Mastering Argumentative and Narrative Text Structures

Understanding Argumentative Text

Argumentative text aims to express opinions or refute ideas in order to persuade a recipient. The referential function predominates, presenting the basic idea, while the appellate function appears during the development of arguments. The argument attempts to demonstrate, persuade, or change a previous idea (thesis).

Structure of Argumentative Writing

• Introduction: Usually consists of a brief exposition of the topic where the argument is presented.
• Development: It provides arguments to confirm or reject the thesis. From these arguments, partial conclusions may arise that lead to new arguments.
• Conclusion: In this section, the argument is revisited to reinforce it.

A fundamental aspect of the argument is the order of ideas, which makes it possible to understand the structure of the content. It is organized into paragraphs. The relationships between the parts of the argument are made explicit by textual markers or connectors, and ideas must be presented clearly and directly. Verbs predominate in the first and second person.

Understanding Narrative Text

Narrative is a kind of text that includes real or fictional events that happen to characters in a certain time and space.

Structure of Narrative Texts

The external structure is how the text is distributed. The internal structure refers to the content and depends on the order in which events occur and the narrative point of view.

External Structure Components

The external structure organizes the text in paragraph form, which can be called: paragraphs (short stories), chapters (novels, TV series), parts (novels, plays), treatises (narratives), books (lengthy narratives), sequences, acts and scenes, or head and body.

Internal Structure Components

The internal structure consists of a beginning, middle, and ending.

Narrative Order and Chronology

Regarding chronological order, we find the following narrative structures:

• Linear: We follow the chronological order of the events.
• In medias res: The story begins in the middle of the narration and then goes backward.
• Flashback: The narrator returns to the past from the present.
• Counterpoint: Alternating different narrative sequences.

Types of Narrators

• Omniscient narrator: Knows everything about the characters.
• Outside observer: Tells only what can be seen; the narrator shows but does not explain.
• Protagonist narrator: The narrator is the main character.
• Minor character narrator: The narrator is a secondary figure in the story.