A Guide to Non Narrative Text Types

Examples… diary entry, postcard, biography, newspaper report, letter. Features: past tense, 5ws (who, what, when, where, why), chronological order, 1st/3rd person, time connectives (rhetorical questions for diaries) Structure: intro (5ws), paragraphs about chronological events, summary/conclusion

Examples… Powerpoint presentation, guidebook entry, page from encyclopedia, booklet, poster. Features: technical words, descriptive language, sub headings, charts, diagrams, images, 3rd person Structure: intro, paragraphs about different areas of topic/subject of writing with technical words, images/charts, summarising statement.

Examples… leaflet, poster, manual. Features: present tense, passive voice, impersonal language, cause and effect connectives (because, if, when, therefore), technical vocabulary. Structure: intro stating what the item is, labelled diagram/image/flowchart, paragraphs logically explaining different features, summary.

Examples… recipes, rules for a game, how to… booklet. Features: numbers, letters, bullet points or time connectives, step by step sequence, list of equipment/ingredients, imperative verbs, labelled diagrams, adverbs. Structure: How to … statement, list of apparatus/ingredients, sequenced steps starting with imperatives, summary.

Examples… letter, poster, magazine article, newspaper, radio jingle, advertisement. Features: present tense, logical connectives (therefore, so, but, however, furthermore), persuasive language, evidence and examples, reasoning, point of view. Structure: Opening statement, persuasive points followed by evidence and elaboration, closing statement to summarise/reinforce ideas.

Examples… magazine article, leaflet, debate, letter, interview. Features: points of view for and against, logical connectives, complex sentences, present tense. Structure: opening statement with general overview of topic, balanced arguments for and against with supporting evidence, summary and conclusion.