Topic 16: Writing A Variety Of Texts | English Form 1

WRITING A VARIETY OF TEXTS

TYPES OF WRITING STYLES

There are four main types of writing: expository, descriptive, persuasive, and narrative.

Each of these writing styles is used for a specific purpose.

A single text may include more than one writing style.

1. EXPOSITORY

Expository writing is one of the most common types of writing.

When an author writes in an expository style, all they are trying to do is explain a concept, imparting information from themselves to a wider audience.

Expository writing does not include the author’s opinions, but focuses on accepted facts about a topic, including statistics or other evidence.

WRITING A VARIETY OF TEXTS

2. DESCRIPTIVE

Descriptive writing is often found in fiction, though it can make an appearance in nonfiction as well (for example, memoirs, first-hand accounts of events, or travel guides).

When an author writes in a descriptive style, they are painting a picture in words of a person, place, or thing for their audience.

The author might employ metaphor or other literary devices in order to describe the author’s impressions via their five senses (what they hear, see, smell, taste, or touch).

But the author is not trying to convince the audience of anything or explain the scene – merely describe things as they are.

WRITING A VARIETY OF TEXTS

3. PERSUASIVE

Persuasive writing is the main style of writing you will use in academic papers.

When an author writes in a persuasive style, they are trying to convince the audience of a position or belief.

Persuasive writing contains the author’s opinions and biases, as well as justifications and reasons given by the author as evidence of the correctness of their position.

Any “argumentative” essay you write in school should be in the persuasive style of writing.

WRITING A VARIETY OF TEXTS

Topic 16: Writing A Variety Of Texts | English Form 1

4. NARRATIVE

Narrative writing is used in almost every longer piece of writing, whether fiction or nonfiction.

When an author writes in a narrative style, they are not just trying to impart information, they are trying to construct and communicate a story, complete with characters, conflict, and settings.

WRITING A VARIETY OF TEXTS

Filling in Forms

Activity 1

Imagine you are filling in this registration card for your friend. What questions would you ask him or her to fill it in?

Activity 2

Complete this visitor’s card.

Name of visitor:

Address:

Arrival date:

Destination:

Flight no………………………………

Flight arrival time……………………

WRITING A VARIETY OF TEXTS

Writing Things/Notes in a Diary

Diaries or journals are books where you write what has happen each day, year, month, week, etc. It is written to help the writer to remember important events and thoughts.

In their diaries, writers comment on what they have seen recently or previously.

They also describe their thoughts and feelings. They record the reasons for doing or liking certain things. The language used in diaries is usually informal and the writer will often emphasize certain events and feelings that mean a lot to them.

A calendar diary has printed dates, months, days and sometimes years.

This helps the writer not have to write them over again but only write when there are details; they are mostly used for work.

In it, people record appointments, reminders, meetings, and plans for each day in the future.

A diary is a book with pages for each day of the year in which you can write down what you do each day and what you plan on doing in the future.

A dairy can also be used to write our private thoughts and feelings, views or opinions.