TEXT TYPES
1. NARRATIVE IN LITERATURE PURPOSE:
PURPOSE: To entertain through telling a story, develop real or imagined experiences
KEY FEATURES: -Vivid details -Interesting events -Clear storytelling
EXAMPLE: There was a man of Ch’i who desired to have gold. He dressed up properly and went out to the market in
early morning. He went straight to the gold dealer’s shop and snatched the gold away and walked off. The officers
arrested him and questioned him: “Why, the people were all there. Why did you rob them of the gold in broad daylight?”
And the man replied, “I only saw the gold. I didn’t see any people.” – LiehTzu
2. EXPOSITORY
PURPOSE: To analyze a set of information, investigate an idea, or evaluate evidences
KEY FEATURES: -Claim/ topic -Supporting evidences -Precise and specific
-Data presentation tools (graph, diagram, table, charts, etc.)
EXAMPLE: The key to our success has been absolute transparency with the public – sharing every detail of how this
virus is evolving, how it is spreading and what the government is doing about it, warts and all. Testing is absolutely critical
with a fasttravelling virus like this. We have tested over 350,000 cases so far – some patients are tested many times
before they are released, so we can say they are fully cured. Altogether, we’re talking about one out of 145 or one out of
150 people having been tested so far. – South Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, World Economic Forum
3. EXPLANATORY
PURPOSE: To provide new knowledge, explain a process, or define a concept
KEY FEATURES: -Specific topic -Use of present tense -Clear and objective discussion
-Well-researched information
EXAMPLE: A novel coronavirus (CoV) is a new strain of coronavirus. Initially, the disease caused by the novel
coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China, has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – ‘CO’ stands for
corona, ‘VI’ for virus, and ‘D’ for disease. Like other respiratory illnesses, it can cause mild symptoms including a runny
nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. It can be more severe for some persons and can lead to pneumonia or breathing
difficulties and organ failure. - Unicef.org/Vietnam
4. RECOUNT (FACTUAL AND PERSONAL)
PURPOSE: To retell an event or experience – writer did not experience the moment but wrote about it (Factual) or the
writer talks about an event that he/she experienced (Personal)
KEY FEATURES: -Sequenced events -Use of past tense
-Specific people, places, and things described -Introduction, recount, end
EXAMPLE: I could only think of two things: if I have it, how to keep from infecting my wife and little boy; and infecting all
these other people in the train. Anxiety sank in more deeply as I began putting the pieces together. At that time, our care
facility did not have enough personal protective equipment and there was a lack of disinfectant. My colleagues and I had
to create our own masks out of gauze bandages, while more and more patients were testing positive each day. The risk
was high. – Eugene, a32- year old nurse and a Covid-19 Survivor
5. PERSUASIVE
PURPOSE: To inform and persuade readers by presenting bias, advocacy, or argument.
KEY FEATURES: -Proposition, Claim, Argument -Discussion of supporting details and analysis
-Use of evocative and effective language -Powerful verbs
-Summary or Call to action
EXAMPLE: Most countries still have sporadic cases or defined clusters. We must all take heart from that. As long as that’s
the case, those countries have the opportunity to break the chains of transmission, prevent community transmission and
reduce the burden on their health systems. The rule of the game is: never give up. Let hope be the antidote to fear. Let
solidarity be the antidote to blame. Let our shared humanity be the antidote to our shared threat. – WHO Director-General
Tedhos Adhanom
