What is a text type? The phrase ‘text type’ is a way of classifying and defining different types of language interaction, both spoken and written. It refers to the purpose of a text and the way it is written. 2

text type families members procedures instructions; procedures; protocols information texts descriptions; explanations; reports; directives; combination story texts recounts; narratives persuasive texts expositions; discussion; opinions

How does the syllabus classify text types? Instructions Explanations Recounts - personal - factual Information reports Expositions Narratives 3

What does ‘text form’ mean? Texts can also be defined or classified according to their form: the overall shape and structure they take or the context in which they are found. 4

text type and text form t y p e narrative explanation instruction recount diary short story letter recipe play essay f o r m

What are the key features of different kinds of texts? When considering a text we need to think about its: topic (what about?) – purpose (why?) – audience/writer-reader relationship (who?) context language – text structure – grammatical features – vocabulary 1

features of a text type example Topic what the text is about Purpose what text producer wants to achieve Audience who the consumer is Relationship between P&C who producer and consumer are vis-à-vis one another Singapore’s history to give information visitors to Singapore producer & consumer unknown to one another. What might be a form of the text type in the example? What text type is the example?

language features example structure grammar vocabulary pattern of organisation tense, person, form of clauses etc etc words used - depends on topic and audience chronological past tense; 3rd person; declarative clauses conflict; resolution; government policies

summary of text types: purpose & typical grammatical features Recount personal factual narrative explanat-ion report exposition procedure speaker (1st person) specific 3rd person or general class specific 1st or 3rd person general class specific 3rd person or general class addressee (2nd person) past usually past timeless timeless, obligation future imperative + future temporal causal various temporal/ nouns / pronouns tense / modality conjunction retell or record entertain reveal describe persuade instruct

text structure the way the text is shaped e.g. text type: narrative Orientation ^ Complication ^ Resolution

Buttons In a small village called Columpton there was a boy called Harry. Harry was always fighting and during fights his buttons were ripped off. His mother always nagged him about sewing on his buttons but Harry never did. Orientation One day all his buttons had been ripped off so he had to hold his trousers up. The bell went to go home from school and Harry raced out of the classroom and his pants fell down. All the other children laughed. Complication Now Harry sews his buttons on all the time, without even being asked. Resolution

Task c) personal recount factual recount exposition instruction 5, Stamford Estate Dear Sir, As I was going to work yesterday I noticed 3 youths walking to school after 8 a.m. They were talking and laughing and seemed to be in no hurry to get there. It was reported in yesterday’s Straits Times that today’s young people had never worked harder at school. This was certainly not borne out by my observations. I believe that punctuality is a crucial aspect of working life. All young people need to learn this before they leave school. As parents, people must: set a good example; insist on punctuality; support schools in their campaigns to promote punctuality. Yours faithfully personal recount factual recount exposition instruction

Task e) Text B Topic text type setting up an amplifier text form Purpose Relationship between P&C Tone Structure Grammar Vocabulary setting up an amplifier instruction (procedural) Text B non-fiction manual tell how to set up amplifier writer = expert reader = novice impersonal; neither the writer nor the reader is referred to separate numbered paragraphs imperatives, infinitives, future tense when referring to results of actions subject-specific, technical, e.g., unmute

Text C Topic English in Singapore text type text form Purpose Relationship between P&C Tone Structure Grammar Vocabulary English in Singapore Text C information report non-fiction information text give factual information writer = expert reader = novice impersonal; neither the writer nor the reader is referred to non-chronological, general to specific simple present tense, adjectives for classification, topic-specific & technical, e.g., syntactic; formal language, e.g., proficient

Text F Topic ball-point pens text type explanation text form non-fiction, general interest book Purpose to inform the reader Relationship between P&C writer = expert; reader=novice Tone distant, impersonal Structure moving from the key element of the pen to those parts that connect to this element Grammar clear reference and cohesive links from one sentence to the next; passive voice; causal conjunctions Vocabulary technical, e.g., brass housing Text F

Text G Topic a robbery text type factual recount text form newspaper article Purpose to provide information/sell newspapers Relationship between P&C writer and reader unknown to each other Tone brisk and clear, not formal. Structure summary followed by chronological report of the incident, paragraphs, columns, picture, caption Grammar Concise style, densely constructed sentences Vocabulary some colloquial phrases, e.g., made off, facts, figures, names, places Text G