KINDS OF READING TEXTS

Everything we read is either fiction or non-

fiction. Fiction is writing that comes from
the imagination. Non-fiction is based on
facts, but can conclude opinions and
arguments.
Non-fiction texts can be divided into:
– Descriptive
– Narrative
– Recount
– Report
– Procedure
– Persuasive
Type of Reading

• Scanning
• Skimming
• Light type of reading
• Word by word.
 Scanning type of reading
- You are looking for it quickly.
- You know what you are searching for (key words and
names).
- You 'see' every item on the page, but you don't
necessarily read the page
- you ignore anything you are not looking for.
 Skimming type of reading
When you read quickly to gain a general impression as to whether the
text is of use to you.
You are not necessarily searching for a specific item and key words.

Skimming provides an 'overview' of the text.

Skimming is useful to look at chapter/section headings, summaries

and opening paragraphs.

The purpose of skimming:

To check relevance of text.
Light type of reading

Reading for leisure tends to be 'light':

- Read at a pace which feels comfortable.
- Read with understand.
- Skim the boring, irrelevant passages.
An average light reading speed is 100-200 words per
minute. This form of reading does not generally require
detailed concentration.
Word by word type of reading

This type of reading is time consuming and

demands a high level of concentration.
Some material is not readily understood
and so requires a slow and careful
analytical read. People use this type of
reading for unfamiliar words and concepts,
scientific formulae. It can take up to an
hour just to read a few lines of text.
 Genres
Narrative
Purpose: To amuse/entertain the readers and to tell a story.

Recount
Purpose: to retell something that happened in the past and to tell a series of past event.

Descriptive
Purpose: to describe a particular person, place or thing in detail.

Report
Purpose: to presents information about something, as it is.

Explanation
Purpose: To explain the processes involved in the formation or working of natural or
socio-cultural phenomena.
Analytical exposition
Purpose: To reveal the readers that something is the important case

Hortatory exposition
Purpose: to persuade the readers that something should or should not be
the case or be done

Procedure
Purpose: to help readers how to do or make something completely

Discussion
Purpose: to present information and opinions about issues in more one
side of an issue (‘For/Pros’ and ‘Against/Cons’)
Review
Purpose: to critique or evaluate an art work or event for a public audience

Anecdote
Purpose: to share with others an account of an unusual or amusing incident

Spoof
Purpose: to tell an event with a humorous twist and entertain the readers

News item
Purpose: to inform readers about events of the day which are
considered newsworthy or important
 Nasreddin’s Coat
One day Nasreddin had been invited to the dinner party.
He went to the party by wearing old clothes. When he
arrived in the party, nobody looked at him and nobody
gave him a seat. He got no food in the party so he went
home and change his clothes

Next he put on his best clothes. He wore his newest coat

and went to the party again. The host at once got up
and came to meet him. The host offered him the best
table and gave him a good seat and served him the
best food.
Nasreddin sat and put off his coat.
He put his coat and said: “Eat the food, Coat!”
The hosts and guests were very surprised and asked
Nasreddin: “What are you doing?”
Nasreddin replied calmly: “When I came here with my old
clothes, nobody looked at me. Then I went home and put on
my best clothes. I came back in my newest coat and you all
give me this best food and drink. So, you give food to my
coat instead of me”.

Getting Nasreddin's answer, they just shook the head.

 Generic Structure Analysis

Orientation: Nasreddin was invited to a dinner party

Event 1: He was in the party with his old cloth

Event 2: He was in the party with his best newest coat

Twist: Among the hosts and guests, he asked his coat to

eat the served food
Explanation – Procedure

Procedure
• commonly called as instruction text
• commonly used to describe how to make something.
• Ex : first boil water, secondly prepare the cup, and so on

Explanation
• a scientific written material
• commonly used the passive voice
• describes how certain phenomenon or event happen
 Recount – Narrative
Similarity :
• happened in the past

Difference :
Recount
• Describes series of events in detail

Narrative
• Narrative introduces crises and how to solve them.
 Report – Descriptive
Have the similarity in the social function and generic structure.

Report
• describes the way of certain things and frequently refer to phenomenon of
nature, animal and scientific object.
• Mostly written after getting careful observation.

Descriptive
• based on the objective fact of the thing.
• Describe the specific thing simply as the thing is.

This scientific and technical sense make clearer difference from descriptive text.
Spoof – Recount

• Both of them explore the informative fact

for the past experience.
• Both spoof and recount focus on series
of event.
Spoof – Recount

Recount
• detailed information of the events.
• reveals the series of events in chronological order based
on time or place.

