Table of genre characteristics
Genre
Features
Factual text
Imparts information
(expository),
Objective and neutral tone
e.g. academic
Formal language and style
textbook, dictionary,
High lexical density*
encyclopaedia
No use of first-person pronoun
News article
Imparts information
(expository)
Tries to answer the questions: who, what, when, where, why and how
Neutral and objective tone, but not as impartial as the factual text
No use of first-person pronoun
Often quotes sources directly
Most important information comes early in the text
Uses headlines and often also subheadings
Factual report
Imparts information
(expository)
Objective and neutral tone
e.g. police report,
Often flat and straightforward language
accident report
Formal language
insurance claim
High lexical density; profession/job specific language
Often has introduction/conclusion
1
Business report
Imparts information
(expository and
Often analyses results/problems
analytical)
Normally makes recommendations
Formal language
High lexical density; profession/job specific language
Often has introduction/conclusion
Feature article
Imparts information - not breaking news
(analytical and
Usually topical
personal)
Analyses and entertains
Tone can be serious or light depending on subject
Personal, subjective tone
Language can be informal
Author usually “present” in the text
Often uses literary devices
Facts and statistics often used to support the views expressed
Often quotes sources directly
Interviews and anecdotes often used
Often ends emphatically
Generally longer than the news article
Uses headlines/subheadings
Essay
Analyses, exposes or persuades
(analytical)
Normally objective tone and style
Avoids slang, colloquial language and abbreviations
Disciplined; it does not waver from the chosen topic
Generally starts with a thesis statement
2
Has logical progression
Divided into clear paragraphs
Has an introduction and a conclusion
Review
(analytical and
persuasive)
Critically examines a book, film, painting, music etc.
Persuasive
Critical tone (positive/negative)
Presence of the writer’s opinion
Presence of the first person possible
Liberal use of adjectives and adverbs
Often tries to “hook” the reader
Often has a catchy title
Ends emphatically making clear the overall opinion
Editorial/speech
Persuades
(persuasive)
Expresses particular points of view on a subject
Level of formality depends on the type of medium and on the intended
audience
Uses techniques of rhetoric (see Course 3: Persuasive Genres) and
literary features
The editorial is generally short
Personal text
Imparts a personal response
(persuasive and
Expresses particular points of view on a subject/tries to persuade
personal)
e.g. blog text, online
Subjective tone
Generally informal but depends on target group
commentary, letters
to the editor, diary
entry
Letters to the editor are often quite formal
Often uses techniques of rhetoric and literary features
3
Advertisement
Tries to sell or convince
(persuasive)
Normally a light, upbeat, friendly and inclusive tone
Uses easy, accessible language
Often liberal use of the pronouns you, we
Often addresses target audience directly
Uses emotive words
Lots of positive adjectives/adverbs
May employ literary devices like alliteration, similes, metaphors
Often presence of the imperative: Buy! Get! Look!
Layout (picture/image etc.) is also very important
Literary text
Tries to make us understand something about life
(persuasive,
Tries to express a sentiment
analytical, personal)
e.g. novel, short
story, poem, play
Often persuasive; wants to make us see things a certain way
Uses expressive language (this is language that creates images in the
reader’s mind)
Uses literary devices liberally (e.g. metaphors, similes, personification,
imagery)
Autobiography
Tells a personal story, personal version of events
(expository, personal,
Tone may be serious, light, humorous, bitter
analytical)
Uses first-person, vivid details, anecdotes
Sense of place and time is important
Often reported dialogue
Generally chronological
* By lexical density we mean the following: A text has high lexical density when there are many
content words, i.e. nouns, adjectives, most verbs, and most adverbs, in comparison to functional
words, i.e. pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, auxiliary verbs, etc. Content words are used for
explanations (expository purpose). If there are many content words, you know you are probably
4
dealing with a factual text. If there is a very high number of lexical words, we are probably dealing
with an academic text. Texts that are very easy to understand will have low lexical density. Lexical
density can also refer to the number of unique words in a text. If the same words are used often in a
text, it will have a lower lexical density.
5