15 text types in IB

By hasanova Xumar
Diary Entry
• - Daily routine's not enough
- A good diary entry should contain thoughts, feelings, reflections, in secret, in
confidence
- Diaries are private
- The 'direct address' technique allows you to talk to your diary as 'you'
- The writer's opinions give structure to the writing rather than the events themselves
- Start with a phrase or exclamation or rhetorical question to focus the reader on the
main event you wish to relate
- The language and ideas should sound fresh/spontaneous
- Basic rules of paragraphing apply
- Finish with a final thought or question
- 1st person perspective
- Writing in character, reflect on the personality/mood of the diary writer
- Key tenses - narrative tenses (past/present perfect/conditionals)
Blog Entry
• - Public (not private)
- At HL level, your blog should focus on a specific topic (topic-based) rather than a series of
events
- It's important to have a clear point of view
- You can address your audience directly
- You can ask readers to respond to your ideas
- More formal register than a diary (but keep it personal nonetheless)
- Narrative-driven or thesis-driven (this king of blog may follow essay conventions - e.g. thesis,
paragraphs with topic sentences related to thesis, final thought/conclusion) → more
informative/opinionated
- Both blog types share one important aspect : reflection. Your opinions, reflections and feelings
should be convened to your reader
- Narrative-driven blog : past tenses, time connectives, you can be quite chatty and informal,
used descriptive details use thoughts/reflections
- When writing up conversations, use reported speech
Official Report
• Two types of report :
- Observation - the police report (narrative-driven)
- Evaluation report - problem-driven - purpose : to inform :
- problem - action(s) - further steps
- problem - solution(s) - recommendations
- Reports require careful planning
- Keep in mind what the reader needs to know
- Anticipate and answer clearly and questions
1 - define the problem
2 - present the info : decline, categorise, compare, priority
3 - Analyse the information
4 - write your conclusion
- Very formal tone
- Straightforward langage
- Use the passive, not the active voice
- Evaluation report - problem-driven - purpose : to inform
Interview
- Thesis-driven : start with an idea and structure the questions to prove your point - therefore,
before the interview decide which topics you would like the interviewer to talk about
- Problem-driven structure
- There are no fixed tules for structuring the interview but it makes sense to start with general
questions and move to more specific ones
- Avoid 'closed' questions (questions that require a yes/no answer), ask open questions
instead
- Introduction : establish rapport with interviewer
- The main body
- ask less sensitive questions first and then move on the specifics - e.g. first ask about facts
- move on the questions about the present, then work into the past or future
- next, ask questions about matters such as feelings, perceptions and conclusions
- Conclusion :
- your last question could allow the respondent to provide info about future plans
- thank the respondent
- Use complete, grammatically correct sentences
Review
• - Your opinions should be based on evidence : facts and details
- Think about the type of mass audience and type of publication you're writing for
- Depending on the above, you can either use a formal (magazine) or a familiar style (school paper)
- If your review is to sound authentic you've to get the register right
- You can sound smart/cleaver and yet be quite formal in your language
- Review of films/books are written in the past tense
- Review of an event are written in the past tense
Structure of film review :
- thesis-driven : starts with an opinion and supports it
- grap the readers' attention with some information or question to connect them to the film
- Introduce them to the film (name of film, type of film, the stars, basic settings)
- Describe the plot and action in the present tense - do not reveal the ending
- Analyse the film, talk about director/actors, good things, bad things - consider the acting, direction, costume
design, photography, music
- Recommend the film to your audience
Structure of a book review :
- Describe and evaluate the quality, meaning and significance of a book
- Don't retell the plot or spoil in the ending
 Proposal
• - Formal
- Informative
- Impersonal
- Written to provide suggestions or plans
- Precise
- Developed using headings and sub-headings
- Written to gain approval or to persuade the recipient to take action
- State the aim of the proposal in the introduction
- Clarify each of the aspects, suggestions, or points under a separate heading or sub-heading
- Conclude with a general comment, opinion or assessment
- Before your start, ask yourself again :
- to whom am i writing?
- what am i writing?
- why am i writing?
- a proposal = persuade a sponsor to fund a project
- audience :
- individuals
- business
- organisation
- Introduction
- identify the aim of the project
- state the problem
- why a sponsor should give you funding
- Main body
- what, whom, by how much and when
- identify the short-term/long-term obj
- Timetable :
- how long tasks will take
- budget :
- overall cost (salaries, travel costs...)
- Conclusion :
- emphasise benefits
- social background
Informative + persuasive writing
• - Explains how to make or produce something
- Instructions can be set of procedures such as a recipe, or guidelines
- Set out in a logical step-by-step fashion to enable the reader to complete something successfully
- Giving instruction : writing in the role of "expert"
- Address the readers directly but politely
- Make sure your instructions are clear
- Different strengths for the advice you want to give so you may want to qualify your verbs (may, might,
could)
- Instructions are clearly based on a timeline
- Problem-driven
- Title : explain what your are writing about / include key words / alert reader to the content / it will helps
the reader decide whether it will help them or not
- Introduction : incude topic discussed / give a list of the ingredients or equipments required
- Main body : give reader a roadmap to follow / body is the instructions / plan section by sketching a flow
chart to make sure you have everything in order
- Conclusion : tell the reader what they can do once they finish making the product / if you think instructions
are complicated, you might state how to get further help
Argumentative State
• - State your organised thoughts about a topic
- Communicate your ideas clearly
- Persuade your audience that your opinions and facts are reliable
- Tone - formal/academic or personal/anecdotal
- If writing about an idea ; use a 3rd person. Use a thesis-driven structure. Cite evidences : events&figures
- If writing to make a point and to relate a personal experience use the 1st person. Use a narrative driven structure. At the end it's
usual to explain how this made you come to some conclusions. Doesn't necessarily have a thesis but has an opening statement +
conclusion
- 3/4 supporting ideas
- Thesis-driven structure :
- question
- intro & thesis
- supporting paragraphs (point, evidence, explanation)
- conclusion/final thoughts
- Introduction :
- introduction sentence linked to the question
- thesis a sentence that includes your main idea (this should be a provable statement)
- The main body :
- divide your essay into a series of supporting points
- each one should help you prove your thesis
- focus on a single idea that supports your thesis
- express each point clearly in a topic sentence
- Conclusion :
- add some sentences that emphasise the importance of your thesis
- state why your thesis is important
- final thought
Brochure, Flyer

