Writing Genres
Genre is a recognized category of works that share a common form, purpose or content. As a writer, it is
important to understand what these commonly shared attributes are for each of the different genre.
1. Descriptive Writing
Goal:
Descriptive writing vividly describes a person, place, or thing in such
a way that the reader can visualize the topic and feel like they are
part of the experience. Descriptive writing is characterized by the
following:
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Examples:
Characteristics:
elaborate use of sensory details
details which go beyond the general
details which enable the reader to picture or relive what the
writer is telling
Descriptive writing appears almost everywhere and is often included
in other genre such as a descriptive introduction of a character in a
narrative.
The general characteristics of a descriptive writing include:
1. vividly descriptive details
elaborate on sensory details including how does it look,
sound, feel, smell
2. figurative language may be used
using words, phrases, symbols, and ideas such as simile,
hyperbole, metaphor, symbolism and personification in
such as way as to evoke mental images and sense
impressions
3. showing, not telling
use vivid and precise adjectives, adverbs and verbs when
describing the topic
Exercises:
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Additional
Internet sites:
Observe then describe an event taking place.
Think of a person that stands out in your memory. Describe
why they made such an impression on you.
Find an example of descriptive writing, then explain why
you think this is a good example.
Description Paragraph
http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/paragrap/describe.htm
Descriptive Writing with Virginia Hamilton
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/diary/index.htm
Descriptive Writing Resources
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/descriptive.html
2. Expository Writing
Goal:
The goal for expository writing is to give information such as an
explanation or directions. It seeks to inform, explain, clarify, define
or instruct.
Examples:
Expository writing appears in and is not limited to letters,
newsletters, definitions, instructions, guidebooks, catalogues,
newspaper articles, magazine articles, how-to writing, pamphlets,
reports and research papers.
Characteristics:
The general characteristics of an expository writing include:
1. state the main idea
this must be narrow enough to be supported in the writing
2. supporting ideas using quotes, statistics, examples, and/or
facts
use any available resource to instruct the reader
including published books, television, Internet, etc.
3. information is logically organized
depending on the type of expository that is being written,
the information could be organized chronologically, from
least important to most important or from most important
to least
4. show commitment to the topic
supporting details do not deviate from the topic
5. conclusion
restate the topic and main supporting ideas
Exercises:
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Additional
Internet sites:
Write a story about a trip you are going to take and what
friend you want to take with you. Explain why this friend
would be the best person to go with you.
Describe the cause and effects of pollution in the
environment. Narrow your topic to one form of pollution,
such as something that causes air, water or land
pollution.
Explain the process of baking a birthday cake.
Find an example of an expository, then explain why you
think this is a good example of an expository writing.
The Expository Essay
http://library.thinkquest.org/10888/expos.html?tqskip1=1
Expository Writing Prompts
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Atrium/1437/expository4.html
Expository Writing Resources
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/expwriting.html
3. Narrative Writing
Goal:
The goal for narrative writing is to tell a story of an experience,
event, or sequence of events while holding the reader's interest.
Narrative writing is usually characterized by the following:
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Examples:
Characteristics:
written in first or third-person
characters, setting, plot
may include some dialogue
events organized in chronological sequence (although
flashbacks may be used)
Narrative writing appears in and is not limited to poetry, short
stories, novels, personal essays, tall tales, and folk tales, to name
just a few. It also takes a particular form in scripts and plays.
The general characteristics of a narrative writing include:
1. revealing something of importance
narratives make a point and that point is usually defined
in the first sentence but may appear as the last sentence
in the first paragraph
2. depicting characters and setting vividly
bring the story to life by using your senses to depict the
events of the story: how does it look, sound, feel, smell.
Include the important events that make up the story in
enough detail for your readers to understand what
happened while avoiding any details that do not relate to
the main point
3. showing, not telling
use vivid and precise verbs when describing your events
4. presenting events in a clear, chronological order
use a logical progression with good transitions when
moving from point-to-point
Exercises:
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Additional
Internet sites:
Write a story about your the best celebration you have
ever had - tell why this is your favorite.
Think of a time when you were nervous. It might be your
first plane ride or the first time you slept over night with a
friend. Tell what happened and how you reacted.
Write a fictional story about being an eyewitness at an
historical event.
Find an example of a narrative in a story, poem or play.
Explain why you think this is a good example of a
narrative writing.
Narrative Essays and Prompts
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Atrium/1437/narr.html
Narrative Writing Resources
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/narrative.html
4. Persuasive Genre
Goal:
Examples:
Characteristics:
Persuasive writing gives an opinion in an attempt to convince the
reader that this point of view is valid or tries to persuade the reader to
take a specific action.
A few examples of persuasive writing may be seen in and is not limited
to letters to the editor, editorials, advertisements, advice columns,
award nominations, pamphlets, petitions and opinion writing.
