11

Reading and Writing

Skills
Quarter 3
Module 4: Properties of a Well-Written
Text: Organization, and Coherence and
Cohesion

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Reading and Writing Skills
Quarter 3: Module 4: Properties of a Well-Written Text: Organization,
and Coherence and Cohesion

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of the
Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office wherein
the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such agency or office
may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names, trademarks, etc.)
included in this book are owned by their respective copyright holders. Every effort has been exerted
to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their respective copyright owners. The
publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.

Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Rosalle B. Nery

Editor: Jovelyn A. Florence, TIII / Jovelyn A. Florence, TIII

Reviewers: Emma V. Dasco, EPS / Darcy Guy Y. Maňebo, EPS

Illustrator: Rosalle B. Nery

Layout Artist: Rosalle B. Nery

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Reading and Writing - Grade 11

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 I. Introduction

As a student, one of your academic tasks is to read and write, whether

it is a simple essay, a short story, or a research paper, you will be required to
evaluate and compose at least one. Have you found yourself sitting in a
corner of your room asking yourself how will you create a well-written text and
how will you evaluate a certain text? In this lesson, you will learn how to
evaluate and compose a well-written text.

II. Objectives
Quarter 3 – Module 4: Properties of a Well-Written Text: Organization, and Coherence and
Cohesion
At the end of the lesson you are expected to:
a) Identify the properties of a well-written text (EN11/12RWS-IIIgh-4)
b) Revise faulty and weak paragraph
c) Evaluate text based on its organization (EN11/12RWS-IIIgh-4.1); and
coherence and cohesion (EN11/12RWS-IIIgh-4.2); and
d) Express the importance of knowing the properties of a well-written text.

III. Vocabulary List

e) Concept- the main idea or topic of a text.

f) Coherence- the connection of ideas to the central concept of the text.
g) Cohesion- the smooth flow or transition of ideas in the text.
h) Logical- all the ideas in the text are sensible to the meaning of the text and
are connected to one another.
i) Structure- the introduction, body ,and conclusion of the text.
j) Transitional words- word or phrases that use for the smooth flow of ideas in
the text.

REMINDER:
All activities in this module should be done in your workbook.
DO NOT WRITE ON THIS MODULE.

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 III. Pre-Test
____I suppose I might call you Dear Mr. Girl-Hater.
____Besides, being rich is such a very external quality.
____So I've decided to call you Dear Daddy-Long-Legs. I hope you won't
mind.
Before we start the lesson, let's find out how well you are in organizing and
____Maybe you won't stay rich all your life; lots of very clever men get
connecting your ideas into composition. Below are a randomly arranged sentences
smashed up in Wall Street.
from Webster’s Daddy Long Legs. Try to arrange them using the numbers 1 to 7 to
____Only that's rather insulting to me. Or Dear Mr. Rich-Man, but that's
form a logical and coherent paragraph. Write your answer in your workbook.
insulting to you, as though money were the only important thing about
you.
____It's just a private pet name we won't tell Mrs. Lippett.
____But at least you will stay tall all your life!

Follow-up questions:
1. How did you arrange the paragraph? Is there any word determiner that gives you hint on
how to arrange the paragraph?

2. Reading it the way it was originally arranged; does it make sense? Why or why not?

Good job in arranging the text!

We want our composition to not only be free of grammatical errors with
proper word choice, but we also wanted it to be focus and logically
arrange.

V. Learning Activities

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 In the previous module, you have learned that there are four common
properties that every well-written text should have, namely:

Language Use (choice of words)

Mechanics (capitalization, punctuation, spelling, grammar, etc.)
Organization (clear and logical pattern)
Coherence and cohesion (connection of ideas)

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 You have also learned how to evaluate a written text based on
its language use and mechanics.
In this module, we are going to continue our lesson about this
four properties, covering the last two properties of a well-written text.

Learning Activity 1: Organize your Thought

Read the two paragraphs below and answer the guided questions in your workbook.

