s exaggeration?” “What are some instances by which Paul exaggerated?” If you will pay close attention to the paragraph, there is no single sentence that expresses the main idea, so you have to formulate a topic sentence that will represent the main topic. To do this, you will get the topic, “Paul’s exaggeration,” then ask yourselves, “what is said about Paul’s exaggeration?” And the answer, “Paul’s exaggeration applies to everything he does.”
Exercise 1. Identify or formulate the topic sentence for each paragraph below. Then, underline key words or phrases that support the topic sentence.
Paragraph A
Sheila is my best friend. She shares with me her baon during recess. She also helps me in our Math assignment. And if she is free, she always invites me to their house and we swim the whole day in their swimming pool. That’s why I love Sheila because she is my one true friend.
Paragraph B
What makes an airplane fly is not its engine, nor its propeller. Nor is it, as many people think, some mysterious knack of the pilot, nor some ingenious gadget inside. What makes an airplane fly is simply its shape. This may sound absurd, but gliders fly without engines, and model airplanes fly without pilots. As for the insides of the airplane, they are disappointing, for they are mostly hollow. No, what keeps an airplane up is its shape – the impact of the air on its shape. Whittle that shape out of wood or cast it out of iron, or fashion it, for that matter, out of chocolate and throw the thing in the air. It will behave like an airplane. It will be an airplane.
Paragraph C
The forest is a sanitary agent. It constantly eliminates impurities from the earth and air. The trees check, sweep, and filter the air of germ laden dust. Their leaves absorb poisonous gases from the air. Roots help drain and absorb impurities from the soil. Roots give off acids and together with the acids released by the fallen decaying leaves, sterilize the soil. Trees keep the air sweet and clean. Many unsanitary places have been made healthy by tree planting.
Exercise 2. Write a 5-sentence paragraph by developing the topic sentence given below. But before that, fill in the sandwich (graphic) below with the supporting details to your paragraph by identifying the reasons why your Mom is the best person for you. Write the topic sentence on top of the sandwich, then 3 sentences on the fillings and at the bottom of the sandwich, write the last sentence, a repetition of your topic sentence but in a different form.
Topic Sentence: My mother is the best person for me
Write your paragraph below:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
III. Qualities of Paragraph
A well written paragraph has unity, coherence, emphasis and order.
Unity
A paragraph has unity if it contains one, single main idea. All the sentences in the paragraph should belong or relate to the main idea. Any sentence that does not support the topic or idea should be removed and placed in another paragraph.
Example:
Mark is an outstanding student in our section. He always gets the highest grades in all the subjects. When he recites in class, he is so convincing because he does not only speak English well but he also cites a lot of information from his readings to elaborate his ideas. Aside from being good in academics, he is also a good student leader responsible in organizing various activities in our school. Indeed, Mark is an exceptional student.
Questions:
1. What is the topic sentence?
2. What sentences support Mark’s being an outstanding student?
3. Is there a sentence that does not relate to Mark’s excellence as a student?
4. Does the paragraph have unity then?
5. If we are to add the following sentences to the paragraph above, which of the following sentences are relevant to the topic or main idea.
a. Mark is athletic too; in fact, he has been joining in a lot of sports competitions in and out of the campus.
b. Mark is a good and responsible son to his parents.
c. Mark is not only a good speaker but also a good writer too; he writes in the school newsletter.
d. Mark goes on vacation in Cebu every summer.
e. Mark makes sure that he submits quality projects all the time.
Exercise 1. Examine the following paragraphs and point out the details that are irrelevant.
1. There are delightful memories of Manila that I treasure. I like to remember the colorful sunset on the bay, the big cathedral with its marble columns glowing softly in the light of many candles, and windswept spacious park where stood the Rizal Monument. Rizal was executed by the Spaniards. The Spaniards ruled the Philippines for four centuries. I don’t think I will ever forget he colorful Flores de Mayo processions, or the gay exuberance of the city residents at fiesta time. Most of all I treasure the memory of Filipino hospitality, truly the most generous and the most lavish in the whole world.
2. The first time I went to Santa Cruz, I saw how different the place was from what I had pictured it to be. I had just graduated from high school and I was staying in the city as the house guest of my two favorite aunts. Tita Mercedes had a mole on her left cheek. I had thought of Santa Cruz as being wide, paved streets bordered by flowering plants, tall modern buildings filled with offices and shops, and well-dressed people riding in cars and buses. It is true there were many buildings; but not far from the imposing edifices were dilapidated houses and makeshifts of packing cases with rusty tin roofs. Many streets were narrow and full of holes. Piles of garbage rotted on the broken sidewalks and hungry-looking, ill-clothed people wandered on the streets. My cousins and I frequented the movie houses. I had great fun riding the escalators.
Coherence
A paragraph has coherence when its sentences follow one another in a logical order. Therefore, a coherent paragraph contains ideas that flow smoothly through the use of conjunctions.
Following is a useful list of conjunctions
| To add ideas | Also, likewise, similarly, too, in like manner, again, besides |
| To introduce opposing statements or to limit a preceding statement | But, nevertheless, otherwise, on the other hand, conversely, on the contrary, however, still, yet |
| To show time sequence | Then, now that, later, eventually, at the same time, meanwhile, in a few moment, within an hour, last |
| To indicate order | Next, in the second place, to begin with, first, second, finally, in conclusion |
| To show space relation | To the right, in the distance, straight ahead, up above, down below |
| To indicate a result | Hence, consequently, thus, so for this reason, therefore, as a result, thus |
| To indicate repetition of an idea | Briefly, that is to say, in fact, indeed, in other words |
| To compare | Similarly, likewise, in the same way, compared with, in comparison with |
| To contrast | But, however, instead, whereas, nevertheless, besides, on the contrary, on the other hand |
Example:
Although my Dad and Mom share some similarities, they also have differences. Both of them are loving and thoughtful. They care for us, their children, and give us little notes and gifts on our birthdays. They are also intelligent and skillful. In fact they are already managers in their companies. However, they too have some differences. My Mom is friendly and sociable. She can sit with a complete stranger for an hour and find out much about his background. On the other hand, my Dad is a quiet guy. He won’t ever initiate a conversation with a stranger. Another difference is also in their interests, my Dad loves watching basketball and soccer while my Mom enjoys soap operas. Despite their differences, they manage to live in harmony with each other because they love each other that much. In fact this year, they are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.
Questions:
1. What conjunctions are used to show similarities? How about differences?
2. How does the writer begin and end the paragraph?
3. What is the main idea of the paragraph?
4. Are there any ideas that do not support the topic sentence? Does the paragraph have unity and coherence? If yes, explain your answer.
Exercise 1: Paragraph Writing
Write a paragraph on the given topic sentence below using appropriate conjunctions to make your paragraph coherent.
Topic Sentence: I have twin sisters but they are exactly opposite.
References:
Agalabia, Urbano F., Aranda, Ma. Rosario, and Sembrano, Virginia Alde. (2005) College Freshman
English. Manila: UST Publishing House
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