Modes of Writing

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Modes of Writing
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• Writing test prompts can take many forms.
• The best way to prepare for a writing test is to
  know and practice the different kinds of writing.

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Narrative Writing

• Recounts a personal experience or tells a story
  based on a real event or on an imagined event.
• Focuses on relating a sequence of events and
  actions
• Writer plays the role of storyteller
• Not necessarily fiction

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• Might tell a true story about something that
  happened to you, someone you know, or a person
  from history
• Whether true or fictional, the narrative needs
• Plot
• Character
• Setting
• Narrator

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Narrative Topic

• Write a real or imagined story about a
  misunderstanding between people. It can be funny
  or serious. Tell how the misunderstanding causes
  problems for the characters and how these
  problems are resolved at the end. Develop your
  story with details.

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Descriptive Writing

• Goal is to help the reader experience the subject
  described, make the scene come alive
• Found in advertisements, stories, newspapers,
  travel guides, scientific journals
• Important to appeal to as many senses as possible
  (touch, taste, sight, smell, and sound)

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• Uses specific, vivid details
• Instead of the frosting was reddish-orange
• Say the frosting was the color of poppies
• Uses imaginative similes and metaphors
• Usually organized in spatial order (top to
  bottom, far to near, left to right, front to back)

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• Descriptive Topic
• People often have a particular place where they
  especially like to spend time, have fun, or
  relax. Think of a place (e.g. a certain room in
  your home, your backyard, the park down the
  street) that you consider your favorite. Write
  an essay describing this place and explaining why
  it is important to you.

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Expository Writing

• Expository writing is to inform or explain
  something to the reader.
• Ideas are expressed clearly with transitions has
  a beginning, middle, end.
• Writers job is to explain his or her special
  knowledge of the subject.

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Types of Expository Writing

• Explain a process (A step-by-step organization
  explaining how something works, happens, or is
  done
• Cause and effect (Examines the relationship
  between causes and effects)
• Compare and Contrast Examines the similarities
  and differences

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Types of Expository Continued

• Definition Explains a term or concept by
  listing and examining its qualities and
  characteristics
• Problem and Solution Examines aspects of a
  complex problem and explores or proposes possible
  solutions

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• Expository Topic
• People often talk about entire generations having
  certain shared beliefs, interests, and attitudes
  (such as Generation X, the Baby Boom generation,
  the World War II generation). What are some of
  the characteristics of your generation? Think of
  some of the things people in your age group have
  in common. Write an essay that explains the
  defining characteristics of your generation. Be
  specific in your explanation.

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Persuasive Writing

• Tries to convince or inspire the reader to hold a
  certain opinion or take a specific action
• Writer argues for one side of a certain cause or
  issue
• Concrete details take the form of specific pieces
  of information (facts, details, reasons,
  anecdotes)

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• Writer chooses an organization that best
  persuades the reader
• Should your strongest argument come first or
  last?
• Should you summarize the opposing point of view
  and then attack it?
• Should you focus only on your side of the
  argument?
• Answer depends on topic, audience, and writing
  style.

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Persuasive Topic

• In a letter to your principal, discuss one
  school rule (i.e. dress code, grading procedure,
  tardiness rule) that you think should be changed.
  Explain why this rule should be changed and what
  the new rule should be. Provide support for your
  suggestion.

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Literary Response

• Writer must use writing and reading skills.
• Goal is to reveal something you have discovered
  about the literature through careful reading.
• Writing should focus on an observation or opinion
  about the piece of literature.

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• Prompt may ask you to analyze character, plot,
  setting, or the use of language and use examples
  from the piece of literature.
• Writing prompts may ask you to respond to a
  passage given in the test or ask you to write
  about a work or literature youve read before
  taking the test.