Paragraph 1

Thomas Edison was simply the one who created the first commercially viable light bulb.
It is widely believed that he invented the light bulb. What made Edison’s light bulb
successful was his use of carbonized bamboo as the filament. This made the bulb last
longer and it was cheap enough to be available for the masses. He only improved on
previous works of inventors who also worked on the same project. (Barrot, 2016)

Paragraph 2

Although it is widely believed that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb,
in reality he was simply the one who created the first commercially viable light
bulb. Along with his team, Edison improved the previous works of inventors who
also worked on the same project. Compared to previous versions, what made his
light bulb successful was his use of carbonized bamboo as the filament. This
made the bulb last longer and it was cheap enough to be available for the
masses (Barrot, 2016).

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Guided Questions:

1. Which paragraph is physically appealing to the eye? Why?

2. Which paragraph do you think was able to effectively deliver its message? Why?

3. Which paragraph was confusing? Why do you think so?

ORGANIZATION

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 If your answer in question number 3 is Paragraph 1, then
congratulations! You have just determine the difference between
a text with and without organization.

In the first activity, both texts have a proper language use and
mechanics, yet, without organization, the message will be hard to
understand, just like in the Text number 1.

But, what do we mean by text organization and how can we achieve it?

Text organization refers to the way a text is organized that

helps to guide the reader logically through it. This property makes
a text readable and its message clear. It is achieved when ideas
are logically and accurately arranged.

Organization can be achieved through the following techniques:

Physical format is an aspect of text organization that is immediately apparent to the

readers. It is seen in how the text physically appears like headings and subheadings, bullet
points or font emphasis (bold, italics, colored, etc.).
 Example:

1. Physical Format

(See images sources in references)

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 The first example shows how physical format appears in formal writings like essays
or research, while the rest shows how physical format plays in different posters or
advertisements. The physical format makes your written text appealing to your readers.
Make sure that when you’re writing, specifically for academic purposes, that you
know the prescribed format (e.g. font styles, margins, paper size). Below are examples of
improper physical format.

Example:

Source: Sassyfitnesschick"The Modern Day Snake Oil",The Modern Day Snake Oil, April 19, 2017,
https://sassyfitnesschick.com/2017/04/19/the-modern-day-snake-oil
Bev Matthews,Transforming Perceptions of Learning Disability Nursing, Apr 14, 2019,
https://www.slideshare.net/BevMatthews/transforming-perceptions-of-learning-disability-nursing

TRY THIS!

Why do you think that the examples above are considered to have improper
physical format?

Signal words, better known as transitional words, are textual cues that readers can
use to follow a text. They can “signal” the transition from one point to another, the ordering of
events and concepts, or the writer’s chosen text type (e.g., linear narration, question and
2. Signal Word
answer).
Below are some example of signal words (transitional word) and how to use them.
Use Signal/ Transitional Words Example
Agreement/ In addition, again, and, also, Computers perform difficult and
Addition/Similarity moreover, likewise, not only… timesaving mathematical
but also,of course, furthermore computations, as well as
problems in logic and reasoning.

Use Example

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 Opposition/ In contrast, different from, in Despite the health risk, many
Limitation/ soite of, after all, but, unlike, Filipinos choose to work than to
Contradiction yet, while, instead, despite, stay at home.
however, rather, nevertheless,
whereas
Cause/ Condition/ as long as, unless, when, Face to face learning will be
Purpose whenever, in the event that, allowed in the event that the
provided that, due to, given vaccine for COVID-19 is
that, because of available.
Examples/ Support/ In other words, truly, indeed, Truly, Japanese cuisines like
Emphasis including, surprisingly, to tempura, ramen, and sushi,
repeat, to clarify, to explain, including their wasabi dishes,
surely, for this reason, that is to are very well accepted by
say, including, like Filipino palate.
Effect/ As a result, in that case, for, Atherosclerosis is the result of
Consequence/ thus, then, hence, the buildup of fat, fibrin, parts of
Result consequently, therefore, dead cells, and calcium on the
thereupon, accordingly. inside of the arteries. No one
henceforth knows what causes this
disease, but a number of things
can speed its development.
Conclusion/ As can be seen, generally Generally speaking, signal
Summary/ speaking, in the final analysis, words are use to give hint to the
Restatement all things considered, in brief, readers of what is about to
all in all, in fact, overall, after all, happen in the tex.
on balance, to summarize

TRY THIS!

