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:· 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
Examples: / Descriptive writing appears almost everywhere and is often included in other genre such as a descriptive introduction of a character in a narrative.
Characteristics: / 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: / · 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.
Additional
Internet sites: / 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: / · 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.
Additional
Internet sites: / 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:
· written in first or third-person
· characters, setting, plot
· may include some dialogue
· events organized in chronological sequence (although flashbacks may be used)
Examples: / 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.
Characteristics: / 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: / · 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.
Additional
Internet sites: / 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: / 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.Examples: / 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.
Characteristics: / 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: / · 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.
Additional
Internet sites: / 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: / · 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.
Additional
Internet sites: / 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: / · 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!
Additional
Internet sites: / 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