Genre Analysis
Literary genres are identified in large part by their view, structure, and tone. Chapters 6 -8 of our text, Essentials of College Writing, deal with the qualities of different genres: personal writing, persuasive writing, and expository writing. Each of these has qualities particular to that type of writing.
In personal writing, the writer uses the first person point of view because they are speaking directly to the reader, explaining the writer’s own thoughts and feelings. This is a subjective genre because it is dependent on the writer’s perspective. They are structured linearly flowing from beginning through the end - often chronologically. They don’t use headings or other things that create sections in the paper, and are intended to inspire the reader to engage with the story that is being told. Personal writing has a less formal tone than any other kind. Contractions and other informal language is permitted. These papers can, under certain circumstances, make use of thesis statements or introductions, depending on the time of personal writing it is, but most often they will be linear and informal.
In persuasive writing, the writer is trying to convince the reader of something. It may be a personal opinion, but it is different from personal writing. Persuasive writing can use first or third person point of view because while the writer may want to focus on the subject, engaging the reader is also an effective way to persuade. The tone in a persuasive paper uses rational argumentation, but also will use emotive reasoning. But the tone and language are always of the upmost importance in persuasive writing because they dictate the efficacy of the writing. It should not be overly emotive or insulting toward any other viewpoints.
In expository writing, the writer intends to share objective information with the reader. The third person point of view is used because it focuses on the subject rather than either the writer or reader.
Both persuasive and expository writing will be structured along the lines of the five paragraph essay. They will have an introduction, where the thesis the writer is defending will be told along with three main points supporting the thesis. Then the body of the paper will have a section for each main point, in which the details of that point are told. Then they will have a conclusion, where the thesis is reinforced and the point of the paper is restated.
This essay is an expository paper. It has a clear structure, formal language, and is intended to give information to the reader, but not particularly for the purpose of persuading the reader of anything. These are the marks of an expository piece of writing.
