Writing Types and Strategies Informative, Expository, Narrative, Persuasive, and Argumentative

The Informative Essay Informative Writing Informative writing educates readers by imparting straightforward information and facts, but NEVER personal opinions. Examples include college course descriptions, how-to articles and essays that help a reader understand how something works, such as "How to Clean a Polyester Shirt," "Understanding the Link Between Lung Cancer and Cigarettes" and "The Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea."

The Informative Essay continued An informative text is NOT intended to PERSUADE your reader, but to EDUCATE. Providing a thesis statement depends on the type of text. if you are writing an article about the health benefits of walking 20 minutes each day, you should include a thesis statement in the opening paragraph. Course descriptions, recipes and lists do not always need a thesis. Informative writing is utilitarian and operates as an instructional or educational piece.

The Expository Essay Expository writing imparts information, shares ideas and provides EXPLANATIONS and EVIDENCE. Examples include magazine and newspaper articles, textbooks, autobiographies and certain college essays. DO NOT ASSUME that readers possess prior knowledge of the subject matter. Answers to any questions the reader might have must be provided. For example, when writing an expository essay claiming that consuming honey is a better alternative to sugar, DO NOT JUST TELL the reader about the health benefits of honey, COMPARE the health advantages and disadvantages of both substances, supporting your arguments and claims 

The Expository Essay continued An expository essay contains a thesis statement within the first paragraph, informing the reader of the main argument of the text. The rest of the essay should provide relevant EVIDENCE to prove your argument and persuade your reader that your argument is creditable. An expository piece can still be creative. For instance, to hook the reader's attention, an expository piece may deliver a bit of humor or an interesting anecdote related to the text.

The Narrative Essay A narrative is the story (fiction or non-fiction) told and the order in which it is told. Sometimes, there is a narrator, a character or series of characters, who tell the story. Sometimes, as with most non-fiction, the author himself/herself in the narrator. Usually, narrative writing is categorized as fiction, which is based on imaginative events or stories that did not actually happen. The other category of writing is known as nonfiction, which would be writing that is based on real facts. This usually consists of newspapers, essays, reports, and other informative writing. Some nonfiction can tell a story, which would classify it as narrative writing. In the case of nonfiction, the story must be a true story with real people and events. Autobiographies and biographies are nonfiction narrative writing, as they tell the real story of a person's life.

The Narrative Essay continued All substantial narratives should include: Characters: protagonist versus antagonist Plot: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution Conflict: external versus internal Setting

The Persuasive Essay What makes a persuasive argument? Persuasive writing, also known as the argument essay, uses logic and reason to show that one idea is more legitimate than another. It attempts to persuade a reader to adopt a certain point of view or to take a particular action. Persuasive language is used for many reasons, for example, to help to sell products or services, or to convince people to accept a view or idea. Politicians often use persuasive techniques to get their audience to agree with their views on a particular topic.

The Persuasive Essay continued Ethos, logos, and pathos are three areas of persuasive writing that involve using your own character, logic, and emotion, respectively. Literary devices are also useful for emphasizing arguments. A few examples of these devices are metaphor, simile, repetition, and parallelism.

The Argumentative Essay The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic Collect, generate, and evaluate evidence Establish a position on the topic in a concise manner Make a claim (similar to a thesis statement) State a counterclaim (what does the opposition have to say) Refute or discredit the counterclaim, and thus make your claim stronger

The Argumentative Essay continued The five-paragraph essay A common method for writing an argumentative essay is the five-paragraph approach. the method consists of (a) an introductory paragraph (b) three evidentiary body paragraphs that may include discussion of opposing views (c) a conclusion.

Rank in order your writing skillset strongest to weakest: Informative (educates) 1. ____________________ Expository (explains) 2. ____________________ Narrative (tells a story) 3. ____________________ Persuasive (uses ethos, pathos, logos) 4. ____________________ Argumentative (claim/counterclaim/refutation) 5. ____________________

Any one of these 5 writing types may appear on the English End of Course Exam Which writing type do you need to practice? Submit your choice and research a topic you could either: educate the reader on explain to a reader tell a story about to a reader convince a reader argue for or against to a reader Turn in both by the end of the class