Learning Objectives

 Identify the nature and purpose of a

discourse.
 Differentiate between the types of
discourses.
 Identify and differentiate between the
types of literary discourses.
 Distinguish between literary and
academic discourses.
Discourse
Discourse
 it refers to the way how language is used
to convey meanings or to propel action
or provoke a specific response.
 A discourse is a formal and often lengthy
discussion of a topic, where concepts and
insights are arranged in an organized and
logical manner.
It is often associated with speech, but it may
also be written. It usually serves as a writer’s
or a scholar’s analysis of a concept or theory
proposed by another writer.

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Purpose
 To inform – what one should know
 To persuade – to convince
 To entertain – to amuse
• You just heard that your favorite band is
playing at your campus on Friday.
Unfortunately, you are scheduled to work at
your part-time job. In a letter to your boss,
explain why you need time off on Friday.
• Your friend plans to meet you at the college
cafeteria before seeing the concert. However, this
friend needs directions since he is does not know
the campus. In a note to your friend, explain how to
walk or drive to the school and where to meet.
• You have just seen a fantastic concert at the
college center. You want to capture the
experience in your diary. In a journal entry for
yourself, describe the show and your feelings.
• You saw the concert on Friday. Your English
teacher wants you to write a creative story
about the experience. It could take the form of
a brief story, dialogue, or poem. In a short
paper for your class, write your creative
response to the experience.
FACTORS
 Analyzing a discourse is usually contextual. The reader tries to
consider several factors that may have influenced the writer to
make certain claims. Those factors explain the author’s biases,
philosophy, and educational and professional backgrounds, among
others. Below are three of those factors.

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Factors
1. Culture

 Beliefs
 Attitude
 Languages
Factors
2. Social environment

 author’s physical surroundings and social

relationships
Factors
3. Experiences
 Personal accounts or first hand experience
of events
Types of
Discourse
A recent study confirmed that playing video
games may cause children to become violent.
However, this is only true for some children.
Dr. Charlotte Cooper and Dr. Markey Vitasa of
ABC University explained that children who
manifest a combination of three personality
traits―high neuroticism, disagreeableness, and
low levels of conscientiousness―are more
likely to be aggressive toward others after
playing video games.
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.
When I first saw my childhood friend
Margarette, she was about my younger sister
Viv’s height. Her hair was curly and dark, and
her skin was pale. But what really struck me
when I first saw her was her big round blue
eyes.
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.
How to set up an email account
1. Choose the web host.
2. Look for the sign up button. Click it.
3. Provide the required information.
4. Think of a unique username and a
password. (Tip: For the password, type in
uppercase or add characters.)
5. Start using the newly setup email account.
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.
I remember the time when I learned how to
swim. I was only eight years old and afraid to
bathe in a pool. I envied the kids who played
with inflatable balls and animals. Whenever my
family would visit the clubhouse, I would sit
beside the pool and never really jump in to join
them.
A summer camp opened in our neighborhood,
and my mom thought of enrolling my brother
and me in a swimming class. Two days before
the class started, my mom gave me a pep talk;
that made me realize that I did not want to miss
out the fun just because I was afraid.
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.
Literary
Discourse
Literary Discourse
 A Discourse that is generally focused on
creative works, including nonfiction.
Types of
Literary
Discourse
The Road Not Taken (An Excerpt)
By Robert Frost

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere

ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a
wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Poetic
 This type of discourse is commonly
found in creative works like poems,
novels, short stories, and plays.
The Diary of a Young Girl (An Excerpt) By
Anne Frank

Sunday, 21 June 1942

Everyone at school is waiting to hear what
happens next. Who will move up a class, and
who will stay down? We’re all trying to guess! I
think my girlfriends and I will be OK, though
we’ll have to wait patiently to find out.
Most of my teachers like me, but old Mr
Keesing gets angry with me because I often talk
too much! He made me do some extra
homework and write about ‘Someone Who
Talks Too Much.’
Expressive
 This type of discourse is commonly
found in academic journals, letters,
diaries, and blogs.
How to Cook Chicken Tinola
Ingredients:
1/2 kg chicken wings
1 red onion, peeled and sliced
1 clove of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 small ginger, peeled and julienned
1 small green papaya, peeled and cut into
wedges
1-2 stalks of Malunggay
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of pepper
3-4 cups of water
Procedure:
1. Prepare all the ingredients.
2. Heat the pan in a medium flame. Add 2–3
tablespoons of oil.
3. Sauté garlic, onion, and ginger. Add
chicken wings and sauté for 3–4 minutes.
4. Pour 3–4 cups of water. Let it simmer.
Procedure:
5. Add the papaya. Simmer until the chicken
becomes tender.
6. Add the malunggay leaves.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve and enjoy.
Transactional
 This type of discourse is commonly
found in instructional materials,
advertisements, and editorial articles,
among others.
Academic
Discourse
Academic Discourse
 This discourse is expository or
argumentative in nature. Sometimes, it
presents an individual’s insights
regarding a concept or method in a
scholarly way.
• Unlike other discourses, an academic
discourse uses formal language and the
third person point of view; it maintains an
objective tone.
• It avoids using figures of speech and
idiomatic expressions, including biased or
stereotyped and sexist language.
• Its examples include essays, journals, book
reviews, synthesis, literature review, and
research, among others.
• A/An __________ refers to the way how
language is used to convey meanings.
• A factor that should be taken into account that
touches the beliefs, customs, and attitudes of
one author/reader.
• Purpose of a Discourse
• Factors of a Discourse
• A discourse that aims to present the author’s
impression and prior knowledge,
of a certain topic.
• A discourse that story tells.
• A discourse that presents reasonable evidence
to persuade readers.
• A discourse that clarify and explain a certain
topic.
• A discourse that focuses on creative works.
• A discourse that is purely informative and uses
persuasion in presenting insights of a
concept/theories/ideologies in a scholarly
manner.
• A discourse that uses idiomatic expressions
and/or sound patterns in conveying themes
• Gerard would like to write about his recent trip to
New Zealand. Identify which type of discourse
should he used in writing.
• This discourse is usually procedural type of
information.
• This Literary Discourse uses narration and first
person point of view in telling the story.
EXAMPLE: Diary Entries.
1-2 2 Types of Narrative Structure
3. A discourse that focuses on creative works.
4. A discourse that is purely informative and uses
persuasion in presenting insights of a
concept/theories/ideologies in a scholarly manner.
5. A discourse that uses idiomatic expressions and/or
sound patterns in conveying themes
6-7. Gerard would like to write about his recent trip to
New Zealand. Identify which type of discourse should he
used in writing.
8. This discourse is usually procedural type of information.
9. This Literary Discourse uses narration and first person
point of view in telling the story. EXAMPLE: Diary
Entries.
10. Type of Literary work that is created from the
imagination of the/an author.