Lecture Text: Structure, Definition, Characteristics, Rules, Examples, etc.

Definition of Lecture Text

A lecture text is a text that contains notifications, the delivery of information, both knowledge and other general information to be conveyed in front of the crowd by experts or people who master their fields either directly or through electronic & digital media.

The explanation above is in line with the Ministry of Education and Culture Team (2017, p. 78), which revealed that a lecture is a public conversation that contains the delivery of information, knowledge, and so on.

Lecturers are usually people who master the field of information conveyed. Lectures are meant to be heard by many people. The media can be discussed directly in class or hall. Or through means of communication such as television, radio, internet and other information media.

Learning in schools is mostly delivered through lectures. Likewise, with lectures (higher education), most lecturers will deliver material through the lecture method. Although, today, the learning methods used are usually more varied and not just lectures.

Sometimes a lecture looks or feels like a speech or a sermon; to know the difference, see the explanation below.

Differences Lectures, Speeches & Sermons

Speech is a public conversation that tends to be more persuasive in nature, namely wanting to invite listeners to change their perceptions, attitudes or actions. Speeches can also be used more often to motivate and gain support from their listeners.

Meanwhile, sermons are public talks that contain knowledge about religion and worship practices and invitations to strengthen the faith of the listeners.

Lectures are more general; lectures convey knowledge, information, or certain general issues (covering all fields) and are delivered by experts or experts in their fields.

Lecture Text Structure

Like other texts, lecture texts have a structure that builds this text through several building parts. The parts that build the structure of the lecture text include opening/introduction, content, closing. The following is the structure of the lecture text put forward by the Ministry of Education and Culture Team (2017, p. 92).

1.      Opener (Thesis)

Contains the introduction of issues, problems, knowledge to the lecturer's views on the topic to be discussed. This section is the same as the thesis in the exposition text.

2.      Body (Arrangement of arguments)

In the form of a series of arguments by the speaker related to the topic discussed in the opening or thesis. This section usually also presents various facts and data that strengthen the speaker's arguments.

3.      Closing (Reaffirmation)

It is a reaffirmation of what was conveyed in the lecture. This ensures that the lecture does not give a wrong understanding of what is intended so that the listener remembers it. In addition, so that the lecture is memorable and the listener is influenced to do something, this section is also usually filled with recommendations or suggestions regarding the topic presented.

Lecture Text Language Rules

Lecture texts also have their own linguistic characteristics and characteristics that tend to be different from other texts. Here are some linguistic rules of the lecture text.

1. Many use first-person pronouns (singular) and second person plural pronouns as greetings. The first pronouns, for example, are: I, I, we (on behalf of the group). While the second plural word is: children, audience, fathers, mothers, you, brothers and sisters.
2. Many use technical words or terminology that are relevant to the topic being discussed. For example, if the topic being discussed is language or literature, the terms that appear include: prose, poetry, language ethics, sarcasm, the figure of speech, language politeness.
3. Use words that show cause-and-effect relationships or arguments. Examples are: thus, consequently, therefore, hence, because, because.
4. Many use mental verbs, for example, concern, estimate, amazing, expected, assume, conclude, argue.
5. Using persuasive words, such as: expected, should, should need, should.

In addition to the list above, the lecture text also uses a lot of multilevel compound sentences. An explanation of multilevel compound sentences can be seen in the article below:

Read also: Graded Compound, Equivalent, Dense & Mixed Sentences

Characteristics of Lecture Text

The characteristics of the lecture text are described in the list below.

1. Something is explained or informed to broaden the knowledge of the listeners.
2. Delivered by someone who has expertise or is considered an expert in the field or discipline being lectured.
3. There is an invitation or persuasion to change attitudes or take action on the material being discussed.
4. Contains arguments that support the topic being discussed.
5. Have facts and data that strengthen the arguments in the text.
6. There is two-way or multi-way communication between the speaker and the listener, namely in the form of dialogue, question and answer, video response commentary column (if online), etc.

Steps to Write Lecture Text

According to the Ministry of Education and Culture Team (2017, p. 96), the steps for compiling a lecture text are as follows.

1. Determining the Topic

Determining the topic is, of course, the first thing that must be determined. Of course, sometimes the topic of a lecture can also be obtained by accident, for example, when we read news text and get the news that is hotly discussed. However, the topic must still be determined and processed through the next step, not just taking the latest trends.

Topics taken may include skills, expertise, personal experience, hobbies, lessons, personal opinions, audience interests, biographies of famous figures, etc.