Fill in the blank with appropriate signal/ transitional word.

For seven years I never left the country. And, _____, that all my life she
held a document over me, the IOU for thirty thousand roubles, _____if I were to
elect to be restive about anything I should be trapped at once! _____ she would
have done it!
-Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky (1914)

You are 3. already

Structurefamiliar that any written text should have an introduction, body, and
conclusion, right? Still, putting ideas in the right part is a challenge
In the next page, you will be given tips on how have an organize structure.

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Tips for an Organize Structure
✔ Introduction-- Your introduction should have your thesis statement (your
standpoint or argument). It should also give a brief background regarding your topic.
The goal is to make sure your reader will be hooked in reading your entire essay or
research.

✔ Body- This is where you're going to state your supporting details regarding your
topic. It should be well-organized from the least important to the most important
supporting details (or evidence).

✔ Conclusion- This may have a summary of your main point, a restatement of your
thesis statement, a final message, or a challenge to your reader.

Example

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Source: https://slideplayer.com/slide/5696098/

Learning Activity 2: Coherence and Cohesion

General Tips for Organization:
Makes text easy to read
Prevents the reader from becoming confused by a jumble of words, sentences,
and paragraphs that are in no particular order
Can be achieved through physical format, signal words, and structure

Great! You are done with the third properties of a well-written

text. Now it’s time to hit the final property!

Examine the two versions of the same text below and answer the guided questions.

Version 1

For me, the worst thing about waiting tables is the uniform. All the waitress has to wear
this ugly brown striped jumper. The shirts were polyester. Sometimes someone you
know comes in. Now, I have a job in an office (Jose and Larioque, 2016).

Version 2

For me, the worst thing about waiting tables is the uniform. At the last place I worked,
all the waitresses have to wear an ugly brown striped jumper. Underneath it we had
to wear an even uglier polyester shirt. Sometimes someone I knew would come in
and I’d feel embarrassed by my outfit. Now I have a job in an office, where I can wear
my own clothes (Jose and Larioque, 2016).

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Guided Questions:

1. After reading the Version 1, what message did you get from the text? What is it
talking about?

2. Is the message of the version one clear and precise to the reader? Why or why not?

3. After reading the Version 2, did the your interpretation to the text changes? Why?

4. What do you think makes the Version 2 better than Version 1?

COHERENCE AND COHESION

Coherence and cohesion make your text easier for your

readers to follow and understand. Both should be present in your
text because having one without the other will still create
confusion for readers. Coherence and cohesion are achieved
when ideas are logically, clearly, and smoothly linked to one
another; without it, the reader may not be able to comprehend
your composition.

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 But what IS the difference between these two and how are they
connected?

Coherence occurs when ideas are connected at the conceptual

or idea level. It can be seen through well-defended arguments
and organized points.

Cohesion is the connection of ideas at the sentence level. It can

be readily seen in a text through the smooth flow of the sentences
and the connection of the ideas.

1. The use of pronouns to refrain from using a specific word repeatedly.

Don’t Do
Ricky is a father of four. Ricky has three Ricky is a father of four. He has three sons
sons and one daughter. and one daughter.
I have a dog named Puti. Puti is a very I have a dog named Puti. It is a very active
active dog, so I make sure that Puti eats dog, so I make sure that it eats only
only nutritious food. nutritious food.

