Unit 5.

Written expression in
English (III): Structures
and guiding principles

Cristina Lara Clares

Text structure

• Can you name the main five types of text structure in

non-fiction texts?
Let’s practice
•Go to Platea and search the activity
named “Text structure exercise”
 One example:
Olympic carousel
• Five text structure graphics are hung up on the walls of
the class with some information in them but without the
keywords (e.g. “cause”)
• Students need to move around the class and see each
graphic during a limited time

Based on https://ohheyela.com/2018/02/18/text-analysis-carousel-activity/
 One example: • Five text structure graphics are hang up on the walls of
the class with some information in them and a colour

Olympic carousel • Students need to move around the class and see each
graphic during a limited time
• Using the graphics, they need to fill in a table where they
write what kind of text structure that is, and a text using
I did not eat the information in the graphic
breakfast I am
hungry
• Then, the exercise is corrected with the class, and each
student will get to colour the ring if they got the answers
I did not eat correctly
lunch
Text structure Text Olympic ring

Cause and effect Today, I did not eat breakfast and I did not
eat lunch. For this reason, I am hungry Blue

Yellow

Based on https://ohheyela.com/2018/02/18/text-analysis-carousel-activity/
Let’s practice
• Create an original activity for primary school
students where they need write a text and
they need to apply their knowledge of text
structures
Text types • There are five main text types, depending on the
communication purpose:
1. Descriptive
2. Narrative
3. Instructive
4. Expository
5. Argumentative

• Being able to identify and differentiate text types

helps us write better: we will communicate more
effectively by constructing texts that follow the
conventions and structure of that text type
 Text types: • They involve the characterization of things, people or
places to create a picture in the reader’s mind. This may
involve physical details, but also feelings, smells, etc.
descriptive • They need the use of adjectives
• Descriptions are frequent in fiction writing, poetry,
comics…
• Why teach descriptive writing?
a. It helps students make their writing more interesting
and engaging
b. It creates opportunities to use new vocabulary
c. It can make them aware of the way authors describe
and learn by imitation

Source
Text types:
• Design an activity that could help students write a
descriptive text and that follows the three steps in writing.
• One example:

descriptive 1. Pre-writing 1 (pre-teaching): students learn vocabulary to

describe animals, real and invented. They read stories that
contain basic descriptions, and they watch a short
documentary about magical animals
2. Pre-writing 2 (exercise 1): one student describes an
imaginary animal/monster to their classmate. The classmate
needs to draw the animal/monster following their description
(the student describing cannot see the drawing of their
classmate). Then, they change roles.
3. Writing (exercise 2): each student needs to write a
description of the animal/monster they draw
4. Post-writing (exercise 3): students compare the drawings
their classmates did with how they imagined them when they
described them. They describe the differences
Text types:
• They are used to tell a story
• They contain action, events in time and answers the
question “What happened?”
narrative • Within fiction: science fiction, mysteries, folk tales, fairy
tales, myths
• Non-fiction: reports, factual stories, biographies, travel
writing
• Main elements:
a. Narrator (point of view: first, third person, omniscient)
b. Characters
c. Characterization (round vs. flat)
d. Theme (central idea)
e. Plot (sequence of events)
f. Setting (time and place)
Let’s practice:
narrative
• Identify the main elements of this
narrative text:
a. Narrator (point of view: first, third
person, omniscient)
b. Characters
c. Characterization (round vs. flat)
d. Theme (central idea)
e. Plot (sequence of events)
f. Setting (time and place)
Let’s practice:
narrative
• In groups, create the first box of a comic where you
would tell a kid-friendly story, real or invented
• Then, you will receive one box from your classmates,
and you add the next one. Then the third, and so on
• They can contain word balloons and sound effects.
Make sure they include a conflict, climax and
resolution
• After you all have contributed to each of the comics,
you will receive the version of the one you started.
Now, you need to write a narrative text based on the
story that the comic tells
Text types: • They are used to say how to do something
• Examples: recipe, instructions to assemble furniture,

instructive etc.

• Main characteristics:
Let’s practice:
instructive
• Identify the characteristics of
instructive texts using this example
Text types: • They are used to say how to do something
• Examples: recipe, instructions to assemble furniture, etc.

instructive • Main characteristics:

a. Use of verbs in the imperative form (e.g. “Peel the
tomatoes)
b. Direct language, no wordiness
c. Use of diagrams or pictures as support
d. Use of numbered or bullet points

But remember Julio Cortázar’s “Instrucciones para subir

una escalera”
Text types: • They are used to describe, inform or explain a topic
to the reader

expository • Key characteristic: it is objective (no opinions, but

evidence!)
• Examples: news reports, academic articles,
textbooks
• Main characteristics:
a. Precise language
b. Follows the introduction/body/conclusions
structure
c. Use of (some of) the five text structures
Text types: • They are used present ‘for’ and ‘against’ ideas on an
issue or subject

argumentative • Usually provide author’s opinion and use evidence

to support their viewpoint

• Main characteristics:
a. Formal language
b. Structure: introduction, arguments for, arguments
against, conclusion (with author’s opinion)
c. Use of linkers: in contrast, however, on the one
hand, on the other hand
Let’s practice: Introduction • Why is this topic relevant?
argumentative
• Idea 1
For • Idea 2
• Write an argumentative essay on
the following topic:
Giving one euro to the teacher every time • Idea 1
we speak in Spanish in class
Against • Idea 2

• General summary ideas

Conclusions • What is my opinion?