Brochure, Flyer
Advertisement
Simple & attractive
Key message
Informative: satisfy curiosity, facts
Persuasive: convince audience to reach certsin conclusions.
Instructional: ask people to take action. Warnings, used by authorities.
Headline: title, summarized, attractive. Purpose and message.
Sub headings: separate ideas.
Short paragraphs, bullet points, benefits..
Close: what to do next.
Written Correspondence (Informal Letter)
• Date
• Greeting
• Closing salutation
• Signature
Written Correspondence (Formal Letter)
• Apply, comment, complain, explain, enquire, persuade, request.
• Intro:title or name of person. Dear.... State purpose.
• Paragraphs: PEE. Point Example Explanation.
• Conclusion: thank reader.
Guidelines
• Descriptive
• Organization
• Order
• Define specific terms
News Report
• Headline
Standfirst: introducing line
By: author and place
Lead paragrah answer 5ws: what when who where why
Explanatory paragraph
Background paragraph
Final paragraph: anticipate events or compare with other stories.
*quotes
Magazine Article

Magazine Article
Opinions and ideas
Personal comment
Title or headline (grab attention)
Introduction: capture attention
Body: one sided or balanced approach
Conclusion: sum up article
Recommendation
Instructions
• Title
• Intro: topic, background, materials
• Body: steps in order, describe objects, define. FLOW CHART
• Conclusion: what to do once finished, what to expect, further help.
More information about text types
• http://englishworkgroup.blogspot.com/p/2ib-text-types.html