Types of Writing
Information Paragraph (Expository/Explanatory)
- used to clarify, define, or explain something to the reader that he/she may not know
-exposition involves presenting facts, details, and examples to support the main idea and explain it to a specific
audience
- the writer’s personal opinions and value judgments are not usually part of expository writing
- exposition demands more than simply answering who, what, when, where, why, and how
- three forms of expository writing:
i) explanation – tells how or why something happens, explains the connections between a cause and effect
ii) précis – a summary of a written passage – states the main point of the original passage
iii) research report – present information from outside sources, facts must first be gathered
EXAMPLES:
News Report
Information Paragraph
Summary (explanatory)
Research (explanatory)
Process Analysis
Narrative
- the word narrative means storytelling; a narrative is a story based on a series of events
- a narrative establishes characters, setting, plot, and theme
- a narrative paragraph doesn’t merely tell the readers what happens: it recreates the experience for the reader so they
can hear, see, and feel exactly what the experience is like
-three forms of narrative writing:
i) autobiographical
ii) short story (fictional)
iii) script (fictional)
EXAMPLES:
Short Story
Autobiography
Persuasive
- persuasive writing is writing with a purpose, aiming to encourage the reader to support a point of view, idea, or cause
- the art of persuasion involves creating logical, clear arguments
- persuasive writing is an effective means of getting your message heard
- two forms of persuasive writing:
i) comparison (to identify similarities and differences)
ii) advertisement (meant to sell a product, create an image,or promote a company or brand
name)
EXAMPLES: Letter to an Editor
Opinion Paragraphs
Descriptive
- the word description means word picture
- descriptive writers select details and words that create a single strong impression of a person, event, feeling, or idea
- often descriptive passages are found within a longer piece of writing
- descriptive writers use figurative language techniques, such as simile or metaphor, and plenty of adjectives to describe
a place, person or thing
- three forms of descriptive writing:
i) poetry
ii) profile (short biography focusing on a single aspect of a person’s background or experience)
iii) event description (facts and descriptive details combined)
EXAMPLES:
Profile
Event Description
Character Sketch