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Unit 3: A. Types of Writing: Narrative Writing Descriptive Writing Expository Writing Persuasive Writing
Unit 3: A. Types of Writing: Narrative Writing Descriptive Writing Expository Writing Persuasive Writing
A. Types of writing
INTRODUCTION
When you are trying to decide what type of writing you want to do, you need to think
about a couple of things. You are going to want to think about what you want to say and
who you are saying it to. Your specific topic affects what type of writing fits, and your
audience also plays a major role in how you deliver what you want to say.
Think of your piece of writing as a road trip. On this road trip you've decided which way
you want to go, how you are going to get there, and with whom you are traveling.
Where you're going is your topic, how you're getting there is your type of writing, and
who you're going with is your audience. Whether it be fiction or non-fiction, once you
have chosen what you want to talk about and who you are writing for, you need to
decide which of the four writing avenues to take.
• Textbook writing.
• How-to articles.
• Recipes.
Non-example:
Everyone knows that the best part
about fall is all of the pumpkin-flavored
desserts. Pumpkin pie is the best fall
treat because it is not only delicious but
also nutritious. Pumpkin is filled with
vitamin A, which is essential for a
healthy, immune system and good
vision.
• Poetry
Example:
Non-example:
Even though this example uses adjectives, you can tell that
this is not an example of descriptive writing because the
purpose is not to describe the phone—it’s to persuade you
to buy a case.
• Advertisements.
• Letter of recommendation.
• Letter of complaint.
• Cover letters
Example:
3. Narrative Writing:
Narrative writing, used to describe an event or tell a story. This type of writing is the most
emotionally extensive and engaging. It usually contains specific details and dialogue and
makes the reader want to know what comes next. It follows a flow of ideas and uses
transitions to link different events. A good narrative essay includes specific details to make
the incident come to life for the reader and focuses on creating a mental picture for the reader.
Key Points:
• A person tells a story or event.
• Has characters and dialogue.
• Novels
• Short stories
• Novellas
• Poetry
• Autobiographies or biographies
• Anecdotes
• Oral histories
Example:
Non-example:
While this would serve as a worthy setting for a story, it would need a
plot before it could be called a narrative.
4. Analytical writing:
The writer should have extensive knowledge of the subject as this includes a critical analysis
of the topic, the main purpose of this writing is to inform the reader about the topic as well as
tell him/her about the writer’s opinion on the topic. A good analytical essay has clarity of
thought and adopts a rather persuasive style of writing. The texts we read on a daily basis
are a combination of the above-mentioned styles, for example, a novel is usually written
in a descriptive and narrative manner as it has to paint a picture and tell a story as well as
indulge the reader. A newspaper article can be written in argumentative, explanatory and
analytical way or a combination of these.
CONCLUSION
These are the five different types of writing that are generally used. There are many sub-
types of writing that may fall in any of those categories. A writer must know all these styles in
order to identify the purpose of his or her own writing and make sure it's something the
audience wants to read.
B. TOPIC: PARAGRAPH WRITING
INTRODUCTION -
A paragraph means a number of sentences grouped together and relating to one topic.
It is a group of related sentences that pertain to a single theme. A paragraph is a small
unit of composition. All the sentences in a paragraph reflect the same idea. A
paragraph may be short or long depending upon the amount of matter to be
expressed.
A paragraph may contain an opinion, a description of something, a story or
some information. It helps the reader to assimilate the contents easily
provided the paragraph is well-structured.
Essays, chapters and other prose compositions are broken into paragraphs to make the
reading of them easier. Generally, a new paragraph makes a change of topic. Any essay
or chapter when divided properly into paragraphs looks interesting and is easy to read.
How to write a paragraph:
These four essential elements can change a normal paragraph into a graceful
paragraph:
1: UNITY – Every paragraph has one single, controlling idea that is expressed in its
topic sentence, which is typically the first sentence of the paragraph. Decide which
point drives the rest and then write it as your topic sentence.
