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Now to check your understanding of ‘discourse’ do the following exercises.

Ex. 1.              Fill in the blanks with appropriate words

                        A discourse is a linguistic unit and it is longer than a sentence.

1.                 A discourse is always centred around a ________ (theme).

2.                 All the sentences in a discourse are _____ logically arranged.

3.                 _____ cohesive devices make a text coherent .

4.                 ______ discourse markers help us understand how sentences are interrelated in a text.

Ex. 2.              Read the following texts.  Point out whether they are isolated sentences or well-structured paragraphs.  Try to justify your answers.

1.                 This book is designed to develop language and communication skills in the computer in the computer context.  Some of the unique features of this book are:-

Themes presented in the computer context reading passages drawn from authentic sources.

2.                 A school which employs innovative teaching for farmers’ children is rare indeed and that’s why Raghunandan High School is the pride of Samastipur District.  Ever since its inception, the school has produced 100 per cent results and has produced engineers, teachers and government officers.

3.                 Yesterday I met Nisha.  I am jobless.  Hari was my classmate.  I don’t play cricket.  Okay see you tomorrow.

Ex.3.               Try to find out the field of discourse from the sentences given below

1.                 Now boys open your book on page seven.

2.                 Take red tablets in the morning and yellow ones in the afternoon.  See me after three days.

3.                 Two Delhi return second class A.C.

4.                 Today we have with us a very distinguished guest.

5.                 Sachin has hit one more century and the audience is giving him standing ovation.

Ex.4.               Read the following discourse.  Explain the function of underlined discourse markers :-

First of all, it is important to understand why people commit crimes, in other words, what are the motives which make people do things they would never normally do?  For example, a young man steals clothes from a shop; is it because he is unemployed?  A drug addict ?  Mentally disturbed ?  Next, it is essential to consider whether punishment makes any difference, or is it just, as it were, a kind of revenge?  Lastly how can we help victims of crime?  In summary, how can we get to the roots of the problem, rather than just attacking the symptoms?

References

1.                  Quirk R. Greenbaum S. and Leech G. (1979) A Grammar of contemporary English 1^st e.d. Longman group    

                     limited, London.

2.                  McCarthy M. and O’Dell F. (1994) Foundation Books, New Delhi.

                           Swan Michael (1996) Practical English Usage : 2^nd e.d OUP, Oxford.

H M Patel Institute of English Training & Research, Vallabh Vidyanagar - 388120, Gujarat, India

Phone : 091-2692-230193, 091-2692-230079