Defining Text Types: Features, Structures, and Genres
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Understanding Text Types
Narrative Texts
Stories of real or imaginary events, featuring characters in space and time.
Descriptive Texts
Presents people, objects, etc., with all their details and features.
Directive Texts
Reports clearly, objectively, and accurately in order to guide the performance of an activity.
Predictive Texts
Announces what will happen in the future.
Expository Texts
Provides information organized logically and hierarchically on any topic.
Argumentative Texts
Exposes a series of reasoned arguments to convince the receiver on a topic or opinion.
Discourse Genres and Text Type Examples
Narrative Discourse Genres
Literature:
- Novel
- Tale
- Mythological narrative
- Legend
- Epic
- Romance
- Comic
- Movie script
Journalism:
- Chronicle
- Sports reportage
- News
History:
- Chronicle
Professional:
- Activity report
- Memos
- Letters
Descriptive Discourse Genres
Literary:
- Portrait
- Caricature
- Descriptive poem
Journalism:
- Portrait
- Caricature
Scientific:
- Scientific or technical description
- Classification
Metalinguistic:
- Lexicon definition graphics
- Descriptive grammar
Expository/Explanatory Discourse Genres
Didactic:
- Textbook
- Classroom exposition
- Conference presentation
Journalism:
- News
- Documentary
- Informative article
Scientific:
- Scientific monograph
- Thesis
- Conference communication
Argumentative Discourse Genres
Literature:
- Essay
Journalism:
- Criticism
- Review
- Debate
- Discussion
Professional:
- Advertising
- Rallies
- Parliamentary debate
- Formal request (instance)
- Letter
Scientific:
- Panel discussion
- Essay
- Thesis
Predictive Discourse Genres
Journalism:
- Weather forecast
- Stock forecast
- Horoscope
Scientific:
- Weather forecast
- Seismic forecast
Directive/Instructional Discourse Genres
DIY:
- Recipes
- Assembly instructions
Scientific:
- Scientific guidelines
Informative:
- Manuals
- Guides
Metalinguistic:
- Grammar books
- Style books
- Manual entry
Professional:
- Work protocols
- Guidance documents
- Forms
Detailed Characteristics of Text Types
Narrative Texts
Nature: Real or fantastic.
Intentionality: To relate facts and processes.
Structure: Chronological time and narrative sequence. Parts typically include: introduction (approach), development (climax/main events), and resolution (outcome).
Tense: Perfect tense is often used.
Forms: Fiction, traditional stories, memoirs, historical accounts, news, articles, screenplays, comics.
Descriptive Texts
Focus: To highlight outstanding qualities of people, places, objects, or phenomena.
Order: Often spatial (e.g., top-down, left-to-right), or from general to specific (or vice-versa).
Elements: Naming (identifying characteristics) and expansion (providing qualifying details).
Language: Rich in adjectives, comparisons, and often uses verbs in the imperfect tense.
Instructional/Directive Texts
Purpose: To guide the performance of an activity or order actions.
Structure: Often includes a list of materials needed and a sequence of ordered steps.
Language: Uses periphrasis of obligation (e.g., "you must," "should") and the imperative mood.
Predictive Texts
Purpose: To announce future events or outcomes.
Order: Often thematic.
Language: Uses future tense, adverbs of time, periphrasis of probability (e.g., "may," "might," "likely to"), and specialized vocabulary relevant to the domain of prediction.
Expository/Explanatory Texts
Purpose: To present information and knowledge clearly and objectively.
Organization: Logical organization of ideas (e.g., cause-effect, comparison-contrast, problem-solution).
Structure: Typically includes an introduction, development, and conclusion. May include personal opinion (if appropriate for the genre) and sources of information.
Tense: Verbs are often in the present and past tenses.
Argumentative Texts
Purpose: Employs logic and reasoning to establish a convincing relationship between a thesis (a brief statement to be defended) and supporting arguments, aiming to persuade the audience.
Structure: Typically includes an introduction (presenting the topic and thesis), development (presenting arguments and evidence), and conclusion (summarizing and reinforcing the thesis).
Language: Uses verbs emphasizing belief or opinion (e.g., "believe," "think," "argue," "contend"), logical connectors, and rhetorical devices.