2. Formulate the Purpose of the Lecture

Furthermore, goals are things that must be considered when you have found a topic to be presented. Why do we give lectures? Is it to share knowledge? Inviting listeners to do something? Etc. However, in the broadest sense, the aims of the lecture include:

1. General purpose, which includes: informative lectures, persuasive lectures, recreational lectures (entertainment)
2. Special purpose, which is a detail of the general-purpose, these objectives include the Indonesian language for general purposes of study, how to paint for general purposes of expertise or hobbies, biography of Soekarno for general purposes biographies of figures.

3. Arrange the Lecture Framework

The lecture text framework is a plan that contains the main points of the lecture text structure. Each part of the structure, namely: opening, content, and closing, made the main sentence or main idea first without detailed explanation.

Making a good lecture text outline must pay attention to:

1. Three structures must be created: opening, body, and closing
2. The purpose of the lecture must be clearly stated
3. Make sure each section of the outline has only one main idea
4. The parts of each Framework must be logically arranged
5. Compose a Lecture based on the Framework

4. Compose the Lecture Based on the Framework

After the outline has been completed, then develop each main sentence into paragraphs that are given explanatory sentences, either deductively (main sentence at the beginning of the paragraph) or inductively (main sentence at the end of the paragraph).

At the same time, writing lecture texts must also be accompanied by an appreciation of the materials to be delivered. The method is as follows:

1. Critically review materials
2. Reviewing the appropriateness of the material to the general public or lecture listeners
3. Reviewing the various ingredients that may have pros and cons
4. Arrange systematic lecture text material
5. Mastering lecture material based on logical thinking

Editing Lecture Text

After finishing the lecture, the next step is to edit the text. Editing aims to improve or reduce errors that may occur in a text. Therefore, an editor must at least:

1. Knowing how to write a good text,
2. Really understand the topics that will be discussed in the text, and understand the rules of language, such as spelling and punctuation problems.

Editing activities can be done with the following steps.

1. Constructing, compiling, or writing lecture texts to be edited.
2. Provision of editing guide materials, such as Indonesian Spelling Guidelines (PUEBI) and dictionaries. Both can be found online. In addition, these materials must be adapted to the text to be edited (in this case: lecture text).
3. Pay attention to edited materials carefully, both in terms of the way the content is presented and the rules for writing.
4. Correctly correct errors contained in edited materials by referring to reliable sources (PUEBI and KBBI).

Example of Lecture Text

About Japanese School

Opener

Have you ever been to Japan? Japan is a small developed country in Asia. There's a lot to know about Japan. The people of this country are able to maintain the traditions that develop in their society.

Contents

Japanese children clean their school every day for a quarter of an hour with the teachers. That's what led to the emergence of the Japanese generation that is simple and likes cleanliness.

The students learn to maintain cleanliness because dealing with cleanliness is part of Japanese ethics. From the first year to the sixth year of elementary school, Japanese students must learn ethics in dealing with society.

Cleaning workers in Japan are often referred to as "health engineers" and earn the equivalent of IDR 50 million per month. To recruit them is done through a written test and interview.

Japan does not have abundant natural resources like Indonesia. Earthquakes often hit them, but that doesn't prevent Japan from becoming the second-largest economy in the world. The Japanese people overcome the shortage of natural resources by optimizing other resources, namely human resources.

If you go to a buffet restaurant in Japan, you will see people who only eat as much as they need. That way, there are no leftovers. In addition, from the restaurant, there is no waste whatsoever.

Reaffirmation

Japanese people value time very much. They are always on time. In fact, the rate of train delay in Japan is only about 7 seconds per year. Their culture of appreciating the value of time is so guarded that they are very punctual, with minutes and seconds counting.

Japan values ​​education very much. The community supports the vision of education in Japan. If you ask them, "What does student mean?" Then they will answer that, "Students are the future of Japan".

Example of a Short Lecture Text

The Importance of Polite Language

Opener (introduction)

The choice of words by society lately tends to decrease in politeness compared to when I was a child. This can be seen in the expressions of many people in expressing their opinions and feelings, such as when demonstrating or at public meetings. Their words are harsh (sarcastic), offensive, and of course, it deeply scratches the heart of those who receive them.

Contents (arrangement of arguments)

This phenomenon shows a decline in moral standards, religion, and values ​​that apply in that society. Politeness is also related to people's low appreciation of their culture because politeness in the language is not only related to accuracy in possession of words or sentences. Politeness is also related to the social customs that apply in that society.

Closing (Reaffirmation)

Speaking politely should have become a tradition that everyone has had since childhood. Children need to be nurtured and educated in polite language. If left unchecked, it is not impossible that the sense of politeness will disappear so that the child then becomes an arrogant, rude, and dry person from ethical and religious values. Of course, this condition is not expected by any parents and society.

Example of Lecture Text

An example of a lecture text and its structure with various topics can be seen in the article below:

Read also: Example ofLecture Text and its Structure (Various Topics)