textDesc (Content Description)

textDesc is composed of eight (8) child elements:

• channel: describes the means by which the content was conveyed. Within the Scissors and Paste database, the value for its own attribute, mode, is always w for written

• constitution: It has one attribute, type, with the following values:

• derivation: It has one attribute, type, with the following values:

• domain: It has one attribute, type, with the following values:

• factuality: It has one attribute, type, with the following values:

• interaction: It has the following attributes with the following values:

  • type:
    • none: no interaction of any kind, e.g. a monologue
    • partial: some degree of interaction, e.g. a monologue with set responses
    • complete: complete interaction, e.g. a face to face conversation
    • inapplicable: this parameter is inappropriate or inapplicable in this case
  • active:
    • singular: a single addressor
    • plural: many addressors
    • corporate: a corporate addressor
    • unknown: number of addressors unknown or unspecifiable
  • passive:
    • single: text is addressed to one other person (a personal letter)
    • many: text is addressed to a countable number of others (speech or letter to small group)
    • group: text is addressed to an undefined but fixed number of participants (lecture, major speech)
    • world: text is addressed to an undefined and indeterminately large number (publication)

• preparedness: It has one attribute, type, with the following values:

  • formulaic: follows a predefined set of conventions, such as an advertisement or poetic convention
  • revised: polished or revised before presentation. This is the primary mode used in the Scissors and Paste Database

• purpose: described the purpose of the text for the editor that included it, rather than its original purpose. It has one attribute, type, with the following values:

  • inform: primarily to provide factual information or details
  • persuade: primarily a commentary or argument
  • entertain: primarily meant to amuse, shock, titillate or arose general pathos
  • express: primarily a means of self-expression or creativity, such as a poem or work of reflective commentary