Writing Genres Table EOI Palma

Genre Audience Formatting/Content Level of formality Level of diction/ Point of view Other
Features vocabulary
Discursive Essay: -University, educated -Title optional -Extremely high. -Highest register possible -No 1​st​ person singular. -Originality highly valued.
-Opinion Essay general Public -Intr. parag. to state topic -No contractions. with specific topic -No 2​nd​ person at all -Essays are academic in
- For and against -Body paragraphs with -No incomplete vocabulary. (general or specific). nature.
- Solution to problems topic sentences and sentences. -Avoid ​get​ constructions. -Passive voice can be - Complex structures are
supporting details. - Avoid rhetorical -Use single-word verbs in used to good advantage. valued. (participle
-Concluding paragraph. questions lieu of phrasal verbs sentences, inversions,
when possible. passives..)
Formal letter -A single stranger whose -The date is a must. -Very high. -Highest register possible -No 2​nd​ person general. -Avoid titles in greetings,
-of complaint name may or may not be -Greeting corresponds to -No contractions. with clear politeness -2​nd​ person specific OK. like ​Dear Director​.
-of request known. closing. -No incomplete markers. -Judicious ​occasional​ use -Avoid ​To whom it may
-to the editor (known: sincerely- -Clear statement of sentences. -Use single-word verbs in of 1​st​ person singular OK. concern​.
-for CV unknown- faithfully) purpose. lieu of phrasal verbs -1​st​ personal plural OK.
-Clear organisation into when possible. -Passive voice can be
paragraphs. -Formulaic structures. used to good advantage.
Proposal -Specific person or group -No title. -High. -Fairly high register. -1​st​ person plural Ok -Forward looking, so use
in a position of authority. -Section headings. -Contractions Ok. -Avoid generic, low-level -No 1​st​ person singular. conditional tenses where
-Clear statement of -No incomplete adjectives. -No 2​nd​ person at all. appropriate.
problem at the start. sentences. -Phrasal verbs OK -Passive voice can be -Verbs: suggest /
- Suggestions & used to good advantage. recommend + ing
recommendations.
Report -Specific person or group -No title. -High. -Fairly high register. -1​st​ person plural OK. -Backward looking, so use
in a position of authority -Section headings. -Contractions OK. -Avoid generic, low-level -No 1​st​ person singular. perfect tenses where
-Clear statement of state -No incomplete adjectives. -No 2​nd​ person at all. appropriate.
of affairs. sentences. -Phrasal verbs OK -Passive voice can be It may just provide info on
It may include decisions used to good advantage. a topic+ conclusion, or also
or suggestions at the end. offer suggestions.
Article -General public / or HS -Title ok, but it should be -Colloquial. -Register may be less -Occasional​ use of 1​st -The start should grab the
-review educated. original, not simply the -Contractions OK. formal (no slang words) person singular ​or​ 2​nd reader’s attention.
-blog entry -Keep in mind the type of title of the film, book or -An occasional -Use phrasal verbs. person general OK. - Rhetorical questions
-opinion piece publication. museum being reviewed. incomplete sentence OK. - -Occasional​ used of make the text more
-guidebook entry.. imperative OK. engaging.
Narrative -General public. -Original title needed. -Flexible. -Wide range of -Consistency needed for -Avoid dialogue unless you
(fiction and nonfiction) -Clear who/what/ when/ -Use contractions. structures. (idiomatic the point of view chosen. are sure of English
where. -Incomplete sentences expressions…) punctuation conventions.
-Use narrative tenses. OK. -Highly descriptive - Narrative rhythm,
language. cohesion between ideas
and paragraphs valued.
Point of view: 1st person singular = the use of the words ​I, me, my, mine​ 1st person plural = the use of words ​we, our, ours
2nd person singular & plural = the use of the words ​you, your, yours
Occasional​ means ONCE every 90-100 words.