Study Guide for Genres in Writing

STUDY GUIDE FOR 3Sc & 3-B ENGLISH SEMESTER I+

1. Review Test I for questions on Genres of Writing. Be prepared to answer questions by giving examples.
Genres are types of writing. Each genre has a specific purpose. Forms are subcategories of genres.
Nonfiction Narratives: Diaries and journal entries, blogs, biography, personal narratives and eyewitness accounts, Memoirs, Reflective Essays E.g. Sandra Cisneros’ Straw into Gold
Fiction Narratives: Realistic Fiction, Fantasy Story, Historical Fiction, Mystery Stories, Myth and Legends, Science Fiction and Tall Tales. E.g. Beka Lamb, Pecos Bill, Sherlock Holmes
Poetry and Description is a genre marked by: rhythm, rhyme and precise language
Kinds of Poetry: Sonnet, Haiku, Ballad, Free Verse and Prose Poem
Exposition as a genre: relies on facts to inform and explain
Expository Writing: Analytical Essay, Cause and Effect Essay, Pro-con Essay, Compare and Contrast essay, Classification essay, Problem-Solution essay, Newspaper/magazine articles, internet articles and on demand writing
Workplace Writing: college applications, job applications, business and friendly letters, resume and memos.
Research Writing: statistical analysis, annotated biographies, research reports and documented essays.
Persuasive writing: letters to the editor, op-eds, reviews, propaganda, editorials, persuasive/argumentative essays and advertisements.
Writing for media: scripts, blogs, advertisements,

2. Be able to identify the following terms: a. Narrative writing- to describe a sequence of events or experience in the form of a story. b. Descriptive writing- uses sensory words to create a clear picture of what is happening c. Expository writing- seeks to communicate ideas and information to specific audiences and for specific purposes. d. Definition essay- draws on a writer’s emotional experience to describe something abstract. e. Oxymoron- A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms