Answer:
Reading and writing are very complex skill sets that make heavy demands on our students.
Beyond the challenges of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, students need to understand the conventions and structures of the many different text types or genres.
Each time we put pen to paper, we set off with the intention of completing a specific task. That is, we begin with a purpose we wish to accomplish with our writing.
There are lots of different reasons that can spur us to begin writing. For each of these reasons, there are general conventions or criteria that students must understand and incorporate into their work if they’re to achieve their purpose effectively.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the main text types. We’ll examine the purpose of each of these specific text types, before looking at some of the main features and criteria of each of these.
Finally, we’ll suggest an activity or two that you can use in the classroom today to help students consolidate their understanding of each text type.
What are the main text types?
There are many different text types a person may encounter in the course of a single day.
They might read a newspaper article in the morning, then write a letter (or email) to a friend, follow a recipe to make dinner, complete an application form, pick up a leaflet, before finally savouring a good novel at bedtime.
While all of these forms of text have the written word in common, each has its own unique features and conventions.
There are many different ways to categorize the broad range of reading and writing materials we can encounter in a single day. But, generally speaking, it’s helpful to think of them in terms of two overarching and broad categories: factual and literary.
Factual texts endeavor to inform, instruct, or persuade through the use of facts and information.
Literary texts seek to entertain, enlighten, or elicit emotion through a creative use of language and structure.
Within each of these two broad categories are several sub-categories which we will explore in the rest of this article. Take note, depending on the curriculum you are working to, text types may be referred to using slightly differing terms.
It’s worth noting too, that while the two general categories are a very useful way to think about the different text types, not all text types will sit exclusively in one camp or the other.
For example, the increasingly common genre known as literary nonfiction, or creative nonfiction, has a foot in both camps.
That said, for the vast majority of text types that our students will look at, these categories are functional and useful.
Now, let’s take a closer look at some of these text types. We’ll start with the factual.
Factual Text Types
Discussion Texts
Learn to write a discussion here
LEARN TO WRITE A DISCUSSION HERE
Purpose: The purpose of a discussion text is to explore more than one point of view on a given subject in order to reach an informed opinion, or to make a decision on an issue.
Structure: Generally speaking, discussion texts will begin by providing some background information on the issue, before introducing the central area or areas of contention. At this point, the text will then begin to explore the various arguments for and against with an examination of the supporting evidence. The conclusion will sum up both sides of the argument, before giving a recommendation based on the writer’s evaluation of those arguments.
Main Features:
Title is often in the form of a question
Written in the present tense
Generic statements are followed by specific examples
Arguments sometimes supported by diagrams, illustrations etc
Suggested Activity: An effective way to lead into writing a discussion text is to hold a discussion or debate in the classroom on a contentious issue, or a topic that piques the interest of your class. For example, Should video games be considered a sport? or Due to technology, homeschooling should replace traditional schooling.
Explanatory Texts
LEARN TO WRITE AN EXPLANATION HERE
LEARN TO WRITE AN EXPLANATION HERE
Purpose: Explanatory texts move beyond providing straightforward descriptions to looking at things like causes and reasons. They move beyond a retelling of what happened, such as in a simple report, to address the why and how of what happened.
Structure: Explanatory texts usually open with a general statement that introduces the topic to be explored, for example, “During the winter some birds migrate to warmer parts of the world.” The various steps of the process are then explained in a logical order.