2. The use of transitional devices to connect sentences with linked ideas. (See page 6)
Don’t Do
Chicken adobo is my favourite dish. I want Cohesion
Chicken adobo is my favourite dish, but I Techniques
chicken curry today. want chicken curry today.

3. Employs a repetition of keywords to tie up the paragraphs subtly.

Example
“…But what have we done to promote the art of thinking? Certainly we make no
room for thought in our daily lives. Suppose a man were to say to his friends, "I'm not going
to PTA tonight (or choir practice or the baseball game) because I need some time to myself,
some time to think"? Such a man would be shunned by his neighbors; his family would be
ashamed of him. What if a teenager were to say, "I'm not going to the dance tonight
because I need some time to think"?…”

(Carolyn Kane, from "Thinking: A Neglected Art." Newsweek, December 14, 1981)

Text without Coherence & Cohesion

In 1935, Earhart set seven women’s speed and distance aviation through
different aircrafts. She disappeared in 1937 while attempting to fly around the world. On
board her plane was her only crew member, Fred Noonan. Extensive search efforts
were not able to find a trace of both aviators.

15
 Text with Coherence & Cohesion

Amelia Earhart was a legendary woman who made her name in aviation by
setting various records. In 1928, she became famous as the first woman who flew
across the Atlantic Ocean. However, during this trip she was only a passenger, with
pilot Wilmer Stultz and co-pilot/mechanic Louis Gordon manning the controls. In 1932,
she finally got to fly on her own over the Atlantic. She set another record when she
flew from Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California in 1935, thus becoming the first
person to fly over both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Between 1930 and 1935,
Earhart set seven women’s speed and distance aviation through different aircrafts.

STILL CONFUSED?

Check these key points regarding coherence and cohesion.

Coherence Cohesion
Coherence is the connection of ideas to Cohesion is the relationship of ideas
the central concept of a text. between sentences.
A text with coherence without cohesion is A text with coherence without cohesion
difficult to follow. has no definite point.

Example: Example:

Cubism is an avant-garde art movement My favorite painting is “The Weeping

that started in the early 20th century in Woman” by Pablo Picasso, which is an
Europe. A famous Filipino cubist painter is intriguing painting that symbolizes
Vicente Manansala. He is a National Artist suffering. As a result, I love bright primary
of the Philippines in Visual Arts. Did you colors, so I wear a lot of shocking yellows,
know that visual arts have different forms blues, and reds. Also, as an outgoing
including architecture, video, and textile? person, I enjoy performing for large
crowds. In the end, people should not
judge an artist’s talent based on one
standard.

Explanation: Explanation:

The ideas in the text revolves around art, The text has smooth flow but the ideas are
but the ideas are connected is confusing. not connected.

With both coherence and cohesion, the text will be logically sequenced & stays on topic

Good Job!! You’re done with the

properties of a well-written text!
16
It's time to check what you have
learned from this module.
 Language Use 
Language Use 

Mechanics
Mechanics

 Organization
Organization

 Coherence and Cohesion

Coherence and Cohesion

VI. Practice Tasks

Practice Task 1: Check It

Below is an excerpt from Osamu Dazai’s No Longer Human (1958). Write tje the right
word in your workbook that will make the passage logically organized and flows smoothly.

(1. While/ Indeed/ Then), the more carefully you examine the child's smiling face the
more you feel an indescribable, unspeakable horror creeping over you. You see that it is
actually not a (2. laughting/ weeping/ smiling) face at all. The boy has not a suggestion of
a smile. Look at (3. the boy’s/ his/ it’s) tightly clenched fists if you want proof. No human
being can smile with his fists doubled like that. It is a monkey. A grinning (4. monkey-face/
cat-face/ lion-face). The smile is nothing more than a puckering of ugly wrinkles. The
photograph reproduces an expression so freakish, (5. and/ but/ while) at the same time so
unclean and even nauseating, that your impulse is to say, "What a wizened, hideous little
boy!" I have never seen a (6. man/ child/ baby) with such an unaccountable expression.
The face in the second snapshot is startlingly unlike the first.

