Distinguishing Text-Types According to Purpose and Features

These are text written for a variety of purposes, using different forms and standards of composition.

• Sentences

• Phrases

• Text types

• Paragraph

It begins with a main idea and discusses the subcategories of that topic, comparing and contrasting them with each other.

• Classification

• Explanation

• Enumeration

• Time-order

It is one which presents ideas by listing or enumerating the kinds, characteristics, classes, types, parts, ways, groups, and other information of a certain thing. it usually starts with the statement of general subject that is broken down into parts, classes, etc.

• Explanation

• Enumeration

• Classification

• Time-order

A type of factual text that explains how or why something happens is an explanation. It begins with the topic, describes items related to the topic in the right order, and explains how these items are related to each other. It may have a conclusion. This text type is written in the present tense.

• Time order

• Classification

• Enumeration

• Explanation

A process or how-to text gives explanations or directions. Each sentence tells the next step in carrying out a process or in getting from one place to another.

• Classification

• Explanation

• Time order

• Enumeration

Signal words that may be used to show order of steps include:

• first

• before

• during

• maybe

Signal words used in enumeration are:

• next

• following

• such as

• so on

What text-types is this?

• Classification

• Explanation

• Enumeration

• Time order

What text-types is this?

• Enumeration

• Classification

• Time order

• Explanation

What type of text is this?

• Enumeration

• Explanation

• Time order

• Classification