Spoof
• tends to project the amusement of reading. Spoof text uses
tricky plot to drive readers to certain view and sooner
brings the reader to the opposite point (twist).
Spoof - Anecdote

Generic structure  Spoof ends with twist

while anecdote is accomplished by coda.
 Descriptive

A descriptive text describe thing, place

or person and gives details about them.
It usually uses the present tense. It also
employs your five senses (how
something feels, smells, looks, tastes
and sounds).
Example :
BEETLES

beetles are insect. They make up one of the

biggest groups of insects. There are about 300,000
kinds of beetles. They live everywhere except in the
oceans. You can find beetles in the house, in the yard,
in the forest, even in ponds.
Like all insects, beetles have six legs. They have
two pairs of wings, but they use only the back pair of
wings for flying. The front wings are like tough
shields. They protect the beetle’s body. Some beetles
burrow underground. Some swim and dive.
 Narrative

A narrative text is a story and it has moral

value
The structure of a narrative text:
1. Orientation (beginning/introduction) : introduces
main characters, setting and time.
2. Complication (middle) : the problem happens
among the characters.
3. Resolution (ending) : the problem is resolved.
Example :

THAT’S NOT THE WAY TO DO IT!

Once there was a farmer named Hans. He wanted to sell his horse in town. One
morning he started down the road with his young son and the horse. He and his son
walked with the horse. They passed some boys.
“That’s not the way to do it!” said a boy. “Why is that man walking? He has a
horse!”
“He’s right,” said Hans. He got on the horse and his son walked behind him. Then
they saw some women.
“Look at the man!” said a woman. “He’s on the horse and his poor boy is walking.”
“She’s right,” said Hans. He got down and put his son on the horse. They walked
some more.
“Isn’t that terrible!” said an old man. “Young people have no love for their
parents these days! Look at that boy on the horse. His poor father is walking.”
“He’s right,” says Hans. He got on the horse behind his son. Then they saw some
girls.
“Two people on a horse!” said the girls. “The poor animal.”
“They’re right,” said Hans. He and his son got off the horse. They put the horse
on their backs and carried it down the road.
They came to a river with a bridge. Some people were fishing from the bridge.
“Look at that!” they said. “Look at the horse!” They laughed and laughed.
The horse didn’t like this. He move and kicked. “Help, help,” cried Hans. And
they all fell off the bridge and into the river – Hans, his son, and the horse.
The horse ran home. Hans and his son climbed out of the river.
“Next time,” said Hans, “I’m not going to listen to other people. I’m going to do
it my way.”
 Recount
A recount text tells a past experience of
someone in a chronological order, contains
facts. It uses simple past tense.
The structure of a recount text:

1. The orientation : tells who was involved in the

story, when, where, and why the story
happened.
2. Series of events : tell what are going on in the
story.
3. The re-orientation : concludes the story.
Example :
WHAT I DID ON SATURDAY

I went to the swimming pool on Saturday with my grandma and

granddad. Grandma bought me a new swimming costume as a treat and I
wanted to wear it.
First of all I went in the changing rooms with grandma and got
changed. You have to put your clothes in a little locker and then you put
10p in so you can lock it. I had to put the key on a band round my ankle.
next we want into the water. Granddad sat on the side to watch us
but grandma and I went down the steps into the water. It was very cold
and grandma made me jump up and down to get warm. If I wear my arm
bands I can nearly swim a width. Grandma can’t swim at all.
Then I got dressed and grandma and granddad bought me a coke
and a bag of chips. It was nice because you could sit and eat and watch
the swimmers at the same time.
I learned the way to do the arm and leg movements for breast
stroke. I’m going to lay on my bed and practice this every day. Next
time I go to the pool I might be able to swim.
Report

A report text is written (or spoken) description

of what you have seen, heard, done, etc.

it consists of :
1. A general classification which introduces you to
the subject discussion in the passage. (It begins
with a topic sentence).
2. A description which describes the main subject
or elaborate the topic sentence.
Example :

THE HISTORY OF NEWSPAPERS

Printing machines were invented in 1450.

Before that, news was spread verbally or in written
letters. In the past, people of Rome had a good way
for circulating written news. Their first written
news was called Acta Dluma or daily events. It was
posted by the government in the public places. In
the past, the government of China produced news
sheet, called Tipao. It was only circulated among
court officials during the Han dynasty. At some
point during the Tang dynasty, carved wooden
blocks were used to print Tipao. It was the first
printed newspapers in history.
Procedure

A procedure text tells you how to do

something. The language used is direct and
unnecessary words are left. It often uses must
and mustn’t.
Example :
HOW TO MAKE ICED COFFEE
There are some steps to make delicious iced
coffee. First, brew a pot of fresh coffee. If you
are making the coffee just to be iced, prepare a
slightly stronger blend than usual to account for
ice melting later. Second, transfer the desired
amount to a carafe or pitcher. Third, let stand at
room temperature for three or five hours, or
refrigerate for 11/2 to three hours. Fourth, fill a
ten to twelve oz. glass with ice cubes. And then,
pour the chilled coffee into the glass. And finally,
stir the coffee to equalize its temperature. Add
milk if you like.
 Persuasive
A persuasive text tries to change
the reader’s minds. Some texts are
aimed at trying to persuade the
reader to do something (such as
give money to a certain charity, buy
a certain car).
Example :
Dear friend,

Are you tired of the daily grind? Sick of

working all hours of the day for little reward?
Tired of never having enough money to really
enjoy yourself?

Well, now there’s a way out…

We can show you the way to give up work, sit

back and make millions for yourself and your
loved ones on the property market.

Albert Smith felt just like you until he read

our leaflet. Now he drives a sports car around
the south of France, and his wife has one of her
own too!