TEXT TYPES
Stage 1 – Defining language, the terms and text types
Stage 2 – Creating examples that you will remember
Stage 3 – Identifying language techniques in pieces of writing AND identifying and
applying the PILS to either writing or responding texts
Diary
Purpose: to recall a personal story or event, reflect on feelings experienced.
Intended Audience: usually the composer only.
Language: personal language, colloquial language, slang, descriptive language, first person.
Structure: addressing the entry (Dear Diary), sequence of events paragraph(s), sign off.
Recount
Purpose: to retell an event or occasion that has occurred.
Intended Audience: general audience (everybody).
Language: formal, descriptive, transitional/connective words, past tense, first/third person, personal emotion.
Structure: orientation, sequence of events, conclusion, personal comment.
Report
Purpose: to present the facts and research of a topic.
Intended Audience: can be more educated people or anybody.
Language: formal, descriptive, jargon, factual, statistical, technical, simple present tense, generalisations.
Structure: general statement and description.
Review
Purpose: to present the findings of a specific topic.
Intended Audience: readers interested in this area of topic.
Language: formal, present tense, jargon, descriptive language.
Structure: introduction, discussion, conclusion.
Personal letter
Purpose: to express feelings, pass on information or tell somebody about a topic.
Intended Audience: the person addressed to the letter.
Language: formal/informal, colloquial, descriptive, personal, present/past tense, emotive language, first/third person.
Structure: addressing the receiver, discussion, sign off.
Business letter
Purpose: to formally inform about a topic.
Intended Audience: the person addressed to the letter.
Language: formal, factual, descriptive, informative, first/second/third person, connecting terms.
Structure: addressing the receiver, discussion, sign off.
Letter to the editor
Purpose: to criticise, support, provide evidence for, provide options for something.
Intended Audience: readers of the newspaper.
Language: emotive, personal language,
Structure: introduction, body, conclusion (optional).
Poetry (including lyrical poetry)
Purpose: to comment on an issue, make feelings put forward feelings (express).
Intended Audience: listeners of music, readers etc.
Language: lyrical, figurative, imagery, colloquial, rhythmic.
Structure: information ordered into stanazas.
Narrative
Purpose: to entertain, amuse or instruct
Intended Audience: readers.
Language: noun groups to describe characters and settings time words, Action verbs.
Structure: orientation complication series of events coda.
Article
Purpose: to inform, educate, comment.
Intended Audience: readers of where this is located.
Language: formal, jargon, first/third person.
Structure: title, introduction, body, conclusion.
Newspaper report
Purpose: to inform, report.
Intended Audience: readers of the newspaper.
Language: informative, statistical, referring.
Structure: title, introduction, body, conclusion.
Advertisement
Purpose: to educate, persuade people to buy something, support something or take an action.
Intended Audience: general population.
Language: informal, colourful, bold.
Structure: lines, vectors.
Brochure
Purpose: to inform.
Intended Audience: readers.
Language: formal/informal, factual, statistical referral.
Structure: colour, vectors, heading, photographs.
Web page
Purpose: to provide informal.
Intended Audience: internet viewers.
Language: formal, colloquial.
Structure: URL, heading, hyperlinks, action buttons, sound, film.
Magazine cover
Purpose: to highlight to contents of the magazine.
Intended Audience: the magazine readers.
Language: informal, informational, persuasive.
Structure: colour, photographs, statistical imagery.
DVD cover
Purpose: to highlight to contents of the magazine.
Intended Audience: the DVD viewers.
Language: formal/informal, subjective.
Structure: title, actor credits.
Poster
Purpose: to inform, persuade, educate, support.
Intended Audience: viewers
Language: formal/informal, persuasive.
Structure: colour, vectors.
Leaflet
Purpose: to inform.
Intended Audience: readers.
Language: informational, persuasive, statistical, factual, formal.
Structure: headings, titles, additional information.
Pamphlet
Purpose: to inform.
Intended Audience: readers.
Language: formal/informal, factual, statistical referral.
Structure: colour, vectors, heading, photographs.