Types of Text

This website focuses on different types of text -instructive text, informative text, descriptive text, persuasive text.  "The aim of the 'types of text' topic area is for learners to revise and practise reading and recognizing different types of text”.

 Teaching Text-Types

 "Students need to be taught explicitly about the purposes, organisational structures and language features of different text types -recounts, narratives, expositions, reports, explanations and procedures -that may be required for learning, life and work. It is important that text types are taught within purposeful, meaningful contexts; they should not be taught in isolation."

 Using Cooperative Learning to Teach via Text Types

 "This article offers ideas as to how students can collaborate as they learn about and utilize a variety of text types (also known as rhetorical modes).  The article begins with explanations of the teaching of text types and cooperative learning.  The longest section of the article consists of examples of ways that students can use cooperative learning techniques to work together to expand their knowledge of text types and to use that knowledge in their writing."

 Targeting Text: A Guided Writing Project

 "Targeting text was a collaborative project undertaken by teachers from a cluster of three schools in the Bowen District -Lidisfarne Primary, Lindisfarne North Primary and Cambridge Primary.  The purpose of the project was to focus on the place of guided writing in a balanced writing program.  Inspired and supported by Dr Jan Turbill of the University of Wollongong, the teachers were able to develop and share their own skills in using guided writing as a key teaching strategy."

 Text Types

 "This pack of text samples is designed to help children learn the essence of each text type. Please note that these texts have been specially written so that they do conform to the same rules. They should be seen simply as a basis."

A Classroom Study of the Efficacy of Using Information Text for First Grade Reading Instruction

"This study demonstrates that it is not only possible but feasible to teach students at the first grade level about information text genres, features, and uses. Students of widely differing abilities were able to make use of this information in reading and writing while making at least average, or above average progress. Moreover, it is possible to conduct early reading instruction in expository texts, rather than relying solely on narrative forms."

 Text Types (Genres)

 "Children need to learn to write different kinds of texts for different purposes; they need to know a variety of genres in order to be successful in their future lives."  A description of some common text types or writing genres is made available on this website, which is the help file for the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao Materials Development Learning Guide.  It is a project jointly funded by the Governments of the Philippines and Australia.

 How to Teach Information Text

 "This leaflet focuses specifically on Information Text but begins with a general model common to all and one which you will find with minor variations in many publications on literacy."

 An Approach to Factual Writing

 "In this article we suggest one way of categorizing types of factual writing and introduce a teaching strategy which can develop students' awareness of the structural and language features of a number of factual genres. "

 Writing at Key Stage 2 and 3: Genre Theory & Pre-Prepared Materials

 "Every day teachers have to help children to experience and explore the different types of non-narrative writing they may need to use in their writing. This activity is designed to allow students to explore the six categories of non-fiction texts, as identified in the NLS Framework, and to begin to develop a critical and informed approach. "

 Last accessed on 31 July 2007