Some key curriculum
written genres
within
Domains or “activities”
Key curriculum genres in school Science
Activity
Genre
Social Purpose
(Domains)
Doing Science
Procedure
to instruct somebody how to do
something
Procedural
Recount
to retell the aim, method and outcome
of an experiment
Experimental
Record
to enable scientific activity to occur and
retell accurately the results and
conclusions
Explaining Science Sequential
Explanation
Causal
Explanation
to describe and link the phases of an
event in a predominantly cause and
effect relationship
Theoretical
Explanation
Factorial
Explanation
to illustrate a theoretical principle
Consequential
Explanation
to explain the effects, or consequences
of an event
Exploration
to explore competing explanations, or
theories for a situation
Organising Science Descriptive
Arguing Science
to describe the phases of a process in a
linear sequence
to explain the reasons or factors that
contribute to a particular event
Report
to give information about one type of
thing
Taxonomic
Report
to describe parts or types of a group of
things
Exposition
to argue for a particular point of view on
an issue
Discussion
to argue the case for two or more points
of view about an issue
Key curriculum genres in school History
Activity
Genre
Social Purpose
Stages
(Domains)
Chronicling
History
Reporting
History
Autobiographic
al Recount
to retell the events of
one’s own life
Biographical
Recount
to retell the events of a
person’s life
Historical
Recount
to retell events in the
past
Descriptive
Report
to give information
about the way things
are or were
to organise knowledge
taxonomically
Taxonomic
Report
Explaining
History
Historical
Account
to account for why
events happened in a
particular sequence
Factorial
Explanation
to explain the reasons
or factors that
contribute to a
particular outcome
to explain the effects or
consequences of a
situation
Consequential
Explanation
Arguing
History
Analytical
Exposition
to put forward a point
of view or argument
Analytical
Discussion
to argue the case for
two or more points of
view about an issue
Challenge
to argue against a
position, view or
reading
Orientation
Record of events
(Reorientation)
Background
Record of events
(Evaluation of
person)
Background
Record of events
(Deduction)
Identification
Description
(Deduction)
Classification
Description of types
or parts
Background
Account of events
(Deduction)
Outcome
Factors
Reinforcement of
factors
Input
Consequences
Reinforcement of
consequences
(Background)
Thesis
Arguments
Thesis
(Background)
Issue
Arguments
Position
(Background)
Arguments
Anti-thesis
Key curriculum genres in school English
Activity
Genre
Social Purpose
(Domains)
Factual/
Rhetorical
Story
Exposition/
Argument
Arguing for a point of view on an issue
Discussion/
Discursive
Arguing the case for one or more points
of view
Procedure
Enabling people to do or make things
Observation
Responding personally to things or
events
Recount
Responding personally to temporal
succession of events
Narrative
Dealing with and evaluating unusual or
problematic events and their outcomes
Moral tale/fable Telling a story with an explicit moral
point of view
Response
News story
Dealing with newsworthy events
Personal
Personal response to a culturally
significant work
Review
Assessing the appeal and value of a
culturally significant work
Interpretation
Providing readings of culturally
significant work
Critical
Analysing culturally significant work and
reading against the cultural values of its
messages
Key curriculum genres in the Visual Arts
Activity
Genre
Social purpose
(Domains)
Persuasion
Factual
Exposition
Arguing for a particular point or issue
Discussion
Exploring an issue from different
points of view
Descriptive report
Giving information about one thing
Taxonomic report
Describing parts or types of a group
of things
Genealogical report
Giving information about classes of
things within historical framework
Procedure
Instructing someone in how to do
something
Procedural recount
Response
To recount in order and with accuracy
the goal steps and outcomes of an
artistic activity
Descriptive
Deconstructing and making a
personal response to artwork
Evaluative
Technical description and appraisal of
artwork
Intrepretative
Technical description and appraisal of
artwork
Critical
Analysing meanings in artwork and
denaturalising its cultural values