TTPES OF PASSAGES, TEXT STRUCTURE, GENRE AND THEME

what is narrative passage?

writing tells a story. Can be fictional or describe a real event.

Purpose: to entertain

ex of narrative passage

• An autobiography
• A memoir
• A short story
• A novel

what is a expository passage?

writing provides explanation or description. Many academic essays and informational nonfiction books. Can be either dry and methodical or artful and entertaining

Purpose: to inform

ex of expository passage

• A book about a historical event

• An essay describing the social impacts of a new technology

• A description of changing gender roles in marriages

• A philosophical document exploring the nature of truth.

what is technical passage

writing explains complex process or mechanism. Used in practical settings like businesses. Style is almost always straightforward and impersonal.

Writing is nonfiction.

Purpose: to inform

ex of technical passage

• Recipes

• Instructions

• User manuals

• Process descriptions

what is a persuasive passage

writing makes an argument. Ask readers to believe something or do something. Make judgments, make a plan.

Purpose: to persuade

ex of persuasive essay

• Op-ed newspaper articles

• Book reviews

• Project proposals

• Advertisements

• Persuasive essays

what is sequence structure?

an author explains what happened first, second, third, and so on. Arranged in chronological order, or time order. Describe events that have already happened or events that may happen in the future

ex of sequence structure

• A story about a birthday party

• A historical paper about World War II

• A list of instructions for baking a cake

• A series of proposed steps in a plan for business expansion

what is compare/contrast structure

explains the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. Can involve people, places, ideas, events, cultures, etc

ex of compare/contrast structure

• An essay describing the similarities and differences between women’s experiences in medieval Europe and Asia

• A section in an op-ed newspaper article explaining the similarities and differences between two types of gun control

what is cause/effect writing

describes an event or action and its results. Can be actual or theoretical. Author can describe the results of a historical event or predict the results of a possible future event

ex of cause/effect structure

• An explanation of ocean acidification and the coral bleaching that results

• A paper describing a proposed new law and its likely effects on the economy

what is problem-solution structure

presents a problem and outlines a solution. Can predict or analyze the results of the solution. Problem can sometimes be expressed in terms of a wish or desire that the solution fulfills. Solution be can something that already happened or plan that is being proposed

ex of problem-solution

• An explanation of the problems smallpox caused and the strategies scientists used to eradicate it

• A business plan outlining a group of potential customers and the strategy a company should use to get their business

what is description structure

creates a mental picture for the reader by presenting concrete details in a coherent order. Usually arranged spatially.

ex of description structure

• An explanation of the appearance of a character in a story

• A paragraph in a field guide detailing the features of a bird

• A section on an instruction sheet describing how the final product should look

genre

how literature can be organized into categories

fiction (genre)

made up. Broken down into many sub-genres, or sub-categories:

• Short story, Novel, Science Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Mythology, Legends, Fables

short work of fiction

short story

book-length work of fiction

novel

a story set in the future

science fiction

a love story

romance

a story that answers a concrete question, often about who committed a crime

mystery

a traditional story that reflects cultural traditions and beliefs but does not usually teach an explicit lesson

(somewhat religious, implicit)

mythology

traditional stories that are presented as histories, even though they often contain fantastical or magical elements

legends

traditional stories meant to teach an explicit lesson

(think like a children’s book)

fables

nonfiction (genre)

is true. Can be broken down into many sub-genres

• autobiography and memoir, biography, histories, criticism and reviews, essays

The author’s own life story

Autobiography and memoir

Someone else’s life story (not the author’s)

Biography

True stories about real events from the past

Histories

A response or judgment on another piece of writing or art

Criticism and reviews

A short piece describing the author’s outlook or point of view.

Essay

themes

deep meaning, implicit. Can be related to war, love, survival, justice, suffering, growing up, and other experiences that are accessible to virtually all human beings

moral

explicit message contained in the text like “Don’t lie” or “Crimes doesn’t pay”. Are common features of fables and other traditional stories meant to teach lessons to children