13 Text Types of Writing

13 Text Types of Writing

Of course we are very familiar with the name of the text. The text itself consists of words and sentences which are arranged together in a paragraph. The text may be stories, news, experiences, or others according to the background of the paper itself. In English, there are several types of text commonly used. Each text has its own characteristics and structures. First, factual text is a text which informs, instructs or persuades by giving facts and information. Second, literary text entertains or elicits an emotional response by using language to create mental images.

Below are lists of different text types that are included in the English.

1. Factual Description 
   Factual description describes a character, a place, an event or thing using facts. The feature of functional description begins with an introductory statement, systematically describes different aspects of the subject, end with a concluding statement. Example: Landscape Descriptions
   
   
2. Factual Recount 
   This text retells events which have already happened in time order. It begins with a background information who, when, and where. It describes the series of events in time order and may end with a personal comment. Example: Historical Report.
   
3. Information Report The purpose of this text is to classify, describe and give factual information about people, animals, things or phenomena. The information report tells a general classification or definition, lists a sequence of related information about the topic, and ends with a concluding comment. Example: Facts about Ki Hajar Dewantara.
   
4. Procedure Procedure gives the instructions on how to make or do something. It usually begins with a statement of goal (could be the title), lists materials needed in order of use, gives a series of steps (instructions) in order, and each instruction begins with a verb in the present tense. Example: How to make Lontong Sayur.
   
5. Procedural Recount This type is similar with the above text. Procedural recount tells how something was made or done in time order and with accuracy. It begins with a statement of what was made or done, tells what was made in order, and written in the past tense. Example: Documentaries, Retelling a Science Experiment and Its Results.
   
6. Explanation This text explains how or why something happens. The feature of this text is:
   - Starts by naming the topic
   - Describes items related to the topic in their right order
   - Explains how the items relate to each other and to the topic- May end with a concluding statement
   - May include visual images, eg: flowcharts and diagrams, which support what is written in words
   
   - Written in the present tense
   Example: The Life Cycle of a Frog, Labelled Diagrams, and Flowcharts.
   
   
7. Exposition Exposition text gives reasons for a point of view to try and convince others of it. The feature of this text begins with a sentence that gives a point of view on a topic, lists the arguments giving reasons and evidence for them, uses convincing language such as ‘will damage’ instead of ‘may damage’.  Example: A team’s argument for a debate
   
8. Discussion This text gives different points of view in order to make an informed decision. It begins with some background information leading to the issue. Moreover, it lists arguments for and against, giving evidence for different points of view. The conclusion might sum up both sides or recommend one point of view. Example: Should the Instagram be banned?
   
9. Literary Description Literary description describes people, characters, places, events and things in an imaginative way. It describes characteristic features of the subject, such as physical appearance, behaviour. Example: Description of a character or setting within a story.
   
   
10. Literary Recount Literary recount retells events from novels, plays, films and personal experiences to entertain others. This text begins with background information, such as character, time, and place. It describes the events in time order and may end with a personal comment about the characters or events.  Example: A recount of a traditional story “Asal-Usul Sungai Kapuas”
    
11. Personal Response This text gives a personal opinion on a novel, play or film, referring to parts within the passage. The text describes how you feel about a novel, film, book or play. It lists what did and did not appeal to you. And it may comment on some of the features of the writing.  Example: What did you like about that artwork and why? Describe why you do or do not like this story/poem.
    
    
12. Review  This text is like summarises, analyses and assesses the appeal of a novel, play or film, to a broader audience. It describes how features (such as characters, plot, language features, humour, and so on) may or may not appeal. Example: commentary on a film, play, book, etc.
    
13. Narrative  Narrative text tells a story using a series of events. The scene is set in a time and place and characters are introduced. It usually has a problem that is addressed and may contain a message for the reader. Example: picture books, cartoons, mystery, fantasy, adventure, science fiction, historical fiction, fairy tales, myths, legends, fables, plays. 

Let we start our writing skill in a simple one. We may choose the type of text we want. Happy writing, guys!!!

Article by Eureka English Center