Practice 2: Evaluate It

Read the paragraph below and answer the following questions in your
workbook.

It is a fact that capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime. Statistics show that in
states with capital punishment, murder rates are the same or almost the same as in states
without capital punishment. It is more expensive to put a person on death row than in life
imprisonment because of the cost of maximum security. Capital punishment has been used
unjustly. Statistics show that every execution is of a man and that nine out of ten are black.
So prejudice shows right through (Jose and Larioque, 2016).

Guided questions:

1. Is the main idea of the text evident to the readers? Why and why not?

2. Does it have a logical organization? Justify your answer.

4. Do the ideas in the text cohesive and coherent? Explain.

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5. How will you improve this paragraph?

Practice 3: Do It!

Based on your answer in the guided questions, try to write an improved version of the
paragraph. Make sure that it has proper organization, and coherence and cohesion.

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 VII. Post Test

Direction: Write the letter of the correct answer in your Module Notebook..
____1. Which sentence BEST explain coherence and cohesion?
a) Coherence and cohesion make the text focus and flow smoothly.
b) Coherence makes the sentences logically connected while cohesion makes the
sentence united.
c) Cohesion makes the text focus on one concept while coherence makes the text easy
to read.
d) Without coherence and cohesion, the text will not have a proper structure.

____2. Which is of the following has proper cohesion?

a) I read the monthly salary report. Indeed, the weather is fine today.
b) I will attend the party if you will lend me a dress to wear.
c) Rita wants to be a designer. Rita loves to draw gowns, as a result, her notebooks are
full sketches.
d) That boy is the son of a farmer, however, he is very hardworking.

____3. Which of the following does not have coherence?

a) I read the monthly salary report. Indeed, the weather is fine today.
b) I will attend the party if you will lend me a dress to wear.
c) Rita wants to be a designer. Rita loves to draw gowns, as a result, her notebooks are
full sketches.
d) That boy is the son of a farmer, however, he is very hardworking

____4. Choose which statement is logical to the statement below.

Knowing the properties of well-written text helps the writer to effectively communicate
the message of their text to the readers.____________.
a) A lot of us, do not know these properties.
b) Organization is the most challenging of all.
c) Therefore, we should know the characteristics of each property.
d) All of the above.

____5. Which of the following has a proper organization?

a) I am a Filipino, so I love music. Music is an art. All Filipinos love music.
b) I was disappointed by the movie. It is too cliché. I wasted my money buying the
movie ticket. The chair is not comfortable. I won’t come to this theater again.
c) Some days my dad doesn’t make it home from work until after I’m bed. Some weeks
my dad travels, and I don’t see him for several days.
d) All of the above.
Read and evaluate the text below in terms of its organization, and coherence and
cohesion. Answer the guided questions. Write your answers in a separate sheet of paper.

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 VIII. Assignment/Additional Activities

Choose one topic in the next page. Write an essay with at least 3 paragraphs about it. Make
sure that your essay has proper language use, mechanics, organization, and coherence and
cohesion. Refer to the rubrics below.

1. Effects of Covid-19 in the life of every Filipino

2. Life during Enhance Community Quarantine
3. Being a student in times of Covid-19
(You may choose a different topic, but make sure that you've got your teachers' approval.)

Rubrics
Score Language Use Mechanics Organization Coherence and
(25%) (25%) (25%) Cohesion
(25%)
5 Content has Content has Ideas are Ideas are
proper language proper mechanics. logically and logically,
use. accurately clearly, and
arranged. smoothly linked
to one another.

4 There are few There are few Few ideas Few of the
errors in grammatical errors presented are ideas presented
language use but the clarity of organized smoothly linked
but the message the ideas is still logically. to one another.
is there. established.
2 There are There are several The idea was Lack of ideas.
several errors in grammatical there but Some points
language use. errors. Thoughts organized. introduced are
are vague. inconsistent.
1 Inappropriate Limited Ideas are No connection
language use. vocabulary; errors unrelated to to the topic.
impair one another.
communication.

