Lesson-3.5-Language-and-text-Structure-and-Main-Idea.pptx

Reference

1. Language and Text Structure Across Disciplines

2. Mathematics Text Is easily recognizable because of its unique language features. It often uses letters with special meanings. Notations, numbers, and formulas are typical of math texts. Nouns = numbers or expressions with numbers Verb = is the equal sign.

3. To make sense of a math sentence, you have to understand the special meanings that the discipline of math has assigned to these symbols and expressions. It uses ordinary language but BEWARE! Examples: 3 is the square root of 9. 10 is less than 15. 5 is a prime number.

4. Keep in mind: Math is an exact, precise language. Dominant Structure: Problem- solution Comparison and Contrast

5. Business Texts Like mathematics, business has a special vocabulary. Examples: remit, obligate, loan, collateral, interest, stocks, etc. Some compound nouns are standard expressions in business. Examples: tax collection system, company car, price list, bulk buying.

6. Keep in mind: Learn the conventions, or established practices, of business writing. Example: Business uses a lot of form letters It is important to remember that business requires cordiality to sustain it, to keep the customer. There is careful use of modal expressions and adverbs.

7. Polite expressions such as the following are part of the ritual of politeness in business: Could you please… We are extremely sorry… May I suggest… Thank you for your inquiry on… Please let us know…

8. Text Structure in Business Communication: Problem-solution Description

9. Social Science Texts Social Sciences requires knowledge of the jargon of its specific disciplines. Example: Political Science (communism, monarchy, and executive branch) Economics (market, profit, equity, and trade relations) Sociology (migration, social class, and discrimination) Psychology (depression, suicidal, personality, and motivation)

10. Text Structures in Social Science: Definition and example Recount of an event (history) Cause and effect Comparison and contrast

11. Natural Science Texts Physics, chemistry, and biology. Common words: power, pressure, force, work, and impulse. To help us understand technical words: prefixes ( uni , semi, and multi) Root words (bio, geo, vis, and derma) suffixes

12. The typical sentences in science texts are dense. Example: Each nucleus is packed with information coded in the form of a chemical called Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and organized into groups called genes which are arranged on thread-like structures, the chromosomes.

13. Literature and the Arts Literature and the arts have their content- specific terms. Examples: gothic, mood, symbol, balance, mosaic, hue, etc. - What makes it different from other disciplines?

14. Vivid language is used to create images and impressions. The importance given to language and structure is due to the value attached to a work’s ‘style’. In literature, texts may not have a one to one correspondence between the situation it depicts and reality as you know it. To represent a particular situation or world, a literary text might even violate language rules.

15. To make sense of a literary text, the trick is to “suspend disbelief” Common structures in literature and the arts are: Definition Description and example Cause and effect, which may be in the form of a recount (fiction)

16. The Main Idea or Thesis

17. Example: There are several ways for college students to improve their study habits.

18. These are a few ideas of how college students can improve their study: 1. Study in a quiet environment. 2. Pay attention in class. 3. Manage their time well.

19. Thesis Statement (big idea) ^ 3 Topic Sentences explain the thesis statement. Each begins a new paragraph and tells the reader what the paragraph will be about. (smaller reasons) ^ The sentences after the topic sentence in each paragraph explain the topic sentence. (small details that support the smaller reasons)

20. Remember: The thesis is the main idea of your paper written in one sentence at the beginning of your paper. The topic sentences begin each paragraph in the body of the paper and explain why the thesis statement is true. There is only one thesis statement. There is one topic sentence for each body paragraph you write.

21. Read carefully the following paragraphs and either copy or express in your own words the main idea of each paragraph. What is/ are your basis/ bases for your answer?

22. During the period when Mao Tse Tung was chairman of the Communist party that ruled the country, China had to endure food and water shortages because of its very large population. At that time, on the average, four children were being born in each family. Prompted by this urgent problem, the Communist party was forced to control family size in order to stabilize food and water supply and to improve opportunity for family prosperity. Thus, in September 1980, the Communist party declared that each couple should have only one child. The target of the One-Child Policy: by the end of the 20 th century, a population below 1.2 billion. Main Idea: Textual evidence for your answer: