Beyond the Sentence
Discourse Analysis looks at how whole texts (paragraphs, essays, speeches) work together to create meaning and shape the tone.
policy Changing the Focus
Writers use the Passive Voice to sound objective, formal, or to hide who is responsible.
sync_alt Thematic Progression
To make a text flow naturally, start a sentence with "Given" (old) info, and put "New" info at the end.
account_tree The Glue vs The Flow
Cohesion is the grammatical glue (linking words). Coherence is the logical flow of ideas making sense together.
cancel NOT Coherent (The ideas make no sense!)
Clarity beats Complexity.
Too many cohesive devices destroy the meaning.
Video Lesson
Discourse Analysis đŹ
Watch Teacher Sopheak dissect an academic paragraph. Notice how the grammar choices intentionally manipulate the reader's focus and the overall tone of the text!
Advanced Check ⚡
What is the problem here?
Shift the Blame
Rewrite this in the Passive voice to hide the actor: "The staff lost the important documents."
Given to New
Write a short 2-sentence paragraph. Use the "Given-New" rule by taking the object of sentence 1 and making it the subject of sentence 2.
Coherence Check
Find an English news article online. Underline 3 cohesive devices (linking words) the author used to connect ideas.