Text Types
Purposes of textrpose of Text pes
Texts have different purposes and structures to communicate a message with different
conventions in language and form.
LITERARY TEXTS
Literary works have clear stylistic elements that make them literary such as characterization,
metaphor, irony conflict, symbolism, and offer more layered meaning and themes. Literary works
are narrative (tell a story) or lyrical (express an emotion or idea) in nature. Literary texts include
short stories, novels, plays, poetry, songs, etc.
NON-LITERARY TEXTS
Non-literary texts can be expository (to explain or inform), technical (to instruct or explain a
process) or persuasive (convince or call to action). Non-literary texts are more concerned with
information, facts, and reality to document issues or to explain or analyze something or even
argue for a certain viewpoint. Non-literary texts can include editorials, advertising, art,
photography, brochure, online articles, etc..
Narrative or Lyrical (literary types)
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To entertain
To recount or tell a story
To describe
Features: character, setting, conflict, theme, imagery, first person sometimes, description, plot
elements, figurative language, pathos
Organizational patterns: description, cause/effect, problem/solution, sequence
Examples:
1. narratives: novel, short story, myth, legend, science fiction, fantasy, fable, cartoon,
stage play, television script, radio script, zines, diary, letters, videos
2. poetry: sonnet, limerick, haiku, epic balad, songs
Expository (non-literary)
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To describe
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To inform
To analyze
To explain
Features: headings, bold words, charts, graph, captions, logos, ethos
Organizational patterns: sequence, cause/effect, problem/solution, description, topic sentences to
organize paragraphs, thesis, technical terms or jargon
Examples:
1. report: documentary, reference book
2. recount: journal, diary, newspaper article, timeline, scientific observations (lab report)
Technical (non-literary)
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To explain process
To instruct
To describe
Features: steps to a process, use of command terms (put, place), words to indicate sequence,
logos
Organizational patterns: sequence, cause/effect, problem/solution, description
Examples:
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1. procedures: instructions, recipes, directions
Persuasive (non-literary)
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To persuade
To convince
To perform an action
Features: call to action, words to expresses feelings or opinions, counterargument, claim,
evidence, analogies, formal language, facts, statistics, testimonies, logos, pathos, ethos, clear
thesis, logical transitions
Organizational patterns: sequence, cause/effect, problem/solution, description
Examples:
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1. advertisement: television, print, radio, billboards, digital ads
2. opinion: letter to the editor, editorial, speech, newspaper or magazine article,
digital article, blogging, debate, zines
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3. response: movie review, book review, restaurant review
Definitions for Text Types
Narrative Texts
Narrative Fiction
1. novel: a fictitious prose narrative that is usually long and complex with characters,
conflicts, and themes. Novels can fall in a number of genres: science fiction, fantasy,
magical realism, realistic fiction, romance, historical fiction, etc.
2. novella: A shorter novel (between a novel and a short story) fictional narrative.
3. short story: a story with a theme but shorter and less developed than a novel.
4. myth: a story about the early history of a people that explains some human
experience and typically involves supernatural beings which cannot be proven as
historical fact
5. legend: a story about human events that is presumed to have some basis in
historical fact and tends to mention real people or events.
6. legend: a story about human events that is presumed to have some basis in
historical fact and tends to mention real people or events.
7. fable: a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.
8. fairy tale: a children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands.
9. cartoon: a simple drawing where people, animals, or objects are drawn in a
humorously exaggerated way, especially a satirical ones; cartoons are mostly fiction
since they exaggerate reality.
10. drama: a play for theater, radio, or television.
11. screenplay or script: A screenplay, or script, is a written work by screenwriters for
a film, television program, radio, or video game. Screenplay can be nonfiction or
fiction.
12. parody: a narrative work or writing style that mocks or mimics another work in
order to ridicule
13. pastiche: an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or
period.
14. diary entries: a record of entries usually in chronological order that details a
person's thoughts, feelings, reactions to evens in his or her life. Authentic diary entries
are nonfiction, but an author may choose to write diary entries for a character to tell a
story.
15. letters: written or type communication that can either be 1) informal between
friends, family members, or acquaintances with a casual tone or 2) formal between
two people that may relate to business, politics, or some professional capacity.
Typically, letters are nonfiction, but sometimes writers choose to tell a story as an
epistolary novel in the form of letters.
