Writing styles

Writing styles

1. Persuasive

   • The main purpose of this type of writing is to convince.
     • It contains the opinions, thoughts, and biases of the author.
       • The writer uses justifications, arguments, and reasons to make the readers agree to his or her points.
         • requires the writer to combine research and logical reasoning with an emotional connection that persuades the reader to adopt the writer’s personal opinions and beliefs.
   • Highlights
     • It asks the readers to do something for the situation
   • Areas of Usage
     • Speeches, Cover Letters, Editorial Pieces, Letters of Complaints, Letter of Recommendation, Advertisements or Commercials
   • Example
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2. Descriptive

   • immerses the reader into a story by creating a vivid picture of characters, settings, and events in their mind.
     • The purpose of this style is to make the reader feel like they are experiencing the events for themselves.
     • include lots of details so the reader can get a clear and complete idea of what is being written about.
     • Example:
       • Descriptive text about my country´s flag
         • The Panama´s flag consists of a rectangle divided into 4 squares. The first top box is white and has a blue star in the center. The second upper box is totally red. The first lower box is blue and finally the second lower box is white with a red star in the center. As you can see it is a pretty simple flag but beautiful. Also, it is very easy to identify.

3. Narrative

   • Expands upon the descriptive writing style and tells an entire story with a beginning, middle and end.
     • this style follows a clear storyline and plot, such as a fictional novel, screenplay or memoir.
   • important aspects of narration in storytelling
     • It connects events, showing their patterns, relating them to each other or to specific ideas, themes or concepts.
   • Writers who use a narrative writing style often use literary tools
     • Narrative writing is mostly personal, imaginative, and self-expressing.
   • Highlights
     • The inclusion of dialogues
       • Use of metaphor, imaginative language, and figure of speech
         • Addition of emotional words
   • areas of usage
     • Novels, Short stories, poetry Fairy Tales, etc.
   • Example
     • Last year I had my first experience traveling aboard an airplane. I traveled to Guatemala. The reason for the trip was a modeling contest in which my little sister was going to participate. I live far away from Panama City so, we had to wake up at 1 am and take a bus to Panama, when we arrived there we took a taxi to the airport. The airport was huge, I loved to see at least a small part of how an airport works. Finally, It was time to board the plane. I was nervous but excited at the same time. the airplane started moving and it was awesome. I thought it was going to be scary, but I felt very calm! It was a short trip, it only took to hours so, I didn´t sleep. I was enjoying all the amazing views. Definitely, one of the most exciting experiences I ever had.

4. Expository

   • What is Expository Writing?
     • Is writing that seeks to explain, illuminate or 'expose' (which is where the word 'expository' comes from).
       • My examples of expository text
         • The Panama Canal saves ships a lot of time by crossing from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific or vice versa. Instead of taking up to two weeks having to skirt South America to Cape Horn, the Panama Canal enables them to go from one ocean to another in only 8 or 10 hours.
           • I based my example on the characterization structure
           • Since the beginning of the pandemic, the town of Salitrosa has been facing another situation that threatens their health. The garbage´s recollecting service stopped working without informing the community. Now the garbage has been accumulating in each house, increasing the number of flies and diseases. The health authorities have promised to give a prompt solution to this situation.
             • On this example, I based on the cause-effect text structure
               • Problem and solution could also be applied.
   • Where can you find it?
     • This type of writing can include essays, newspaper and magazine articles, instruction manuals, textbooks, encyclopedia articles and other forms of writing, so long as they seek to explain.
       • How to identify it?
         • Expository writing has characteristics that will make it easier to identify. Some of they are:
           • Is clear and concise
           • Formal language is mainly used
           • content is logically developed
   • Types of expository writing
     • There are six common types of expository text structures
       • Descriptive/characterization structure:
         • Informs the reader of how something looks, moves, or possibly works, or it may inform the reader of a definition or characterization.
       • The cause-effect text structure
         • Informs the reader how or why an event happened, and what resulted from an event
       • The chronology/sequence structure
         • informs the reader of the order of events or steps in a process.
       • The compare/contrast structure
         • informs the reader of how two or more things are alike or different
       • The problem-solution text structure
         • informs the reader of what is wrong and how to fix it.
       • The position-reason structure
         • informs the reader of why a point or ideas should be supported or what is wrong with an idea
     • Knowing the different types or structures can be useful to identify expository writing