Writing Genres

What is the purpose of explanatory writing?

To increase the reader’s knowledge of a subject

How should students write informational essays?

They should draw from what they already know, from primary and secondary sources, and develop a controlling idea/focus on a topic, adding in important facts and evidence

What is informational/explanatory writing?

It is a type of writing that conveys information accurately, or explains something

What is the purpose of argumentative writing?

To ask the reader to accept the writer’s explanation of a concept (to make people believe something is true)

Persuasive writing

Like argumentative, except it makes people believe only ONE perspective, and includes emotional appeals and calls to action

What is narrative writing?

It conveys experience, either real or imaginary, using time as its deep structure

What is the purpose of narrative writing?

To tell a story

What should be included in a narrative?

It should have visual details of scenes/objects/people to show certain actions, use much dialogue/monologue to provide insight into characters’ personalities and motives, highlight important events and create tension

How can narratives be written?

They can be a creative fictional story, a memoir, anecdote or an autobiography, etc.