16. lyrics: words of a song that usually expresses an attitude or perspective on some
topic or feeling.
17. zine: self-published pamphlet that are locally distributed
Narrative Nonfiction
1. memoir: A narrative about a period in someone's life
2. autobiography: an account of a person's life written by that person.
3. biography: an account of a person's life written by another person.
4. personal narrative: A short prose narrative usually told in first person about an
event in someone's life.
5. screenplay or script: A screenplay, or script, is a written work by screenwriters for
a film, television program, radio, or video game. Screenplay can be nonfiction or
fiction.
6. diary entries: a record of entries usually in chronological order that details a
person's thoughts, feelings, reactions to evens in his or her life. Authentic diary entries
are nonfiction, but an author may choose to write diary entries for a character to tell a
story.
7. letters: written or type communication that can either be 1) informal between
friends, family members, or acquaintances with a casual tone or 2) formal between
two people that may relate to business, politics, or some professional capacity.
Typically, letters are nonfiction, but sometimes writers choose to tell a story as an
epistolary novel in the form of letters.
8. poetry: type of literature written in verse (not prose) that can be lyric, narrative,
or dramatic in form and use connotative language and sound devices. While poetry is
typically considered to be more literary fiction, many poets write about their own
experiences giving poetry non-fiction elements.
9. travel writing: a genre of writing in which the author describes places they have
visited and their experiences while traveling.
Expository Texts
1. academic essay: an essay with a clear thesis that is then supported by relevant
evidence and elaboration to prove a point
2. critical review: often an academic essay that provides a critical personal response
to literary or non-literary text, making evaluating judgments on the effectiveness of
the work
3. newspaper article: a piece of writing in a daily or weekly publication containing
news and articles mean to inform an audience of a specific topic with relevant details;
may use facts, statistics, witness testimony, opinions, and imagery.
4. magazine article: a piece of writing in bi-monthly or monthly magazine containing
news and articles mean to inform an audience of a specific topic with relevant details;
may use facts, statistics, witness testimony, opinions, and imagery. Magazine articles
may be expository and/or persuasive in nature.
5. blog: a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual
or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style. A blog can be
expository or persuasive in nature, possibly blending both modes
6. website: a location connected to the Internet that maintains one or more pages
on the internet. Websites can be expository or persuasive in nature depending on the
purpose and audience.
7. Interview transcript: the recorded conversation, published in a magazine or an
online website, involving a meeting of people face to face either in person or virtually
8. letters: written or type communication that can either be 1) informal between
friends, family members, or acquaintances with a casual tone or 2) formal between
two people that may relate to business, politics, or some professional capacity.
Typically, letters are nonfiction, but sometimes writers choose to tell a story as an
epistolary novel in the form of letters.
Persuasive Texts
1. advertising campaign: a series of advertisements to promote a product or service
that could appear in television, radio, print, outdoor, or online communications
2. editorial: an opinionated article that states the position of a publication's editorial
board on a specific issue
3. op-ed: a short for opposite editorial, is an opinionated article submitted to a
newspaper for publication by people in the community that are not affiliated with the
publication.
4. manifesto: a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views
of its issuer, such as a government, sovereign, organization, political group, etc.
5. blog: a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual
or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style. A blog can be
expository or persuasive in nature, possibly blending both modes
6. website: a location connected to the Internet that maintains one or more pages
on the internet. Websites can be expository or persuasive in nature depending on the
purpose and audience.
7. letters: written or type communication that can either be 1) informal between
friends, family members, or acquaintances with a casual tone or 2) formal between
two people that may relate to business, politics, or some professional capacity.
Typically, letters are nonfiction, but sometimes writers choose to tell a story as an
epistolary novel in the form of letters.
8. magazine article: a piece of writing in bi-monthly or monthly magazine containing
news and articles mean to inform an audience of a specific topic with relevant details;
may use facts, statistics, witness testimony, opinions, and imagery. Magazine articles
may be expository and/or persuasive in nature.
Technical Texts
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traditional: repair manuals, medical studies
end-user documentation: manuals for electronics or consumer products, recipes
technical marketing content: press releases, catalogs,
Organizational Patterns
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Sequence: a specific order, steps
Problem and solution: problem that is described with events and then solved
Compare and contrast: comparing how things are similar and different
Description: details
Cause/effect: something causes something else to happen