Understanding Different Text Types and Their Purposes
Text Type
– This text is mainly expository; it is based on the explanation and objective analysis of complex facts. Its main purpose is to inform us.
– This text is argumentative; it focuses on the subjective evaluation of a problem and intends to convince the addressee.
– The passage from… to… is predominantly descriptive; it focuses on spatial relations and tries to describe…
– This passage is predominantly narrative; it concentrates on perceptions in time and tells the story of…
Heading/Headline
– The heading is worded in a baffling, ambiguous, concise, or dramatic manner.
– The journalist leaves us in doubt as to what the article is about.
– The author’s purpose is to arouse the reader’s interest, baffle the reader, or shock the public.
– The question in the headline is answered…
Topic
– The general theme, topic, or subject of this text is…
– This text deals with…
– The author discusses the question of whether…
– The topic of this argumentation is…
– …is the subject of the (third) paragraph.
– The topic sentence of this paragraph (i.e., the sentence with the main idea of a paragraph) is…
Intention
– The author intends to change the reader’s attitude towards…
– The text draws the reader’s attention to…
– The author appeals to the reader’s emotions.
– He wants to convince us of…
Structure
– This text divides neatly into, can be categorized into, or consists of… parts/paragraphs.
– In the (second) paragraph, the author compares, passes from… to, or deals with…
– The (third) paragraph forms a contrast to…
– The main problem, solution, or conclusion can be found in the passage from L. … to L. …
Author’s Attitude
– The author claims, implies, refers to, agrees with, rejects, is certain that, or doubts whether…
– She sympathizes with, blames… for, is annoyed with, or dislikes…
– The author takes or adopts an optimistic, pessimistic, intellectual, middle-class, or humanitarian point of view.
– He displays or takes an objective, unbiased, open-minded, or matter-of-fact attitude towards…
Author’s Competence
– The author is well-informed about…
– He displays theoretical, special, expert, profound, or only superficial knowledge about…
– The author possesses, has, or shows common sense, deep insight, or broad education…
Author’s Argumentation
– The author puts forward, advances, or uses the argument that…
– She bases or grounds her arguments on her own experience, hard facts, or scientific evidence…
– He illustrates or supports his argument by an example, quote, comparison, or contrast.
– She goes or does not go into details.
– In the conclusion, the author summarizes, sums up, or deduces…
– Her arguments are convincing, logical, inconsistent, or manipulative.
Style
– The author makes use of frozen, formal, neutral, informal, familiar, or intimate style.
– She employs or uses figurative language, a simile, personification, or hyperbole…
– This phrase or expression means, denotes, implies, or stands for…
– …personifies, symbolizes, or alludes to…
– This passage is full of colloquial, slang, taboo terms, Latin expressions, or loan words.
– The register used in this section reminds one of officialese or journalese…
Tone
– The tone of this text is predominantly serious, light-hearted, neutral, ironical, sad, happy, private, public, optimistic, or pessimistic…
– This passage is written in a humorous, satirical, or sarcastic vein.
– The moderate or angry tone is meant to or intended to…