The general characteristics of a persuasive writing include:
1. stating a position
this should be limited in scope and can be readily definable,
debatable and meaningful to the writer and reader
2. presenting ideas logically, factually & clearly
possible formats could include a comparison and contrast
between the two debatable sides to the topic
3. supporting ideas using quotes, statistics, examples, and/or
facts
use any available resource to back your position including
published books, television, Internet, etc. Know the difference
between facts and truth - "truth" is a commonly held position
that cannot be supported with facts.
4. ending with a strong argument, summary, or call for action
clearly redefine the topic and restate your most compelling
evidence
Exercises:
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Additional
Internet sites:
Write a letter to your congressman telling him why you think
daylight savings time should or should not be changed.
Write a letter to the school board to convince them to require
or not require school uniforms.
Find a "letter to the editor" that you believe is a good example
of a persuasive writing. Tell why you think this is a good
example.
Occasions for Argumentative Essays
http://powa.org/my/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=9
Argumentation/Persuasion: Logic in Argumentative Writing
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_argpers.html
Argument and Persuasion Resources
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/argument.html
Persuasive Essay and Prompts
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Atrium/1437/pers.html
5. Poetry
Goal:
Poetic writing is a written art form that helps the writer express an
imaginative awareness and arranged to create a specific
emotional response sometimes employing the use of repetition,
meter, and rhyme.
 individualistic mode of expression
 acting upon the emotions or expression of opinions
 heightened use of vocabulary
 concise in communication
Examples:
Poetry appears almost everywhere and was traditionally used to
transmit oral history. Examples include constrained forms such as
haiku, metaphor, simile, couplet, tercet, quatrain, cinquain,
limerick, ballad, etc. while less constrained forms are blank and
free verse.
Characteristics:
The general characteristics of a poetic writing is highly
individualistic and employs a variety of characteristics including,
but not limited to:
1. rhyme and alliteration
rhyme is not universally used but does appear in ballads,
sonnets and other similar poetic forms; alliteration, or the
use of repeating consonant sounds, is often used to help
convey a musical sense
2. form
the structural elements generally are the line, the stanza
which are lines grouped together because they share a
common scheme, and the verse paragraph which are
frequently used in blank or free verse
3. poetic diction
linguistic style, the vocabulary, and the metaphors used
in the writing of poetry
Exercises:
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Additional
Internet sites:
Challenge students to make the ordinary extraordinary.
Wrap everyday objects in tissue paper, and then ask
each student to pick an item. After students have
unwrapped their items, allow them to trade. Charge them
with writing a poem about what they have.
During a class walk, ask each student to pick up one
item. When students return to the classroom, have them
write about what they found.
Ask students to write about the immediate. If it is
storming, have them write about rain. If students are
writing about trees, let them sit among some.
Invite students to write about something they miss or
crave. For example, in winter have them write about
summer.
How Do We Inspire Poetry
http://www.thewritingsite.org/articles/vol1num3.asp
Technology tips for poetry
http://www.thewritingsite.org/resources/technology/poetrysites.asp
Poetry prompts
http://www.thewritingsite.org/resources/prompts/poetry.asp
6. Technical Writing
Goal:
The goal of technical writing is to clearly communicate a select
piece of information to a targeted reader or group of readers for a
particular purpose in such a way that the subject can readily be
understood. It is expository writing that requires a response from
the reader.
Examples:
Technical writing appears in reports such as lab, accidents or
progress reports, directions to a destination, manuals, evaluation
forms and questionnaires, business letters, resumes,
presentations, descriptions of the design and features for new
products, and instructions that help the reader visualize what they
are doing and what they are working with.
Characteristics:
Not all, but most technical writings include the following
components:
1. introduction
this identifies the object or problem being discussed,
includes what prior knowledge the reader needs to
understand the description, and what is the background
or general function of the object or problem
2. background
if your audience knows little about the topic, then
scaffolding is needed for the reader to help them fully
understand the context of the writing
3. discuss the parts or characteristics
divide up the topic into parts or characteristics beginning
with general and narrowing it to specific descriptions
4. summary
explain how the object is used, the overall purpose of the
object, or the application of the object in real world
context
Exercises:
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Additional
Internet sites:
Have the students create a presentation of a famous
American using Power Point© then have a day where
they share their research with the class
At the board, in front of your class, solve a grade-level
appropriate math problem, — incorrectly! Ask students to
write, in complete sentences or a paragraph, to explain
what you did wrong in solving the problem.
Challenge the students to become inventors! Have them
create a product then have them describe how their
product works to prospective buyers!
Online Technical Writing
http://www.io.com/~hcexres/textbook/
Technical Writing Tips, Tutorial, Templates and Downloads
http://www.klariti.com/technical-writing/index.shtml
Lab Reports
http://www.rpi.edu/web/writingcenter/labs.html
Adapted from : http://www.thewritingsite.org/resources/genre/default.asp
LATTC Writing Center
Rev. January 3, 2009
Title V Funded