AICE English Language - Genres Review

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing various genres, their structural elements, and stylistic characteristics for AICE English Language.

News Article

A factual, objective non-fiction piece written in third-person point of view with a headline and byline, structured in an inverted pyramid without a conclusion.

Inverted Pyramid Structure

A structural approach for news writing that places the most newsworthy information (who, what, when, where, why, how) at the top, followed by important details, general info, and background info.

Magazine/Features Article

A third-person human-interest story structured in a diamond shape that weaves together personal narrative, expert testimony, and facts across short paragraphs.

Investigative Article

A fact-based, impartial report written in precise, simple language that reveals hidden or secret information regarding topics like corruption or negligence by following paper and people trails.

Editorial

An opinion piece representing the collective view of a newspaper's editorial board, typically written in third person (or occasionally 'we'), addressing issues even-handedly and suggesting alternative solutions.

Opinion Column

A first-person opinion piece written by a single writer that begins with a timely news angle and presents an objective explanation of an issue leading to a personal perspective.

Letter to the Editor

A published letter addressed to a newspaper aimed at a broader community audience, taking a stance or informing readers using ethos, pathos, and logos along with a salutation and formal sign-off.

Leaflet

An informational genre offering tips or advice, characterized by short fluid sections with subheadings, concise sentences, and second-person imperatives.

Autobiographical Account

A highly personalized first-person, past-tense account focusing on significant life events, rich in detail, sensory language, and reflective emotion.

Memoir

A form of autobiographical account that frames individual personal life experiences within a broader historical context.

Blog

An online journal or web log written in first person that is personal, relevant, analytical, image-driven, and designed to engage readers through interactive elements or comment sections.

Letter

A written message formatted with sender address and date in the upper-right corner, a greeting, an opening statement of purpose, first-person perspective, and an appropriate sign-off.

Diary

A personal written record of private thoughts and feelings, written in first-person past tense and characterized by shorthand style features like verbless clauses, omitted words, ellipses, and dashes.

Review

An evaluative response in the first person that assesses the strengths and weaknesses of a sub-genre (e.g., book, movie, restaurant) without revealing spoilers to a specific audience.

Newspaper Travel Article

A descriptive first-person, past-tense piece driven by a narrative thread, beginning with an anecdote and integrating sensory observations and facts about a destination.

Speech

A spoken piece delivered to an audience that utilizes active voice, ethos/logos/pathos, rhythm, syntactical patterning, repetition, allusions, and rhetorical questions.

Advertisement

A persuasive text designed to promote a product or service using emotional appeal, suggestive imagery, and second-person imperatives as a call to action.

Podcast

An audio-focused genre structured around a specific topic, featuring conversational first-person narrative from one or two hosts along with potential guest interviews, intros, and sign-offs.

Benevolent

expressing goodwill or kind feelings; humane; charitable

Jovial

contented; cheerful; characterized by joyous humor or a spirit of good fellowship

Reverent

deeply respectful; showing great esteem

Ardent

characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent; intensely devoted; eager; enthusiastic; impassioned

Accusatory

o charge with fault, offense, crime, or wrong doing

Disparaging

sarcastic; critical

Haughty

arrogant; condescending

Belligerent

warlike; given to waging war

Morbid

gruesome; macabre

Insolent

boldly rude or disrespectful; insulting

Contemplative

thoughtful; reflective; meditative

Candid

frank; outspoken; open and sincere; straightforward

audacious

(bold, spirited, reckless

contemptuous

(disdainful, scornful)

didactic

instructive

irreverent

not respectful

malevolent

mean-spirited, evil

poignant

moving, sorrowful

solemn

serious

zealous

eager and involved

sinister

singularly evil or productive of evil

2

: accompanied by or leading to disaster

placid

serenely free of interruption or disturbance

ominous

especially : foreboding or foreshadowing evil, misfortune, or calamity

ludicrous

amusing or laughable through obvious absurdity, incongruity, exaggeration, or eccentricity

insolent

rude or impolite : having or showing a lack of respect for other people

fervent

exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling : zealous

facetious

joking or sarcastic especially in a way regarded by others as silly, annoying, or inappropriate

eloquent

marked by forceful and fluent expression

choleric

: easily moved to often unreasonable or excessive anger : hot-tempered

brusque

: markedly short and abrupt

antagonistic

showing dislike or opposition

ambivalent

having or showing simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings toward something or someone

acerbic

: sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone