Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Language

Understanding Text Types

Narrative Texts

Stories of real or imaginary events, featuring characters in space and time.

Descriptive Texts

Presents people, objects, etc., with all their details and features.

Directive Texts

Reports clearly, objectively, and accurately in order to guide the performance of an activity.

Predictive Texts

Announces what will happen in the future.

Expository Texts

Provides information organized logically and hierarchically on any topic.

Argumentative Texts

Exposes a series of reasoned arguments to convince the receiver on a topic or opinion.

Discourse Genres and Text Type Examples

Narrative Discourse Genres

Literature:

• Novel
• Tale
• Mythological narrative
• Legend
• Epic
• Romance
• Comic
• Movie script

Journalism:

• Chronicle
• Sports reportage
• News

History:

• Chronicle

Professional:

Reflexive Pronouns (Me, Te, Se, Nos, Os, Se)

A. With Function (Direct Object / Indirect Object)

• Reflexive: The action reflects back on the subject. Example: "They wash themselves" - Direct Object
• Interactive: The action is performed reciprocally between subjects. Example: "They kiss each other" - Direct Object
• Allomorph of "you": Another form of "you" when a direct object pronoun is already present. Example: "He said to me" - "I" (Indirect Object) - Direct Object
• Ethical Dative: Emphasizes the sentence; can be removed. It functions as an Indirect Object. Example: "You eat three meals." "Three-course meal" - Indirect Object

B. Without a Grammatical Function (Accompanying the Verb)

• Subject Override (3rd person singular): Example: "One lives well in

Written Communication Characteristics

Adequacy

Ensure your writing is well-presented, respects spelling conventions, uses simple language, and is concise.

Consistency

Be clear and organized, highlighting the main idea(s). Use a single paragraph to develop each idea.

Cohesion

Connect sentences within each paragraph to maintain clarity and prevent information loss.

Steps to Develop a Written Document

1. Analyze the situation
2. Generate ideas
3. Select information
4. Organize content
5. Write the text
6. Review the letter
7. Revise the text

Letterhead

The letterhead of a letter identifies the sender (individual, company, or corporation). Stationery with a pre-printed letterhead is called letterhead stationery.

Written Communication Skills

These are practical rules that facilitate... Continue reading "Effective Written Communication: Key Principles and Document Types" »

Media and its Functions

Media refers to systems through which information is transmitted. Their primary functions are to inform and entertain. They also shape opinions.

Adjectives

Adjectives describe circumstances, properties, or states. They clarify and limit the extension of a noun.

• Possessive Adjectives: These words express ownership, e.g., mine, yours.
• Demonstrative Adjectives: These are used to point out something, adding a notional element, e.g., this, that.
• Indefinite Adjectives: These words refer vaguely to quantity, e.g., some, any.

Role of the Press

• Reporting: The primary function of journalism is to inform readers objectively and truthfully.
• Opinion: The second function is to express opinions and contribute to forming the reader's opinion.

Narrative in Literary Stories

The narrative recounts events in a time sequence. Literary stories, whether realistic or fantastic, aim for artistic expression. Nonfiction stories, on the other hand, inform. A literary story is an imaginary tale designed for aesthetic enjoyment.

Elements of a Narrative

• Narrator:
  • Third-person omniscient
  • First-person protagonist and witness
• Events: History
• Space-time
• Characters
• Atmosphere
• Order:
  • Hindsight
  • Linear narrative development, outcome
  • Enter and Nudom: Anticipation, beginning, middle, and end
  • Counterpoint: various stories mixed

Account Information in News Reports

News reports contain a title, summary, and sometimes a subtitle with details.

Report Body

The report describes or recounts events. Distinguish between the entry... Continue reading "Understanding Narrative, Description, and Argument in Literary Texts" »

Topic and Summary

Topic: Briefly state the central theme of the article, focusing on its subtopics.

Summary: Provide a concise overview of the article's main points using simple, non-compound sentences. Avoid directly copying phrases from the text.

Organizational Structure

Paragraphs and Connectors: Analyze the use of paragraphs and connectors. Determine whether the paragraphs are short or long. Identify the introduction, development (with supporting arguments), and conclusion (if present). Note whether the thesis is explicitly stated or implied.

Arguments: Identify the types of arguments used, such as authority, modeling, general knowledge, personal experience, or statistical evidence.

Structure: Determine if the structure is deductive (thesis at... Continue reading "Analyzing Newspaper Articles: A Comprehensive Breakdown" »

Fitness: Textual Analysis for Optimal Communication

Intelligibility

Understandability: The text must be easily understood by the intended audience.

Theme and Purpose: Clearly define the subject matter, whether specialized or general. Determine the communicative purpose, such as to inform, explain, or persuade.

Channel: Consider the medium of communication, whether spoken or written. Spoken language allows for ellipsis, while writing requires explicit situational context.

Degree of Formality: Choose the appropriate level of formality and form of address (e.g., you, formal you).

Field of Communication: Utilize the conventions of the specific textual genre.

Coherence

Amount of Information: The text should contain only the necessary information, avoiding... Continue reading "Achieving Optimal Fitness: A Comprehensive Textual Analysis" »

Key Points and Literary Works

1. The War of the Worlds by Bryan Haskin: This story illustrates how a radio broadcast, intended as a joke, caused widespread panic. It claimed that Martians were invading Earth, leading to injuries and suicides. This highlights the significant influence of media on social and everyday life.
2. Pseudonyms and Nicknames: The frequent use of pseudonyms, aliases, and nicknames in literature and media.
3. Inclination: This refers to a thematic preference, similar to a recurring motif.
4. Belisa Crepusculario by Isabel Allende: This story features a woman who sells words at varying prices. She utilizes a form of oral communication and even composes love letters, showcasing the power of language.
5. The Things Seen by Jorge Teillier: This

The Expansion of Information

A) Expansion of Information Resources

• Apposition

  An apposition is a word or phrase that is positioned immediately after another and that serves to explain something because of consequence (explanatory apposition) or to add information that differentiates and specifies (specifying apposition). Example: "Water, the vital element, had a strong presence in that garden."

• The Example

  The example serves to define or specify a general statement. Example: "My neighbor is a consumer; for example, his greatest happiness is walking through the malls on weekends in order to buy pleasure."

• Sentences with Adjectives and Explanatory Specifications

  Examples: "The students, who study, will pass" and "The students studying will pass."

• Paraphrases

Linguistic Variation

Linguistic variation can be categorized into several types:

• Diatopic Variation: This refers to variations between different geographical areas where the language is spoken. For example, differences between Castilian Spanish and Andalusian Spanish.
• Diastratic Variation: These variations are associated with different social strata and give rise to sociolects.
  • Sociolects are determined by social, educational, and cultural factors. These factors lead to different language levels:
    1. Cultivated: This is a highly elaborate code, characterized by fluent writing, correct syntax, and abundant, appropriate terminology.
    2. Vulgar: This level is marked by the speaker's difficulty, or even failure, in producing certain types of messages and