TYPES OF WRITING STYLES Developed from "About Writing"

There are four main types of writing: EXPOSITORY, DESCRIPTIVE, PERSUASIVE, AND NARRATIVE. Each of these writing styles is used for a specific purpose. A single text may include more than one writing style if the author chooses to do so. When an author is writing for himself, he can choose to intertwine writing styles if he wishes, but this freedom does not apply to writings crafted in a school-setting or assignments for work. Those writings require specific style, content, and structure to be followed.

For papers written for a specific purpose, to a specific audience, in a specific classroom, as part of a graded assignment, the author must follow the writing style assigned by the instructor. Instructors at the college-level will typically assign a persuasive argument assignment, and so the specific details relating to that style of writing must always be adhered to. At the college-level, authors will always assess the writing prompt for clear details as to what writing style is assigned and the key specifics that the instructor will require.

EXPOSITORY

Expository writing is one of the most common types of writing. When an author writes in an expository style, all they are trying to do is explain a concept, imparting information from themselves to a wider audience. Expository writing does not include the author’s opinions but focuses on accepted facts about a topic, including statistics or other evidence. The purpose of this style of writing is simply to EXPOSE information about a topic—with an even-hand and free from bias.

DESCRIPTIVE

Descriptive writing is often found in fiction, though it can make an appearance in nonfiction as well (for example, memoirs, first-hand accounts of events, or travel guides). When an author writes in a descriptive style, they are painting a picture in words of a person, place, or thing for their audience. The author might employ metaphor or other literary devices in order to describe the author’s impressions via their five senses (what they hear, see, smell, taste, or touch). But the author is not trying to convince the audience of anything or explain the scene – merely describe things as they are.

PERSUASIVE

Persuasive writing is the main style of writing you will use in academic papers. When authors write in a persuasive style, they are trying to convince the audience of a position or belief. Persuasive writing contains the author’s opinions and biases, as well as justifications and logical reasoning given by the author as evidence of the correctness of his/her position. The evidence and assertions presented by an author writing a persuasive essay will contain source materials from scholarly sources. These sources will be used to defend the assertions already made by the author in the paper. The sources will not ‘make’ the argument for the author. The sources defend the argument that was already declared by the author. Any “argumentative” essay you write in a school-setting will be in the persuasive style of writing.

NARRATIVE

Narrative writing is used in almost every longer piece of writing, whether fiction or nonfiction. When an author writes in a narrative style, they are not just trying to impart information, they are trying to construct and communicate a story, complete with characters, conflict, and settings.

RESEARCH

Research writing is used at various educational levels and for various reasons. However, research writing requires one main skill: locating, integrating, and properly documenting sources in a specific format: MLA, APA, or Turabian. When an author writes using research, the purpose of that writing can be to expose a situation, argue a side of an issue, or to present findings relating to a current issue. When writing in a paper with research, you are writing in a style that requires the use of 3rd person voice. Do not include 1st or 2nd person voice in any academic writings.

Monday, November 5, 2018

Research Paper Outline--Introduction



General Research Paper Outline Template—Outlining the Introduction



Introduction

I.            The Hook

Write the hook for your paper, which may be a fitting direct quote from one of your sources. This will need to make sense as the beginning of a paper, so choose wisely. You MUST document it at the end and put quotation marks around it if it’s a quotation, so you are not plagiarizing! Otherwise, a general statement or situation will work as your ‘hook’.
Remember that the hook is only the first sentence of the introduction paragraph.  If you choose to use source material as your hook, please keep in mind that sources will not be anywhere else in the introduction except for the ‘hook’ line of the introduction.
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II.          The Link and Background

No matter what you used as your ‘hook’ in the first sentence of the introduction paragraph—but especially if you used a quote for your ‘hook’, you need to explain it in this section in a smooth transition between your ‘hook’ and thesis. Do not write “This quote means…” or any other version of that statement. Instead, reference the quote indirectly, such as: Barnstead implies… You may want another sentence or two to narrow and define your aspect of the topic.
This ‘link’ section is where you transition from your ‘hook’ into background material that will provide substance for the reader—without the use of source material—as you funnel-down to your thesis statement.
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III.        The Thesis

This is the guiding sentence for your paper.  It should be able to be read on its own and let the reader know exactly what your point will be for the essay.  If your assignment is for an argument style essay, you must take a stand on the topic that your instructor assigned to you.  Most ENGL101 courses require argument writing, and so be sure to include an assertive, one sided viewpoint for the topic.
The Thesis will NOT be a question.  It will not be multiple sentences.  As in its title…Thesis Statement, it must be a statement that takes a stance on your topic. Your reader should be able to disagree with your statement, and your evidence/research (that will come in your body-paragraphs) will be crafted to definitively support your statement. If you cannot support your statement to convince the audience of your argument, then you must draft a new thesis.

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© 2018 Jeanette L. H. Dick
For Educational Purposes Only
[Not Intended for Resale or Publication without Consent]

General Research Paper—Introduction Outline
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