3. Identify the properties of well-
written text
Write an essay about the
importance of a well-written text
Apply these properties in writing
Objectives:
4. When can we say
the text is well-
written? And when
it is not?
6. Guide questions for organization
Does your piece have a clear beginning?
Does your piece have a strong beginning that hooks
the reader?
Does your piece have a strong ending that fits the
focus?
Are the ideas and actions connected to each other?
Can your reader follow the piece logically from
beginning to end?
Is it complete? Does it feel finished?
7. Coherence and Cohesion. Coherence
refers to connectivity in a text.
Cohesion refers to how it is to
understand the writing.
Introductory – in particular, for example
Time – first, after, before, finally, next
Space – behind, below, here, in front of
8. Comparison – similarly, than, also Contrast
– however, on the other hand, on the
contrary
Cause and Effect - therefore, because,
since
Degree – first, most important, mainly
For the example, see the book on page 27.
9. Language Use
Formal English is used in “serious” texts
and situations. Informal English is used
in everyday conversations and in
personal letters.
For the example, see the book on
pages 28-29.
10. Mechanics. The term used to
describe the technical aspects
of writing such as spelling,
punctuation, capitalization,
etc.
11. Some rules culled from A
Manual of Style of the
University of Chicago
Press
12. Capitals
a. Capitalize the first word of every
sentence and every quoted sentence.
Jesus wept.
The professor said, “Sit down.”
b. Capitalize the first word of every line of
poetry.
c. Capitalize the first word of the salutation
and complimentary close of a letter: Dear
Dr. Lee:
13. d. Capitalize titles prefixed to names of person.
Professor Benjamin A. Gonzales
e. Capitalize the pronoun I and the exclamation “O” but
not “oh”
f. Capitalize important words in the title of a book,
journal, magazine, literary work, and songs. Do not
capitalize prepositions, conjunctions, and articles
unless they are at the beginning of the title.
g. Capitalize all proper nouns
14. h. Names of person and titles for specific persons.
i. Names of countries, state, regions, and other
j. Names of street
k. Names of religions and religious groups
l. Names used to refer to the Bible and other
sacred writings
m. Names of days of the week, months, festivals
n. Names of schools, colleges, and universities
15. o. Names of races, organizations,
and members of each
p. Names of historical events,
eras and holidays
q. Trade names
16. Abbreviations. Shortened
forms of words and phrases.
a. In formal writing, use only
acceptable abbreviations
b. Put a period after
abbreviations
17. Numbers.
a. Use figures to represent numbers in
writing dates, time, hours, room numbers,
telephone numbers, volume, chapter, page
numbers, and street numbers.
b. Use words for numbers from one to
ninety-nine
18. c. Use figures to represent numbers in writing
measurements, time, percentages, money,
chapter, and page numbers.
d. Use word to represent a number when it
begins a sentence.
e. Use words to represent fractions standing
alone.
19. f. Use figure and letter when you are
expressing ordinal numbers, numbering
items in a list, or expressing numbered
streets from 10th and up.
g. Use Roman numerals for volume and
chapter numbers for the main divisions
of outlines
20. Italics.
a. Use italics to indicate titles of books, long
poems, plays, motion pictures, magazines,
and newspapers.
b. Use italics to indicate foreign words and
phrases that are not yet in English
language.
c. Use italics to write scientific names
21. d. Use italics of indicated letters, numbers,
and words spoken of as such.
e. Use italics to indicate emphasis on a
word.
f. Use italics to indicate names of ships,
trains, and airplanes.
g. Use italics in writing the names of legal
cases.