2: ORDER - Order refers to the way you organise your supporting sentences. In a well
organised paragraph, the readers follow along easily, aided by the pattern you have
established. Order helps the reader group your meaning and avoid confusion.
3: COHERENCE - Coherence is the quality that makes your writing understandable. One
of the best ways to achieve coherence is to use transition words. These words create
bridges from one sentence to the next. A point of view is an important ingredient for
coherency.
6. The concluding sentence or the last sentence of the paragraph should summarize
your main idea by reinforcing your topic sentence.
PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
A basic paragraph structure usually consists of five sentences:
● The topic sentence
● Three supporting sentences
● The concluding sentences
Principles of Paragraph Structure:
1. UNITY
The first and most important principle to be observed in constructing a
paragraph is that of unity. Just as each sentence deals with one thought,
each paragraph must deal with one topic or idea and with no more than
one. In writing an essay, for example, every head, and every sub-head,
should have its own paragraph to itself and every sentence in the
paragraph must be closely connected with the main topic of the paragraph
itself. The paragraph and every part of it must be the expression of one
theme or topic.
2. ORDER
The second principle of paragraph construction is order — that is, logical
sequence of through or development of the subject. Events must be
related in the order of their occurrence, and all ideas should be connected
with the leading idea and arranged according to their importance or order.
3. VARIETY
A third principle of paragraph construction is variety; by which is meant
that, to avoid monotony, the paragraph of composition should be of
different lengths, and not always of the same sentence construction.
A useful way of understanding paragraph structure is to think of it as a
block that is divided into three sections: the beginning, the middle, and the
end.
A basic paragraph follows this structure:
Topic Sentence (TS) - the beginning
• Needs to state one idea clearly •
Useful Tip: Always put the most important information first! Supporting
Sentences (SS) - the middle
• Elaborates and explains the idea introduced in the topic sentence
• Provides evidence and examples
• Explains the evidence or example included - why is irrelevant?
TOPIC SENTENCE
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
This final sentence often summarizes the paragraph and re-states the topic
sentence. The conclusion is the end of the essay, and it is what the reader
will remember most. Since the conclusion paragraph is the last part of the
essay, writers must make a strong statement to leave a positive and
memorable impression.
Your conclusion should not :
• add a new idea just because you have thought of it at the end.
• repeat the exact same words.
• be a simple summary—avoid repeating what you have already said.
– A brief summary of your argument may be useful, but shorter
essays do not require a restatement of your main ideas.
• use phrases like “in conclusion,” “to conclude,” “in summary,” and “to
sum up.”
– Avoid being formulaic
– Readers can see that the essay is about to end
– Do not state the obvious
• apologize—do not undercut your authority
Your conclusion should :
• finish the essay and tell the reader where the writer has
brought them
• convey a sense of completeness and closure
• be direct and confident
• creatively restate the main idea/thesis of the essay
• remind your reader about the most important aspects of your
essay
• contain echoes of the introduction and body paragraphs
without listing the points covered in the essay
• create a broader implication of the ideas discussed
• leave your reader even more interested in your topic and
Ideas
Example 1
The most important problem in our city is its poor public transportation
system (Topic Sentence). Thousands of residents rely on the city’s buses
and taxis to travel throughout this large city, while the metro
transportation system’s daily schedules are totally reliable. A bus or taxi
that should arrive at 7:45 may not arrive until 8:00 or later. Moreover, it is
not unusual for a bus driver to pass up group of people waiting for the bus
because he wants to make up for lost time. Unfortunately, people often
end up going to work late or missing important appointments (Supporting
Sentence). In order for people to get to their destinations on time,
people must allow for waiting time at the bus and taxis stop (Concluding
Sentence).
Example 2
I’ve learned from experience that good friendships are based on a
delicate balance (Topic Sentence). When friends are on par, personally
and professionally, it’s easier for them to root for one another. It’s taken
me a long time to realize that not all my friends wish me well. Someone
who wants what you have and may not be able to handle your good
fortune. If you find yourself apologizing for your hard-earned raise or
soft-pedalling your long-awaited promotion, it’s a sure sign that a
friendship is off balance (Supporting Details). Real friends are secure
enough in their own lives to share each other’s successes - not
begrudge them (Conclusion).
