Types of text
Informative
Author’s purpose is to inform. The text
provides details of what the system
consists of and how it works.
The author is well informed about the
system. He is being didactic while
explaining the system in a simple way as
much as possible.
The text is not biased. It lists both
advantages and disadvantages of the
system.
Informative: technical details of how the
system works
Straightforward information about the two
systems.
Persuasive
Author’s purpose is to persuade and sell an
idea / product.
The text is biased, focusing only on the
advantages of the system.
Persuasive language to urge someone to
do something by giving them a good
reason to do so, e.g. Use this to make you
look younger. (Imperative verb)
Emotive language: to cause a particular
emotion in the reader, e.g. breathtaking
scenery, lonely abandoned animals
Use of opinion adjectives, e.g. There are
spectacular views. The food is the tastiest
in town.
Use of superlative adjectives, exaggeration
and boastful language, e.g. It’s the tastiest
cake you can buy, the latest technology.
It’s the best of it’s kind
Use of the first person – ‘I’, ‘we’, ‘our’
Opinion given as fact
Cause and effect: phrases used to show
what will happen if you take the action or
buy the item advertised e.g. If you buy this
watch, then…
Slogan: A phrase that is associated with a
particular product or service, often used at
the end of an advert
Wordplay: using and swapping words that
have similar meanings in a clever and fun
way, e.g. Laptops for top laps.
Alliteration or rhyme: repletion of sounds
in a phrase for effect, e.g. Britain’s best
bank. Once you pop, you can’t stop.
Rhetoric question: which doesn’t require
an answer, used to hook the reader, e.g.
Have you invested in a PV system yet?
Technical Non-technical
Text taken from a technical journal or website
Author’s purpose is to inform. The text
Author’s purpose is to persuade and sell
provides details of what the system consists of
an idea / product.
and how it works.
The author is well informed about the system.
He is being didactic while explaining the
system in a simple way as much as possible.
The text provides details of what the system
consists of and how it works.
It provides facts in relation to what the system
Use of opinion adjectives rather than facts.
comprises and how it works.
Layout of text is clear, making use of headings
and sub-headings. This kind of layout helps
the reader to locate information more quickly
ad easily. Information is presented in a
straightforward way so that it can be easily
followed and understood.
Inclusion of diagrams to help explain the
written text.
The register (vocabulary) used shows that the
Choice of vocabulary is sometimes
text is written by a technical person, making
informal.
use of precise, technical vocabulary.
The text is not biased. It lists both advantages Text is biased, e.g. focusing on the
and disadvantages of the system. advantages of the system.

Academic
A formal structured introduction
Longer paragraphs
Ideas / arguments supported by reference to
expert sources
References for all sources used
Formal words and expressions
Direct and indirect quotation
Evidence of author’s position without using ‘I
think’ or ‘in my opinion’
Non-academic
A shorter straightforward introduction
Shorter paragraphs
Expansion of arguments but with little or
no support from expert sources.
Lack of references to expert sources, e.g.
Some may argue that …
Less formal words, e.g. ‘don’t’
There may be quotations
Author’s opinion expressed directly with
the use of ‘I’