The Modes of Writing: Creative, Narrative, Expository and Persuasive

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The Modes of WritingCreative, Narrative,
Expository and Persuasive

• Dale M. Scott

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Creative/Imaginative WritingHeres What I
Imagine

• The primary purpose of this mode of writing is to
  entertain the reader. Writers imagine, invent,
  explore.
• Ex Novel, Short Story, Play,
• Poetry, Film Script, etc.

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Narrative/Expressive/Personal WritingHeres
What I Remember

• This type of writing tells about an event and
  recounts a personal experience based on something
  which might or might not have really happened.
  All of the details work together to create a
  complete story with a beginning, middle, and end.
  Expressive communication involved sharing
  personal experiences and insights. The
  writer/speaker addresses the reader/listener as a
  confidant, a friendly interested audiences.
• Ex Autobiography, Memorial, Anecdotes,
• Journal Responses.

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Expository/Explanatory WritingHeres What I
Understand

• This type of writing gives information, explains
  something, clarifies, or defines. The writing
  reveals the readers understanding through a mix
  of key points and critical support. The writer
  of an explanatory text is a knowledgeable teacher
  addressing a learner. Exposition uses language
  to inform readers/listeners, to explain or prove
  a topic, or to explore a topic.
• Ex Types of writing include Process/How-to,
  Cause
• Effect, Problem/Solution,
  Comparison/Contrast,
• Definition, and Classification.
• Ex Forms of writing include Essays, Summaries,
• Newspaper articles, Reflective papers.

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Persuasive/ArgumentativeHeres What I Stand For

• The primary purpose of persuasive writing is to
  give an opinion and try to influence the readers
  way of thinking with supportive evidence.
  Persuasive writing attempts to convince the
  reader that a point of view is valid or to
  persuade the reader to take a specific action.
  It is a debatable topic where there could be more
  than one point of view. Persuasive writing
  differs from expository writing in that it does
  more than explain, it also takes a stand and
  tries to persuade the reader to take that same
  stand.
• Uses the following to convince readers/listeners
• LOGOS Logic and Evidence
• ETHOS Ethics (Morals/Values)/Authority
• PATHOS Emotions
• Controversial Issues Death Penalty, Abortion,
  Gay Marriage, etc.

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You May Have Even Heard of Descriptive Writing

• Basically, Descriptive writing is used to
  describe a person, place, thing, event, or idea
  using the five senses
• SIGHT, SMELL, HEAR, TASTE, TOUCH