Example 3
There are several possible reasons why my father is in excellent health,
even though he is over seventy years of age (Topic statement). First, he
is in excellent condition because he has stopped smoking cigarettes. He
quit smoking cigarettes since whenever he climbed stairs, he would
quickly stop several times and cough loudly. He also has good health as a
result of stopping eating the wrong kind of foods. For example, whereas
before he would eat fatty red meat and deep-fried dishes several times a
week. Nowadays he seldom does so. He is also in good physical shape,
for he exercises a lot. He swims three times a week at the local gym, and
on sunny days he prefers to walk rather than take the bus (Supporting
statement). In conclusion, my father is in better shape than some of his
children (Conclusion).
1. Lexical Comprehension
2. Literal Comprehension
3. Interpretive Comprehension
4. Applied Comprehension
5. Affective Comprehension
To really understand these different levels, let's take a familiar text and see how different
types of questions probe different understandings of the same story.
The fairy tale Cinderella tells the story of a young girl, whose evil stepmother won't let
her go to the ball. Cinderella’s fairy godmother, however, magically whisks her off for
the night and Cinderella eventually marries her Prince Charming.
Why Reading Comprehension Is Important
Proper reading comprehension can be difficult, so why bother? Even though
learning how to properly read and comprehend texts is a complicated
process, it is a necessary skill to master, both for work and for pleasure.
You will need to know how to read and interpret all kinds of different texts—
both on the basic, literal level and on a more in-depth level—throughout your
schooling, in college, and in the working world (as well as in your recreation
time!). If we think about "reading" just as a literal or surface understanding of a
piece and "reading comprehension" as the complete understanding, a
person can only get by in the world on pure "reading" for so long.
• Reading and understanding texts from your other class subjects, such as
history, math, or science
• Doing well on both the written and math sections of the SAT (or all five sections
of the ACT)
• Understanding and engaging with current events presented in written form, such
as news reports
Before you can improve your reading comprehension, you must first understand
how you’re currently reading and what your limitations are.
Start by selecting excerpts from different texts with which you are unfamiliar—
text books, essays, novels, news reports, or any kind of text you feel you
particularly struggle to understand—and read them as you would normally. As
you read, see if you can notice when your attention, energy, or
comprehension of the material begins to flag.
If you find that your concentration or comprehension starts to lag again, take a
step back on your timing before pushing yourself for more. Improvement
comes with time, and it'll only cause frustration if you try to rush it all at once.
Alternatively, you may find that your issues with reading comprehension
have less to do with the time spent reading than with the source material
itself. Perhaps you struggle to comprehend the essential elements of a text, the
context of a piece, character arcs or motivation, books or textbooks with densely
packed information, or material that is heavily symbolic. If this is the case, then
be sure to follow the tips below to improve these areas of reading
comprehension weakness.
Improving your reading comprehension level takes time and practice, but
understanding where your strengths and weaknesses stand now is the first step
towards progress.
To get started, you'll need some blank index cards and a system to keep them
organized. These basic cards are an affordable option that are also available
in fun colours. You can keep them organized with plastic baggies or rubber
bands, or you can get an organizer. Alternatively, try these easy-flip
flashcards that include binder clips. Though we strongly recommend making
your own flashcards, you can also buy pre-made ones —the best option is
Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know, a series of exercises to master key
words and idioms.
The best way to improve your reading comprehension level is through practice.
And the best way to practice is to have fun with it!
Make reading a fun activity, at least on occasion, rather than a constant chore.
This will motivate you to engage with the text and embrace the activity as part of
your daily life (rather than just your study/work life). As you practice and truly
engage with your reading material, improvement will come naturally.
Begin by reading texts that are slightly below your age and grade
level (especially if reading is frustrating or difficult for you). This will take
pressure off of you and allow you to relax and enjoy the story.
