DISCOURSE

I.DEFINITION AND PURPOSES OF A

DISCOURSE

• A discourse is a formal and often lengthy

discussion of a topic, where concepts and
insights are arranged in an organized and logical
manner. Also, it refers to the way how language
is used to convey meanings or to propel action or
provoke a specific response. 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.
 • BELOW ARE THE PURPOSES
OF A DISCOURSE.
1. To inform – A discourse that aims to
inform provides a descriptive and
comprehensive discussion on the topic. It
points out what one should know about a
topic or subject.
2. To persuade – A discourse that aims to
persuade tries to convince the readers
that the proposed claim or solution is
better than any other proposal.
3. To entertain – A discourse that aims to
amuse provides a source of
entertainment for its readers.
• 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.

1. Culture – The beliefs, customs, attitudes, language, and other things that define culture
may influence the author’s perspective on several issues. Knowing about the culture the
author belongs to, the reader may understand his or her biases.

2. Social environment – The author’s physical surroundings and social relationships, as well
as the culture of the time may have influenced his or her writing. For instance, during the
early decades of the 20th century, most writers produced works that were classified as
“modern” because of its distinct feature: stream of consciousness.

3. Experiences – Personal accounts or first-hand experience of events, though subjective,

establish credibility and reliability of information presented in any discourse.
 TYPES OF
DISCOURSE
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.
Example: 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.

Explanation:
In order to convince the readers, the author of the
passage mentioned a study to support his or her claim
about video games. The author did not simply state
that video games may cause children to become
violent; he or she proved it by citing two experts.
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.
Explanation:

Through the author’s description, the reader can

infer what the person Margarette looks like.
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.
Example: How to set up an email account
1. Choose theWrite
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2. Look for the sign up button. Click it.
3. Provide the required information.
4. Think of aWrite down
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username
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password, type in uppercase or add
characters.)
5. Start using the newly setup email account.
Explanation:

The passage gives instructions on how to set up

an email account. Some examples of an
exposition may be found in some magazine
articles or editorials, which usually include life
hacks.
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.
 Example:
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.
 Explanation:
The passage conveys a person’s experience about
learning how to swim. The events are told
chronologically, and the story is told in the first
person point of view.
 III. LITERARY DISCOURSE
The problem?
A literary discourse is generally focused on
creative works, including nonfiction. Also, it
includes texts that are used strictly for business
communication. The following are the three types
of literary discourse:

1. Poetic – This type of discourse is commonly

found in creative works like poems, novels, short
stories, and plays. It focuses on how language is
used to form themes and convey ideologies.
Some meanings in creative works are explicit,
while some are implied, especially in poems.
Ordinary words, especially those used in a poem,
are made appealing through sound patterns.
Example:
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.

Explanation: I
n the text, the author used the roads as a
metaphor for making life decisions. Also, notice
that the last words in the poem rhyme: sigh, I,
and by; hence and difference.
Expressive – This type of discourse is 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. In the
process, the writer reveals something about his or
her identity. In literary terms, expressive discourses
are referred to as creative nonfiction.
 Example:
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.’

Explanation: Based on the passage, the writer is describing

what she felt while waiting for the big announcement in
school. She describes what she is like in school —talkative
—and how sociable she is as most of her teachers like her.
 Example:
How to Cook Chicken Tinola

Transactional
– This type of discourse is commonly Ingredients:
found in instructional materials, 1/2 kg chicken wings
1 red onion, peeled and sliced
advertisements, and editorial articles,
1 clove of garlic, peeled and
among others. It is directive in nature crushed
as it provides detailed information on 1 small ginger, peeled and
how something is done or achieved. julienned
1 small green papaya, peeled and
Moreover, it encourages the reader to cut into wedges
do something or to take action. 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.Write down
4. Pour 3–4all theof water.
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5. Add the papaya. Simmer until the
chicken becomes tender.

Explanation: The recipe above shows the

instructions in cooking chicken tinola. It is a list
that shows the step-by-step detail in cooking the
dish.
 IV. ACADEMIC
DISCOURSE
• An academic 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.
Example:
Medea is portrayed as an empowered woman in the
Euripides’ play. It is a far cry from how women were
viewed and represented in the Ancient Greece.
Women then were mainly portrayed as in charge of
producing children, taking care of them, and being a
mistress of the household. Medea’s character defies
and challenges conformities. Her deeds, though evil
in nature, stem from the strength of her mind...
Medea, although elicits pity from the audience during
the first part of the play as an abandoned wife and
mother, in the end, is feared and abhorred as she
proves to be aware of how wicked her deeds are and
yet would not have it the other way around: “I
understand what evil I am about to do but my wrath
is stronger even than my thoughts...” (Euripides 27).
Explanation:

The text is a review of Euripides’ famous play

Medea. The critic, although stating his or her
insights of the play, writes in an objective tone,
using the third person point of view. Moreover, the
review does not use a figure of speech or idiomatic
expression to describe, elaborate, or prove a point.
• Structures or formats of academic discourses may vary
depending on the approved or recommended style guide to
use.
Below is a general format.
1. Introduction – In this part, the writer states the significance
of the topic and the issues that need to be addressed. Also,
the writer mentions the objectives of the discourse and how
it may be beneficial or detrimental.
2. Body – In this part, the writer discusses the methods of
gathering information. He or she then presents the findings
and interprets them. Moreover, he or she formulates
arguments and supports them with evidence.
3. Conclusion – In this part, the writer reiterates the claims
and asserts his or her stand. He or she may include insights
and recommendations for further studies.
V. Characteristics of Connected Discourse
•  Written text is also described as written discourse, especially when
a simple analysis of it reveals that it is connected discourse, e.g. It
uses cohesive devices, connectives, conjunctions, and repetitions.
•  Written text acquires the characteristics of connected discourse
when:
• Its ideas are linked logically.
• There is logical organization and development of the theme.
• 3. There is use of repetition, reference, conjunctions, connectives and
other transitional
• devices.
 Example:
“There are three reasons I don’t have a credit card. The first reason is that
using
a piece of plastic instead of cash makes it too easy for me to buy things I
can’t afford. For instance, last week I saw a 4,000.00 php pair of pink
sandals in my favorite shoe store. Of course, I don’t need pink sandals, nor
I can afford them. With a credit card, however, I would now own those
sandals and be worrying about how to pay for them. The second reason I
don’t have a credit card is that I would end up in debt like my friend Sara,
the shopaholic. Sara got a credit last year, and she already owes
30,000.00 php. She buy things that she doesn’t really need such as
jewelry and designer sunglasses. She will be in debt for years. The third
reason I don’t have a credit card is the difficulty in understanding the fine
print in the credit card contract. If I don’t read the fine print, I can be
surprised. For example, some credit companies will raise my interest rate
if I make payment even one day late. To sum up, credit cards may be a
convenience for some people, but for me, they are plastic ticket to
financial disaster.”
 Explanation: The author directly state the central

theme of the paragraph in the first sentence which is

further develop by the following sentences. Also, the

author use transitional devices to logically linked liked

the ideas in the paragraph: “first”, “second”, “third”,

and “To sum up”. Furthermore, the author use

repetition to keep the readers to the theme: “The first

reason...”, “The second reason...”, and “The third

reason...”
THANK
YOU