Types of Writing

NarrativeDescriptiveExpositoryPersuasive

Purpose

To entertainTo informTo show To persuade

Paragraph Format

1. Indent

2. Attention Grabber/Hook

3. Topic Sentence/Thesis Statement

4. Supporting Details

5. Conclusion or transition to the next paragraph

Narrative

Narrative

Shares a personal experience from lifeWritten in first-person point of viewShows the author’s thoughts and

feelingsElaborates on eventsConclusion states why the event was

meaningful

Narrative

Narrative

Narrative

Personal Narrative Prompt #1endure: to suffer patiently (verb)

Write a funny story (personal narrative) that tells how you endured a very boring day. Use a lot of exaggeration to make your story humorous. Write at least 3 paragraphs of 6-8 sentences.

Descriptive

Descriptive

Paints a picture in the readers’ minds, and that the writer uses colorful language to tell what a person, place, thing, or idea is like

Includes language that appeals to the five senses. (Sensory words.)

“Shows” rather than tells Uses actions and dialogue as part of the

description

Descriptive

For descriptions of places, consider using spatial order.

For descriptions of events, consider using chronological order.

For descriptions of people, animals, or objects, consider using order of importance.

Descriptive

Descriptive

Descriptive

Valentine Write Prompt (Descriptive Essay)

ideal: perfect; exists only within your imagination (adjective)

Choose one of the following prompts and be sure to write in letter format. Use figurative language…specifically imagery (appeal to each of the five senses).

Descriptive Prompt #1

Love may be years away for you, but you might already have a vague idea of what you’ll look for in an ideal mate. What do you imagine this person looks like? What kind of job will he/she have? Will he/she have to share your values and beliefs, or can you imagine being with someone quite different from you? Write a love letter to this ideal mate.

Descriptive Prompt #2

Pretend to be an item from Box 1. Your ideal mate is an item from Box 2. Write a love letter from the point of view of your item from Box 1 to your mate from Box 2.

Box 1 Box 2Chocolate bar

glass

TV

pencil

hot air balloon

hot rod

butterfly

basketball

marshmallow

juice

DVD player

Paper

sky

chrome wheels

flower

hoop

Expository

Expository

Explains an event, concept, or idea using facts and examples

Has a major purpose presenting information about a subject.

Tells what happened when (gives the facts) . . . Explains how to (gives directions) …Describes how to (makes idea clear)…

Expository writing is usually based on what a writer already knows or has researched

Expository Examples

BiographiesDirectionsNews storiesResearch

reports

SummariesExpository essays

– Compare/Contrast– Cause/Effect

Expository

Expository

Expository

Expository Prompt(Compare/Contrast)

extravagant: excessively expensive (adjective)

futile: worthless; useless (adjective) Think about the most extravagant gift you’ve

ever received and the most futile gift you’ve ever received. Compare and contrast these two gifts.

Use a Venn Diagram to get your thoughts organized.

Compare/Contrast Format

Paragraph 1 – Attention Getter & statement of the two gifts

Paragraph 2 – Describe each gift

Paragraph 3 – Compare the two gifts; why was the one your most extravagant and the other your most futile?

Paragraph 4 – Offer a summary stating your feelings toward the gifts? End with a plea for more extravagant gifts.

Persuasive

Persuasive Examples

Stating a PositionProblem-Solution

Persuasive

Persuasive

Persuasive

Persuasive Prompt #1 (Stating a Position)

flatter: to praise too much and without meaning (verb)

Your teachers are thinking about assigning a week’s worth of homework over your long break, because they just don’t want you to forget what you’ve learned so far this year.

Persuasive Prompt #1 (cont.)

Write a persuasive letter to convince them to not give you the homework assignments (Hint: Use strong arguments against assigning the work and use lots of flattery as well).

Refer to p. 762-767 in your Literature book for help.

Persuasive Prompt #2 (Problem/Solution)

mediate: to work with opposing sides to settle or resolve a disagreement (verb)

Imagine that you’re the parent of three children. You’ve given them an Xbox 360 (Future Edition) for Christmas. They can’t seem to agree on what games to play. As their parent you are the mediator. Instead of simply taking the games away or punishing the children, you must help them to settle the argument.

Persuasive Prompt #2 (cont.)

Follow the format below to create a problem/solution essay that helps them to solve this conflict.

For help, refer to p. 206-211 in your Literature Book.

Paragraph 1 – Identify the problem

Paragraph 2 – Offer possible solutions

Paragraph 3 – Anticipate objections

Paragraph 4 – Offer a summary of what you recommend