Reading and Writing Skills

Grade 11/12 • Unit 1: Text as a Connected Discourse

LESSON 1.1

Definition and Purposes of a Discourse

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Objectives 2

DepEd Competency 2

Warm-Up 2

Learn about It 3

Defining Discourse 3

Purposes of Discourse 4

Analyzing Discourse 5

Key Points 6

Check Your Understanding 6

Let’s Step Up! 7

Photo Credits 8

Bibliography 8

Reading and Writing Skills

Grade 11 /12• Unit 1: Text as a Connected Discourse

Lesson 1.1
Definition and Purposes of a Discourse

Fig. 1. Discourse holds different definitions across different disciplines.

Introduction

You have probably read or seen a recipe, a literary critique, or a diary entry before. These

are all different types of texts, but they are all examples of a discourse. You will know more

about the definition and purposes of discourse in this lesson.

Reading and Writing Skills

Grade 11 /12• Unit 1: Text as a Connected Discourse

Objectives

In this lesson, you should be able to:

● Identify the nature and purpose of a discourse.

● Differentiate between the types of discourses.

DepEd Competency

This lesson serves as a prerequisite or enrichment for the following DepEd

competency:

● The learner describes a written text as connected discourse

(EN11/12RWS-IIIa-1).

Warm-Up

Procedure
1. With a partner, go to the library and read about discourse.

2. Focus on the nature and purposes of discourse. You have exactly 25 minutes to

conduct a short research and take down notes.

3. Write your notes in the left column of the table below. Reread your notes and sum

them up in the right column. Do not forget to cite your source(s).

4. Present your work in front of the class.

Data Table

Table 1. Sample note table

Notes Summary

Reading and Writing Skills

Grade 11 /12• Unit 1: Text as a Connected Discourse

Guide Questions

1. What is the most interesting thing you learned about discourse from your research?

2. What misconceptions about discourse do you have in the past and have now been

corrected through your research?

Learn about It

A text, such as a recipe or a literary critique, which has distinct features and purpose, is a

piece of discourse.

Vocabulary

propel (verb) cause to move to a particular direction

provoke (verb)
bring about or to cause the occurrence of a feeling or

an action

comprehensive

(noun)

complete and includes everything necessary

subjective

(adjective)

modified or affected by personal views, experience, or

background

distinct

(adjective) having a distinguishing or unique characteristic

Essential Question

What is the importance of knowing the nature or purposes of a discourse?

Defining Discourse

The term discourse comes from the word discursus. In medieval Latin, it means “argument,”

and in late Latin, it means “conversation.” Some texts indeed are in the form of discussion in

Reading and Writing Skills

Grade 11 /12• Unit 1: Text as a Connected Discourse

talk to the readers.

A discourse is usually 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.

However, discourse may also refer to how language is used to convey meanings or propel

action or provoke a specific response. Informal, everyday conversations or texts may also

be considered discourse.

One example of discourse is the critique. This piece of writing states a writer’s opinion about

the good and the bad parts of another piece of writing or a work of art. Its language is

formal, and its ideas are arranged in an organized and logical manner.

Diary entries can also be considered a discourse. A diary is a daily record of someone’s

personal experiences and thoughts. By reading every entry in a diary, we get a sense of the

writer’s character or values.

Texts like a literary critique or a diary entry are written with a purpose. Thus, the discourse

has purposes.

Purposes of Discourse

The three main purposes of discourse are to inform, to persuade, and to entertain.

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

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Reading and Writing Skills

Grade 11 /12• Unit 1: Text as a Connected Discourse

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 Discourse

Analyzing 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 may help the reader 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 20th

century, most writers produced works that were classified as “modern” because of its

distinct feature: stream of consciousness.

3. Experiences

Personal accounts or firsthand experience of events, though subjective, establish

credibility and reliability of information presented in any discourse.

Let’s Check In

Explain one purpose of discourse and give three examples of texts with
this purpose.

Reading and Writing Skills

Grade 11 /12• Unit 1: Text as a Connected Discourse

Key Points

● Discourse refers to how language is used to convey meanings, propel action, or

provoke a specific response.

● Discourse may be both formal and informal.

● The three main purposes of discourse are to inform, to persuade, and to entertain.

● Discourse should be analyzed within a certain context.

● Factors that may influence the analysis of discourse include culture, social

environment, and experiences.

Check Your Understanding

Fill in the blanks to complete the statements.

1. Discourse originates from the word discursus, which means ____________ in late

Latin.

2. Discourse is often associated with _____________, but it may also be written.

3. ______________ is a piece of writing which states a writer’s opinion about the good

and the bad parts of another piece of writing or a work of art.

4. Discourse that aims to _______________ provides a descriptive and comprehensive

discussion on a topic.

5. A discourse that aims to ______________ tries to convince the readers that the
proposed claim or solution is better than any other proposal.

6. A discourse that aims to amuse provides a source of ________________ for its readers.

7. _______________ is a factor in analyzing discourse which includes beliefs, customs,

attitudes, and language of a group of people.

Reading and Writing Skills

Grade 11 /12• Unit 1: Text as a Connected Discourse

8. _________________ establish credibility and reliability of information presented in any

discourse.

9. Discourse usually serves as a writer’s or a scholar’s _____________ of a concept or

theory proposed by another writer.

10. Discourse refers to the way how _________________ is used to convey meanings or to

propel action or provoke a specific response.

Let’s Step Up!

Read and analyze Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Write an essay with 300 to

500 words about the discourse and its purpose on a piece of paper. Think of a title

for your work.