Signing & Writing

On this page: Types of Writing ::: Using RAFTS ::: Literary Analysis ::: Text Types & Purpose ::: K-12 Writing Samples :::

genre examples- signing

Genres

TYPES OF WRITING

The best way to help students envision these structures is to provide them with mentor texts, graphic organizers, and checklists enabling them see how these structure work, organize their thoughts first, and then track their progress.

I started out by using a metaphor with my students. I’d ask one to pretend that she was ordering a cake from me for the birthday of her best friend. So she’d tell me she needs a cake. And for said friend’s birthday. And I’d respond by saying, “Great! How many cups of sugar would you like in that?”

Needless to say, the students are incredulous and think I’m nuts when I respond that way, as well they should be. So I follow this up by explaining that how may cups of sugar are required is variable and can’t be determined until we know the important information, like what flavor the cake needs to be, what color and type of icing should be used, how many people need to be fed, how many tiers are on the cake, etc.

I follow that up by explaining that the message of the essay is more important than the structure and is actually what determines the structure. I guess you could say they’re putting the sugar before the cake?-excerpt from Michelle Waters from ReTHINK ELA (Think Function Not Form: Stop Teaching Students Structure Supersedes Message October, 2018)

Chronological

A chronological essay is structured based on the progression of time. This pattern is best used for essays that cover historical topics, such as the history of Starbucks from its inception to today. An outline for this essay might look like this:

1970s
1. Significant Event #1
2. Significant Event #2
1980s
1. Significant Event #1
2. Significant Event #2
1990s
1. Significant Event #1
2. Significant Event #2
2000s
1. Significant Event #1
2. Significant Event #2
2010s
1. Significant Event #1
2. Significant Event #2

Spatial

A spatial essay is organized based on how the elements of the topic are related to each other in a physical space. For example, a student might use this pattern to write about family-friendly adventures in Las Vegas.

Planet Hollywood Resort
1. Restaurants
2. Miracle Mile Shops
Paris Las Vegas Hotel
1. Restaurants
2. Gift Shops
The LINQ Hotel
1. Restaurants
2. High Roller ride

Compare-Contrast

A compare-contrast essay considers how two subjects are alike and how they are different. This pattern is best used when understanding an issue requires one to see it from more than one side and in relation to each side. For example, a student can compare and contrast attending a large state university versus a small private university.

Quality of education
1. Large State University
  1. Large class sizes
  2. Taught by grad students
2. Small Private University
  1. Smaller classes
  2. Access to professors
Cost of Tuition
1. Large State University
  1. Less expensive
  2. Less financial aid
2. Small Private University
  1. Way more expensive
  2. Possibly more financial aid options
Programs Offered
1. Large State University
  1. Tons of programs
  2. Research focus instead of teaching focus
2. Small Private University
  1. Fewer programs
  2. Faculty focused on teaching

Students can also organize this essay by writing about how the two universities are the same and then discussing how their are different.

Advantages and Disadvantages

This type of essay weighs the pros and cons of a topic. For example, a student who is considering whether to stay in a small rural high school or transfer to a large suburban one might write a using this pattern.

Advantages of a small rural school
1. Smaller class sizes
2. More opportunities to play school sports
3. More access to teachers
Disadvantages of a small rural school
1. Fewer electives
2. Fewer social groups
3. Less funding for resources

Sequential

A sequential essay is organized according to the step-by-step sequence of a process. This pattern is best used for “how to” essays, such as an essay on how to write an essay. (How very metacognitive!)

An outline for this essay might look like this:

Prewriting
1. Choose and research topic
2. Research audience
3. Determine form
4. Determine purpose
Drafting
1. Organize ideas into complete thoughts
2. Organize thoughts into a structure
3. Compose an introduction
4. Compose a conclusion
Revising
1. Set writing aside, then review with fresh eyes
2. Ask peer to review and ask questions about meaning
3. Add details need to convey message
4. Remove information that detracts from the message
5. Rearrange structure to best present message
Editing
1. Proofread for basic grammar, usage, and mechanics errors
2. Review each sentence — starting from the bottom and going up, if necessary — to determine if it makes sense as written
Publishing
1. Find a publication that accepts manuscripts on our topic, purpose
2. Submit your manuscript

Significance

An essay organized around the significance of events or items can build in intensity or go the other way. For example, an essay written about how a student has grown as a writer.

Narrative describing a teacher praising student for a poem outside of class
1. Commentary on how this was the first clue student could write
Narrative describing winning first place in a school-wide writing contest for a poem
1. Commentary describing how this was exciting, but not entirely convincing
Narrative describing being selected to write for the yearbook staff
1. Commentary describing how this selection and experience solidified the student’s desire to write

Problem-Solution

This essay structure describes a problem, often using a narrative format, and then offers one or more solutions to the problem. This pattern is often used for persuasive or argumentative pieces such as editorials or letters to the editor. An example would be an editor about the quality of water in a small town.

Problem: Poor water quality
1. Ancient pipes leech chemicals into water
2. Water is tinged orange
3. Laundry is ruined
4. Health may be damaged
Solution: Seek federal and legislative assistance
1. Seek federal aid for upgrading pipes
2. Townspeople lobby local representatives

Topical

The topical structure may work when others won’t. For example, if a writer could use this structure to describe the different types of pastries a chef may bake.

Types of pastries
Laminated
1. Flaky
2. Puff
Nonlaminated
1. Shortcrust
2. Choux
3. Filo

Cause and Effect

The cause and effect essay describes something that has happened and then what happened as a result of that event. Sometimes, the writer reverses this order and describes the effect first, followed by what caused the effect. This pattern is also useful for persuasive writing. For example, a student might use this structure to write about the death of small towns in Oklahoma.

Causes
1. Construction of highways that bypass towns
2. Advent of technology
3. Crumbling infrastructure
4. Rise of big box stores
Effect
1. Small towns are dying as people move to cities

And this is how the essay might look if the structure is reversed:

Effect
1. Description of a dying small town with wistful quotes from residents
Causes
1. Construction of highways that bypass towns
2. Advent of technology
3. Crumbling infrastructure
4. Rise of big box stores