Characteristics of Literary and Argumentative Texts

Literary Texts

Literary texts allow us to affirm their literariness. The issuer can be an external circuit to the internal one of the author and may or may not be the author. The receptor, the reader, in every literary work is created by the implied reader within the work itself. Communication in literature presents differences because the receptor is also an issuer, and they are in different communication situations.

The literary message differs from other texts because its sole purpose is not practical. The literary character of a work creates a new reality, a different world, not a real one. The reader considers it true or false according to their task.

The ordering of contents is conditioned by the modes of discourse (narrative, description, dialogue, expression; verse, prose) and subgenres (lyric, narrative, dramatic). The poetic function is the dominant factor in the literary statement. The register is normally cultured.

General Traits

• Communicative situation: author-receptor/emitter-reader
• Message: text
• Specific code: literary language

Analysis Points

• Authors' determined position regarding intentionality.
• Determination of the lyric text.
• Functions of the language that predominates.
• Analysis of the levels of language: phonological, morphosyntactic.
• Narrative: forms of locution (narration, narration-description, dialogue, digressions).
• Predominant language: representational.
• External structure: paragraphs.
• Internal structure: linear, prospective, etc.
• In dialogue: direct or indirect.
• Levels of style: of the language.
• Morphosyntactic: highlight the use of verbs.
• Poetic function of literary language: highlight significant resources.

Argumentative Texts

An argumentative text is used to support an opinion or to demonstrate a fact. Its intention is to convince. Factual argumentation is typical of science and attempts to show whether a fact occurs.

Elements of Argumentation

• The subject
• The thesis
• Arguments

Structure of Argumentative Texts

The structure usually consists of 3 parts:

• Introduction (theme and thesis)
• Body (arguments)
• Conclusion (summary)

The logical order is:

• Analytical structure (thesis at the beginning)
• Synthesizing structure (thesis at the end)
• Framed structure (thesis at the beginning and conclusion at the end)
• Parallel structure (all ideas are developed successively)

Types of Arguments

• Of authority (author)
• Pragmatic (good / bad)
• Aesthetic (beauty / ugliness)
• Ethical (morality / immorality)
• Hedonistic (pleasure / pain)

Purpose and Composition

According to its purpose: Rational arguments (based on facts); a) logical, b) analogical. Affective arguments purpose: persuasion.

Mode of composition:

1. Facts are exposed.
2. A thesis is proposed.
3. Arguments are presented.
4. Conclusion.