THE MODES OF WRITING:

HOW TO WRITE FOR DIFFERENT

PURPOSESCreated forEdmond Public Schools©

NARRATIVE WRITING

The Purpose of Narrative Writing:

To tell a storyTo recreate an

experience (real or imagined)

To give an account(fiction or nonfiction)

Use the following strategies to write

narrative text:

Plan your story with conflict and resolution

in mind.Think of the conflict as a problem, a mystery, a question, or a lesson

to be learned.

Include all important elements:

characterssetting

events or plotconflict

resolution

Grab the reader’s attention with an

exciting or unexpected

lead!

Set the stage; time and place are

important. Setting creates a mood or

tone.

Make complex characters who “grow” or learn

something.

Tell how someone

struggled, changed, or

made something

happen.

Use dialogue and action to

present characterization; in other words,

let the character’s words and

deeds show what he/she is

like.

Use foreshadowing to make the events

believable.

Solve a mystery or build up to a

discovery.

Make the reader wonder

what will happen.

Use chronological sequence:beginning,middle,end.

Once you resolve the conflict, end your story before you become boring.

DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

Purpose:To tell about the

characteristics of a person, place, or thing

To tell about the features of a subject,

event, or process

To create a picture in the mind of the

reader

To give the reader a

strong sense of

“being there” or

“seeing it”

Use the following strategies to write descriptive text:

Appeal to the

reader’s senses (sights, sounds,

feelings...).

Close your eyes and try to “be

there.”Look for and listen to the little things other

people miss.

Pay attention to the unusual.

Practice observing people, actions, and situations carefully;

take notes in a journal.

Use figurative language to develop images.

Choose words that double as images rather

than using mere descriptive words.

Use strong action

verbs to bring the piece to

life.

Make the reader able to

picture it through

word choice.

Vary your sentence structure.

Details become the “icing on the cake” as you describe.

Find vivid, exciting adjectives and adverbs.

Compare and contrast things that seem similar or

different.

Let your own personality

(your “voice”) shine through!

EXPOSITORY WRITING

Purpose:

To informTo explain an issue, a

situation, or point of viewTo share facts about a

particular subjectTo guide the reader to a clear understanding of

the subject

Use the following strategies to write

expository text:

Know your topic!Research carefully to find all appropriate facts on your topic.Select only the best

information from your research.

Organize points by order of importance or

degree.

Make sure that each fact clearly

relates to the topic.Be choosy! You can’t tell everything!

Be picky!

Supporting Details:

Use statistics.Use examples.

Use reasons.

Liven it up by using a good story (anecdote)

to make a point.

Use figurative language; without it,

your writing is

like a clock

without a battery!

Use a variety of sentence

structures or your reader

will fall asleep.

Use clear language by paying attention

to your word

choice.

Tell about the causes of something.

Tell about how to do something.

Tell about the different kinds of something.

Turn a little-known subject into a familiar

subject.

Read your paper from another person’s point

of view. Have your anticipated

the reader’s questions? Have you addressed

them before they were even asked?

PERSUASIVE WRITING

Purpose:To change the reader’s

mind or attitude

To influence the reader’s thinking

To prompt the reader to do something

To convince the reader to accept the writer’s

position or opinion

To take a clear stand on something and

stick with it

Use the following strategies to write persuasive text:

Dig up all of the facts first!

Make sure that the evidence does not lack

credibility.

Sort through all available information to choose the strongest, most convincing points.

Leave out weak,

unconvincing, or

misleading information.

Consider all sides, but argue in favor of

only one;don’t be wishy-washy.

Make your opinion strong by backing it up with strong facts.

Impress the reader with your knowledge

of the facts.

Make your position obvious through

clear word choice.

Revise, revise, revise!

Use a variety of sentence structures to

keep the reader’s interest.

Use transitional language

for a smooth,

fluent flow of ideas.

Use figurative language;

the mighty

metaphor is a

powerful tool in

persuasive writing.

Ask others to read your

paper to judge

whether you have

constructed your

argument clearly

enough.

Never lose

sight of your main

point or thesis

statement!