Different Types of Text

1.What is text?

Text is any piece of writing.
This could be a letter, an email, a novel, a poem, a recipe, a note, instructions for D.I.Y, an article in a newspaper or magazine, writing on a webpage or an advert.
All of these examples can be called texts

When you are reading or writing any text think about the purpose of the text or why it has been written.

2. What might the purpose of a text be?

An advert might be trying to persuade you to buy something.
A letter from school might be to inform you about something.
A novel might describe somewhere or someone to you.
A car manual might instruct you how to do something to your car.

Depending on the purpose of the text, different methods will be used to get the message across to the reader.

For more specific information on some of the different types of text see the Persuasive texts, Informative texts, Instructive texts and Descriptive texts factsheets.


Persuasive texts
A persuasive text is a text that really wants you to do something

An advert might want you to buy something.
You might write a letter to persuade a friend to go on holiday with you, or to try and get off a parking ticket.
Persuasive texts might use:
• repeated words
• text in capital letters
• exclamation marks
• rhetorical questions (questions where no answer is needed)
• an emotional one-sided argument
• humour
Examples:
SPECIAL OFFER! Buy today! Would you want to miss this SPECIAL offer? Phone NOW...

"I really think that you need this holiday. You have been working very hard lately and are so worn out. Just think of how nice it will be to lie on the beach in the sunshine."

Informative texts
An informative text is a text that wants to advise or tell you about something.

A newspaper article might give you information about a health issue like giving up smoking.
A website might give you information about a movie, band or something that you are interested in.
A handout from school might be advising you about what your child will be doing during the next term.
Informative texts usually:
• avoid repetition
• contain facts
• give information in a clear way - introducing the subject and then developing it
Examples:
Make a plan to help you try and give up smoking. Plan the date you'll give up, how you'll try to deal with temptations and a list of the reasons why you are giving up to keep motivated.

Autumn term: Your child will be covering simple fractions during weeks 1-6.

Instructive texts
An instructive text is a text that instructs or tells you how to do something

A recipe wants to instruct you how to cook something.
A leaflet with a piece of furniture wants to tell you how to put it together or take care of it.
Instructive texts:
• are written as though the reader is being spoken to -
(although the word 'you' is not usually used)
• language is direct and unnecessary words are left out
• often use 'must' and 'must not'
• sometimes use diagrams or pictures to help understanding
Examples:
Put all ingredients into bowl together. Whisk until fully mixed.

Go to the end of the road and turn left past the pub on the corner. Keep walking until you come to a park and then turn right into Hawker Street.


To learn more about writing instructions, look at the Skillswise Instructions module.

Descriptive texts
A descriptive text is a text that wants you to picture what they are describing.

A novel might want you to imagine the characters and see them in your mind.
A travel book will want you to see the country it is describing.
Descriptive texts usually:
• make use of adjectives and adverbs
• use comparisons to help picture it - something is like something
• employ your five senses - how it feels, smells, looks, sounds and tastes
Examples:
The morning air was crisp and sharp as Sean walked down the road.
The pavement was slippery and cold beneath his feet like a slimy wet fish.


To learn more about words to help you describe people, places and things look at the Skillswise Describing words (adjectives) module.