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THE MODES OF WRITING:
HOW TO WRITE FOR DIFFERENT
PURPOSESCreated forEdmond Public Schools©
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The Purpose of Narrative Writing:
To tell a storyTo recreate an
experience (real or imagined)
To give an account(fiction or nonfiction)
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Use the following strategies to write
narrative text:
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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.
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Include all important elements:
characterssetting
events or plotconflict
resolution
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Grab the reader’s attention with an
exciting or unexpected
lead!
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Set the stage; time and place are
important. Setting creates a mood or
tone.
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Make complex characters who “grow” or learn
something.
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Tell how someone
struggled, changed, or
made something
happen.
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Use dialogue and action to
present characterization; in other words,
let the character’s words and
deeds show what he/she is
like.
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Use foreshadowing to make the events
believable.
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Solve a mystery or build up to a
discovery.
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Make the reader wonder
what will happen.
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Use chronological sequence:beginning,middle,end.
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Once you resolve the conflict, end your story before you become boring.
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DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
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Purpose:To tell about the
characteristics of a person, place, or thing
To tell about the features of a subject,
event, or process
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To create a picture in the mind of the
reader
To give the reader a
strong sense of
“being there” or
“seeing it”
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Use the following strategies to write descriptive text:
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Appeal to the
reader’s senses (sights, sounds,
feelings...).
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Close your eyes and try to “be
there.”Look for and listen to the little things other
people miss.
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Pay attention to the unusual.
Practice observing people, actions, and situations carefully;
take notes in a journal.
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Use figurative language to develop images.
Choose words that double as images rather
than using mere descriptive words.
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Use strong action
verbs to bring the piece to
life.
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Make the reader able to
picture it through
word choice.
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Vary your sentence structure.
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Details become the “icing on the cake” as you describe.
Find vivid, exciting adjectives and adverbs.
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Compare and contrast things that seem similar or
different.
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Let your own personality
(your “voice”) shine through!
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EXPOSITORY WRITING
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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
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Use the following strategies to write
expository text:
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Know your topic!Research carefully to find all appropriate facts on your topic.Select only the best
information from your research.
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Organize points by order of importance or
degree.
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Make sure that each fact clearly
relates to the topic.Be choosy! You can’t tell everything!
Be picky!
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Supporting Details:
Use statistics.Use examples.
Use reasons.
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Liven it up by using a good story (anecdote)
to make a point.
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Use figurative language; without it,
your writing is
like a clock
without a battery!
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Use a variety of sentence
structures or your reader
will fall asleep.
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Use clear language by paying attention
to your word
choice.
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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.
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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?
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PERSUASIVE WRITING
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Purpose:To change the reader’s
mind or attitude
To influence the reader’s thinking
To prompt the reader to do something
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To convince the reader to accept the writer’s
position or opinion
To take a clear stand on something and
stick with it
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Use the following strategies to write persuasive text:
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Dig up all of the facts first!
Make sure that the evidence does not lack
credibility.
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Sort through all available information to choose the strongest, most convincing points.
Leave out weak,
unconvincing, or
misleading information.
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Consider all sides, but argue in favor of
only one;don’t be wishy-washy.
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Make your opinion strong by backing it up with strong facts.
Impress the reader with your knowledge
of the facts.
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Make your position obvious through
clear word choice.
Revise, revise, revise!
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Use a variety of sentence structures to
keep the reader’s interest.
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Use transitional language
for a smooth,
fluent flow of ideas.
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Use figurative language;
the mighty
metaphor is a
powerful tool in
persuasive writing.
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Ask others to read your
paper to judge
whether you have
constructed your
argument clearly
enough.
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Never lose
sight of your main
point or thesis
statement!