IX. Answer Key

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Pre-Test
 
__1__I suppose I might call you Dear Mr. Girl-Hater.
__3__Besides, being rich is such a very external quality.
__6__So I've decided to call you Dear Daddy-Long-Legs. I hope you won't mind.
__4__Maybe you won't stay rich all your life; lots of very clever men get smashed up in Wall
Street.
__2__Only that's rather insulting to me. Or Dear Mr. Rich-Man, but that's insulting to you, as
though money were the only important thing about you.
__7__It's just a private pet name we won't tell Mrs. Lippett.
__5__But at least you will stay tall all your life!

Learning Activity 1
1. The paragraph that is physically appealing to the eye was the Paragraph 2. Paragraph 2
used standard format. Whereas the Paragraph 1 did the opposite by making the paragraph
all in italics and in right alignment, at the very least, it should have been written in right
alignment. Considering all this factors, Paragraph 2 is more likely to be read by the readers
because it has proper structure.

2. Paragraph number 2 delivered its message effectively. It has clear structure and well-
organized ideas. Every sentence contributes to the development of the paragraph.

3. Paragraph number 1 does not have a clear development and the ideas were not logically
organized, making it hard to follow.

Learning Activity 2
1. In the first few sentence, the speaker is talking about the waitresses’ outfit and how it was
“ugly” and embarrassing for her to wear it, but everything seems that she had said went to
waste when she suddenly said that she now working in an office, which is a little weird since
just a few sentence ago, she’s talking as if she’s still working as a waitress.

2. The message is somewhat clear but lacks proper transition and the ideas are not
connected properly.

3. Yes. It is now clear that the speaker is talking about her previous job as a waitress and
how she felt about the uniforms and that she was glad that she can now wear her own
clothes in her new office job. All of this because the speaker used signal words or
transitional words that will make the ideas of its sentence flows logically and smoothly.

4.Version 2 is much better than the Version 1 because the ideas in its paragraph is much
more intact, focus, and logical. It is easy to read because it has coherence and cohesion.

Practice Task 1
1. Indeed

21
2.smiling
3. his
4. monkey-face
5. and
6. child
 
Post-Test
1. a
2. b
3. c
4. b
5. c

References
Barrot, J. (2016).Principle of Effective Writing. Academic Reading and Writing (for Senior High
School) (104-110). C & E Publishing Inc.

Grammar & Composition Handbook (2016). McGraw-Hill Education.

Jose, L., and Larioque, R. (2016). Properties of a Well-Written Text. Reading and Writing Skills (for
Senior High School) (pp. 13-22). Mandaluyong City, Manila: Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.

  Properties of a Well-Written Text. Retrieved 19 June 2020, from

https://www.slideshare.net/aliciamargaretjavelosa/properties-of-a-wellwritten-text-
reading-and-writing?from_action=save
 
Images
Curwen Press, "Poster Summer Exbition 1943",Royal Academy of Arts,
https://shop.royalacademy.org.uk/reproductions/all-prints-posters/poster-summer-exhibition-1943

https://hbicambodia.com/category/how-write-a-paragraph/

Naty Lee, travel traditional singapore paragraph design template message information culture aec area,
Free Royalty

"Protect Kids not Guns", Ladfingers Letterpress, 2020,https://ladyfingersletterpress.com/products/copy-of-

respect-my-existence-or-expect-my-resistance-poster-set-of-15

Sassyfitnesschick"The Modern Day Snake Oil",The Modern Day Snake Oil, pril 19, 2017,
https://sassyfitnesschick.com/2017/04/19/the-modern-day-snake-oil/

Bev Matthews,Transforming Perceptions of Learning Disability Nursing, Apr 14, 2019,

https://www.slideshare.net/BevMatthews/transforming-perceptions-of-learning-
disability-nursing

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