Three Styles of Writing

Informative/ Explanatory /

Expository Writing

• Informative/Explanatory/Expository writing is a

subject-oriented writing style, in which the
main focus of the author is to tell you about a
given topic or subject, and leaves out their
opinions.

• Gives Facts

• Explains

• Gives Steps in a Process

• Presents ideas in logical order or correct

sequence

Keywords in an informative/explanatory/

expository prompt

Explain

Inform

Respond

Analyze

Tell how

Compare

Contrast

Define

Discuss

1. Explain how the author

develops the theme in
the stories.

2. Compare your experience

as a 10th grader to
someone at Lowell High.

3. Define empathy and

discuss why all people
should be empathetic.

4. Analyze how Amir

changed over the course
of the novel.

Types of Informative/Explanatory/

Expository Writing

- Literary analysis essays
- Research essays
- Articles

Persuasive/Argument Writing

● Persuasive writing, unlike

informative/explanatory/expository writing, contains
the opinions, biases and justification of the author.

● In persuasive writing, the author takes a stand and

asks you to believe their point of view.

● The persuasive purpose is used to convince, or

persuade, the reader that the opinion, or assertion,
or claim, of the writer is correct or valid.

● Argument attempts to arrive at a logical solution to an

issue.

Keywords that show it is a

Persuasive/Argument Prompt

Convince
Persuade
Defend
Justify

Take a Stand

Assert

Pros and Cons

Argue

Defe

1. Persuade a close friend to donate

blood as part of a blood drive that
your school is sponsoring for the
Red Cross.

2. Write a letter to the editor of the

newspaper that argues why
citizens should support a tax
increase benefiting the local public
schools.

3. Convince a person to watch your

favorite movie.

4. Who is responsible for Othello’s

downfall? Justify your answer.

Types of Persuasive/Argumentative

Writing

- Editorials
- Articles with a position
- News reports
- Election speeches
- Opinion pieces
- Argumentative essays

Narrative/ Descriptive Writing

● Narrative writing is a type of writing in which the

author tells a detailed, descriptive, and developed
story.

● Narrative writing often has situations like disputes,

conflicts, action, motivational events, problems and
solutions.

● Has dialogue, characters, action, beginning,

middle, and end.

● This will use both figurative and descriptive

language as well as sensory detail to tell the story

Keywords that show it is a

narrative/descriptive prompt

Describe

Tell/ Write

a story

Show

Different POV
or Perspective

Reflect
Imagine

1.

You and your friend find a big box
that is labeled “Do Not Open.”
Your friend wants to open the box.
Write a story about what
happens next.

2.

Tell about a time when you made
a serious mistake.

3.

Describe a scene from the story
using a different character’s
point of view.

4.

Imagine you’re Hassan and
reflect on your experience
growing up with Amir.

Write Your Own
FOR EXTRA CREDIT

● Pick a prompt from the list on the

next slide

● Successfully identify the style and

correctly respond to the prompt
using the proper pronouns and voice.

Write Your Own

1. Explain which theme is the most important theme
   to Othello and why.

2. Write a letter to the English department head in order to convince her that Othello is a worthwhile read.

3.When Othello kills himself and Iago is sentenced to a life of torture, what happens next? Write the next Act of Othello.

4.Which character suffers a more prolific and meaningful downfall: Iago or Othello?

5. Analyze how Desdemona fits the role of the loyal, forgiving wife even in her death?

6. Iago is looking for love within the confines of his prison cell. Create a dating profile for this villain. Be descriptive.