Learn to Write

Types of Writing

Every piece of writing has a unique purpose and reason to be presented in its particular style. Find information about the different types of writing:

Narrative

• Develops a story based on facts or imagined truths ; the author/creator has complete control of the way the story will be told
• Examples: fictional stories (novels, short stories, fairy tales, etc.), personal essays, autobiographies, screenplays/film scripts, oral storytelling

Descriptive

• Offers a detailed and rich visualization of an event, character, situation, place, etc. by incorporating precise and fact-based details through the narration; the author/creator is trying to create a picture in the mind of the reader
• Examples: poetry/poems, advertisements, diary entries, travel blogs, case studies, similes, metaphors

Persuasive

• Used to influence a reader to agree with the author/creator's point of view through different arguments
• Examples: opinion or editorial news articles, resumes and cover letters, advertisements, book reviews

Expositive/Expository

• Explains or informs about a fact, theory, or hypothesis without involving the author/creator's personal opinion; fact based
• Examples: historical non-fiction books, step-by-step instructions or how-to guides, encyclopedia articles, textbooks

Academic

• A highly structured form of expository writing used at post-secondary schools (colleges, universities)
• Characteristics include: that it is evidence- or research-based, precise, objective, uses very formal language, and analytical/critical in outlook
• Examples: research essays, scholarly/academic research articles, nursing care plans, annotated bibliographies

Business

• Specific to a workplace, this writing is formal, professional, clear, concise, and intends to convey relevant information to a reader in the most effective and straightforward way possible
• Examples: business letters, emails, business plans/strategic plans, reports (formal and informal), resumes, cover letters, letters of transmittal