Contextualization

Intentionality is a fundamental concept in the interpretation of texts and in the creation of coherent and cohesive narratives. Basically, it refers to the author's ability to construct meanings through language, which includes creating logical and meaningful connections between the parts of a text.

Intentionality is not only about the author's intention to convey a specific idea, but also about how the author structures their text so that this idea is understood by the reader. This implies a deep knowledge of grammar rules, textual structure, vocabulary, and style - each of these elements contributes to the expression of intentionality in a text.

Perhaps one of the most evident ways to demonstrate intentionality is through the use of cohesion and coherence in a text. Cohesion refers to the connection and harmony between the parts of a text, while coherence concerns the logic and clarity of the thought expressed in that text. Together, they help guide the reader through the text, making the ideas connect in a way that makes sense.

Our daily life is full of examples of intentionality in action. Whenever we read a news article, a novel, a poem, or any other form of text, we are interacting with the author's intentionality. Similarly, whenever we produce our own texts - whether it's a school essay, a blog post, or a simple message to a friend - we are expressing our own intentionality.

The ability to understand and express intentionality is a valuable skill not only for reading and writing, but also for effective communication in general. In an increasingly globalized society, where communication takes many forms and crosses many boundaries, the ability to clearly express our ideas and understand those of others is more important than ever.

The following resources are recommended for a deeper understanding of the topic:

• "Textual coherence" by Maria Helena Mira Mateus and Ana Maria Martins (https://www.esepf.pt/ficheiropolis/sites/default/files/aulas/15-16/pt/A%20COERENCIA%20TEXTUAL.pdf).
• "Textual cohesion - the art of textual continuity" by Francisco Schemer (https://www.infoescola.com/portugues/coesao-textual/).
• "Textual cohesion and coherence: Understand once and for all" by Imaginie's Blog (https://www.imaginie.com.br/coesao-e-coerencia-textual/).

Practical Activity

Activity Title: The Web of Intentionality

Project Objectives:

The objective of this project is to apply the concept of intentionality to analyze and create texts, demonstrating the use of coherence and cohesion strategies in the practice of writing. Additionally, the project aims to develop teamwork, research, time management, and critical thinking skills.

Detailed Project Description:

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 participants. They will deeply explore the theme of intentionality, applying this knowledge to produce a multidisciplinary academic work involving the subjects of Portuguese and Literature.

This project will be divided into the following steps:

1. Research and Theoretical Discussions: Students should conduct extensive theoretical research on the concept of intentionality, coherence, and cohesion. They should seek different sources of information such as books, articles, reliable websites, and videos to deepen their knowledge. After the research, the group should organize discussions to share what they have learned and prepare for the next steps.

2. Literary Analysis: Each group should choose a literary work (it can be a poem, a short story, or a novel) and analyze the author's intentionality. They should point out the coherence and cohesion strategies used and demonstrate how the author maintains the harmony of the text.

3. Creation of New Texts: After the analysis, each group should create three new texts: a poem, a short story, and an essay, each with its own intentions. They should demonstrate the use of coherence and cohesion in each text and discuss the intentionality behind their own works.

4. Presentation and Discussion: Finally, each group will present the results of their work to the class, discussing their processes, difficulties, discoveries, as well as the content of their work.

Necessary Materials:

• Computers with internet access for research
• Selected books and texts for analysis
• Paper and pen, or word processor for the production of new texts.

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution:

1. Group Formation: The teacher should divide the class into groups of 3 to 5 students. Once the groups are formed, they should begin the theoretical research on the concept of intentionality and the strategies of coherence and cohesion.

2. Research and Theoretical Discussions: Each group will conduct in-depth research on the concept of intentionality to fully understand the concept and its application. Then, the groups will organize internal discussions to share what they have learned.

3. Literary Analysis: Each group will choose a literary work and analyze how the author used coherence and cohesion strategies to express their intentionality. They should document their analyses in a written report.

4. Creation of New Texts: With the acquired knowledge, each group will produce three new texts. They must ensure that the use of coherence and cohesion is present and document the intentionality behind each text.

5. Presentation and Discussion: Each group will make a presentation, displaying their texts, explaining the intentionality behind each one, and discussing their analysis of the chosen literary work.

At the end of the activity, each group should provide the written report containing the following:

1. Introduction: Project contextualization, relevance of intentionality, and project objectives.
2. Development: Detailed explanation of the theory of intentionality and coherence and cohesion strategies, description of the activity carried out, and a presentation and discussion of the results obtained.
3. Conclusion: Summary of the main points of the project, learnings, and conclusions.
4. Bibliography: References of the information sources used.