Describes the features and functions of different types of texts and shows how to incorporate them into language teaching. Examines what makes spoken and written text coherent and shows how an understanding of this can help students with work, study and exam language needs. Also provides practical activities for use in the classroom.

How do we design sentences to fit their purposes and how do we combine them to communicate complex, contextualsed meanings? In this witty and incisive book, Scott Thornbury takes discourse apart to show how it is organised and how it aids communication. Starting with an examination of genre, he goes on to look at how we structure written and spoken text and how we use these structures in comprehending meaning. Scott shows how insights into discourse can – and should – affect our work as language teachers. The idea that we need to help students work ‘at the level of text’ as well as make correct sentences is not a new one. But here you will find suggestions – backed up by practical, fun activities – for how you can achieve this in your classroom.