Contextualisation

The Portuguese language is full of nuances and details that make it both magnificent and complex. One of these details is found in the structure of nouns and their determiners, which are key to understanding and constructing a cohesive and coherent text.

Nouns are the words we use to name beings and everything that surrounds us. They are responsible for giving meaning to a subject or object. However, nouns do not act alone. They have their determiners, elements that modify the meaning of the nouns, specifying them or making them indeterminate, and agreeing with them in gender and number.

By understanding nouns and their determiners, we are able to manipulate language in a more effective, detailed, and appropriate way. This helps in expressing ideas and feelings, and improving text communication and understanding.

The importance of understanding nouns and their determiners goes beyond the grammatical and academic aspects. They are intrinsic to our daily lives, in every conversation, text, and speech that we produce or interpret. Understanding this dynamic is essential for communicating clearly and precisely.

Furthermore, the knowledge of nouns and their determiners opens the doors to critical and interpretative analysis of texts. From a close look at the way nouns are used and the determiners that accompany them, we can extract deeper meanings about the text and the author's intention.

To deepen your studies, here are some suggestions for materials:

• Portuguese Language: grammar and practice - by Carlos Alberto Dantas
• The Art of Writing Well: A guide for journalists and text professionals - by Arlete Salvador and Dad Squarisi
• Professor Pasquale's website, with lessons and explanations on nouns and their determiners: Here
• "Portuguese in Focus" YouTube channel, with videos on grammar, literature, and writing. We recommend the videos related to nouns and their determiners.

Practical Activity: "In Search of the Determined Noun"

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to allow students to understand, in a fun and meaningful way, the use of nouns and their determiners in the Portuguese language. This project will also serve to develop teamwork skills, time management, and research and writing skills.

Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 members to carry out this project. Each group will have to produce an original book of short stories, focusing on the correct and creative use of nouns and their determiners. The book should contain:

• At least five short stories.
• The correct application of nouns and their determiners.
• Original illustrations for each story.
• A glossary explaining the nouns and determiners used in the texts.

Required Materials

• Computer with internet access.
• Paper and pencil/mechanical pencil for creating the illustrations.
• Grammar books and/or access to websites for consultation.
• Text editing program (Microsoft Word, Google Docs, etc.).
• Bookbinding material (optional).

Activity Step by Step

1. After the groups are formed, the students must hold a meeting to decide which stories will be told and in what order they will appear in the book.
2. The group must divide among its members the tasks of writing the stories, illustrating, and preparing the glossary.
3. Each student will be responsible for researching and correctly applying nouns and their determiners in their story.
4. When the writing of the story is finished, the student must pass it on to the colleague responsible for the illustration so that they can visually represent the story.
5. The student responsible for the glossary must create, according to the written stories, the list of nouns and determiners, indicating their correct use in the text.
6. After completing all the stories and illustrations, the students must compile all the material, checking the spelling and grammar.
7. The final book must be bound (if possible within the conditions of each group) and delivered to the teacher, as well as the digital file with the same material.

Project Deliverables

• An original book of short stories, with illustrations and a glossary of nouns and determiners.
• An oral presentation of the book to the class, where each student must explain their story and how they used the nouns and determiners.
• A final report on the project, which should be written according to the instructions below.

Final Report

Students must write a report that will complement the book of short stories. This document must be prepared in the format of an academic report, containing:

1. Introduction: Contextualise the project theme, its relevance and application in the real world, and the objective of the work.
2. Development: Explain the theory behind nouns and determiners, explain the activity carried out in detail, indicate the methodology used, and present the results obtained. It is important to detail how the nouns and their determiners were used in the created stories.
3. Conclusion: Review the main points of the work, explain the lessons learned, and draw conclusions about the project. Discuss the experience of working in a group and how the project contributed to the understanding of the topic.
4. Bibliography: Indicate the sources used for the preparation of the stories and the report.