Once you feel more comfortable reading and practicing your comprehension
strategies (tips in the next section), go ahead and allow yourself to read at
whatever reading or age level you feel like. Even if you feel that you don't
understand some of the text right now—or even a large portion of it! —if you
enjoy yourself and give it your best shot, you'll find that your reading
comprehension levels will improve over time.
.
4. TOPIC: PRECIS WRITING
Precis (pray-see, pl. pray-seez) writing is a basic and very useful skill. It has been
variously referred to as 'abbreviation', 'subtraction', 'abstract', 'summary', and
'condensation'. The French gave it the name 'precis' - the pruning away of all that is
inessential. Definition: "A precis is a brief, original summary of the important ideas
given in a long selection. Its aim is to give the general effect created by the original
selection." It is a concise and lucid summary that forsakes all unnecessary details
(including illustrations, amplifications, and embellishments) in favor of reproducing
the logic, development, organization and emphasis of the original. Retaining the
substance of a fuller statement, it seeks to articulate other authors thoughts by
extracting the maximum amount of information and carefully conveying it in a
minimum number of words.
The Purpose:
Precis writing aims at intelligent reading and clear, accurate writing. It is a skill of
both analysis and genesis that critically questions every thought included and
excluded, each word used to express those thoughts, and the proportions and
arrangements of those thoughts - both in the original and in the precis. In its
exaction it mercilessly reveals an author's wordiness and looseness or thinness of
thought and construction. It should strengthen our style, our sense of proportion and
emphasis, and our sensitivity to word meanings and an author's viewpoint,
4. 4. Summarize only what the author says; do not add your own opinions.
6. 6. Ask whether the precis is clear to one who has not seen the original.
6. A precis title must be cold and matter of fact, not attractive to the
imaginative mind. It is a precis of the precis.
1. Are the opening sentences brief and to the point? Which is best?
2. Which opening sentence tends to show best what the passage expresses?
METHOD:
"It will be well to remember the object of precis writing: a brief and clear
summary - or precis - of what you have first carefully read. No words,
phrases, clauses, or sentences which are unessential to the thought of the
selection, are considered. Every unnecessary word is discarded until all that
you have left is the thought, the dominating ide4 of what you have read.
Then in your own words, give this thought as briefly and clearly as possible.
Your sentences must be carefully constructed. Do
First Reading:
1. Read every word slowly and carefully until you clearly understand the
sense of the passage.
3. Identify the dominating ide4 the essential thought, of the passage. Ask if
this idea were omitted, would the fundamental meaning of the passage be
changed?
4. Determine what emphasis and space to give the thought in each section;
write a heading for each section.
Second Reading:
2. Reread your selections to see that they are wise and adequate.
Rapidly and intensely reread the origin, dwelling on the important facts
selected for a precis.
First Copy:
Did you retain the logical order and development of these thoughts?
Is your precis clear to one who has not seen the original?
Final Copy:
2. Condense wherever you can, substituting single words for phrases and
phrases for longer clauses.
5. Reduce verbiage while still making the point and retaining some of the
flavor and spirit of the original.
6. Be fair to the sentiments expressed, even if you don't agree with them.
7. Rewrite neatly.
• Start your precis with the main idea so that reader can quickly understand
the essence of the precis
• He/she will know beforehand as to what should they expect in the written
precis
• While writing a precis, make a suitable environment where all the points
can be described and discussed equally.
• As the main idea or the essence is established, you can follow it up with
some methods, facts, points, etc
• As a precis is concise, compress it and make sure that the length is
available for you to retain the important data, keywords, and the concept
• Removing the irrelevant data or sentence is as important as writing the
relevant points
• Thus, identify the superfluous data and facts and keep the core idea of the
work only in the precis
• If you are mentioning anything related to history or any historical data than
make sure that it is written in the past tense only
• Also, remember to put the purpose as to why you are writing a precis in the
writing piece
• This will help the reader understand what you wrote in the precis