RWS reviewer
L1 – Discourse
“disursus” – medival latin meaning argument and in late latin “conversation”
Discourse – a formal often lengthy discussion of topic arranged in an organized and logical manner
- often associated in speech but may also be written
Ex. Critique and Diary
Purposes of Discourse
1. To inform - a descriptive and comprehensive discussion on the topic. It points what one should know
about a topic or subject.
2. To persuade - o convince the readers that the proposed claim or solution is better than any other
proposal
3. To entertain - to amuse provides a source of entertainment for its readers.
Analyzing a discourse is usually contextual. - Those factors explain the author’s biases, philosophy, and
educational and professional backgrounds, among others.
1. Culture - beliefs, customs, attitudes, language, and other things that define culture may influence the
author’s perspective on several issues.
2. Social environment - author’s physical surroundings and social relationships, as well as the culture of
the time may have influenced his or her writing.
3. Experiences - Personal accounts or firsthand experience of events, (establish credibility and reliability
of information presented in any discourse.)
L2 – Types of Discourse
1. Argumentation - process of making and presenting arguments. (a series of statements for or against
an idea.)
“Argumentum” meaning evidence, ground, support, or logical argument
2. Description - based on the main impression of the author about the topic or subject. (transmit that
impression through concrete, colorful, and vivid language so that readers can fully imagine the topic or
subject.)
- it triggers sensory images among readers.
3. Exposition - to inform about, clarify, and explain a phenomenon. (an in-depth discussion about topics
that are usually less explored.)
4. Narration - it recalls events chronologically. (storytelling)
- its structure may be linear or nonlinear.
- a linear structure follows a typical format: beginning, middle, end.
- A nonlinear structure may start from the end or in the middle.
L3 – Literary Discourse
- generally focused on creative works such as poetry, short stories, novels, plays, and even nonfiction.
Three types of literary discourse
1. Poetic – commonly used in creative works, poems, novels, short stories and plays. (- it focuses on how
language is used)
2. Expressive - 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.
3. Transactional - instructional materials, advertisements, and editorial articles, among others. (directive
in nature as it provides detailed information on how something is done or achieved.)
Academic discourse - expository or argumentative in nature.
General Format of Academic Discourses
1. Introduction - the writer states the significance of the topic and the issues that need to be addressed.
(presents issue, gives objective)
2. Body - the writer discussed the methods of gathering information. He or she then presents the
findings and interprets them.
3. Conclusion - - the writer reiterates the claims and asserts his or hers stand. (will conclude the topic
and how it works)