SWITCHING WRITING MODES

1. SWITCHING WRITING MODES So, let’s talk about distinctions in writing…

2. What’s a mode? • ALL WRITING IS NOT THE SAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! • There are different modes of writing—forms of writing, types of writing, domains of writing—whatever you want to call them. Each mode has a specific purpose. There are four basic modes: descriptive, narrative, expository and persuasive; however, there are many sub-categories/modes within these categories. • Different writing prompts require different response modes. • When writing, you must always consider PURPOSE ( to determine the MODE) and AUDIENCE ( to determine the TONE).

3. Different Modes: Expressive Writing: Writing to simply express yourself, explore feelings; chronicle your thoughts. The TONE is generally informal. • Journal Writing • Reflective Essay Writing to Describe: Self-explanatory—writing that simply “describes” something, a situation, person, event, etc., and attempts to recreate that subject through descriptive diction. TONE will vary according to the specific assignment. • Observational Writing • Descriptive Essay/Paragraph • Biographical Profile Writing to Narrate: To tell a narrative, or a story. Sometimes this will include a self-analysis of the author’s experience with the narrative. The TONE will vary according to the specific assignment. • Personal Narrative • Eyewitness Account • Oral History Creative Writing: Writing that is intended to explore one’s creativity. The TONE/STYLE/DICTION is frequently informal, but will also vary according to the assignment. NOTE: many of the previous types of writing could fall under the umbrella of “creative writing” but still deserve their own category. • Short Story • Novel • Poetry • Lyrics

4. More Modes! Writing to Inform: Writing that is intended to objectively (free of personal bias) convey information about a subject. The TONE is generally formal/informational. • Process Analysis (e.g., explanation of procedures followed for an experiment) • Cause-and-Effect Essay • News Story (when just reporting the facts) Writing to Persuade: Writing that is intended to persuade the audience to see a subject as the author sees it. The TONE will vary according to assignment and persuasive tactics. • Persuasive Essay • Letter to the Editor • Propaganda Piece Practical Writing: Writing to communicate ideas or information for practical uses. The tone will vary according to the task—often specific jargon and/or formulaic writing should be used. • Resume and Cover Letter Writing • Grant Proposals • Letter of Complaint Speaking, Listening, and Multimedia Projects: Often writing will accompany such assignments, but is generally in transcription, outline, script, or shorthand form. Tone will be equivalent to the corresponding assignment. • Interview • Speeches • Documentary Video • Power Point Presentation • Multimedia Art Presentation (with explanatory write-up) • Film (which would also fall under the umbrella of “Creative Writing”)

5. Literary Analysis Mode: • Literary analysis writing explores the critical analysis of literary texts, including: novels, essays, poetry, movies, scripts, artwork, song lyrics, short stories, etc. It is NOT your opinion of the text or response to it (liked it, disliked it, reminded you of your mother, etc.); it is your analysis of your reading/interpretation of some aspect of the text.

6. Examples: • Your explication of some aspect of the text (like symbolism in the text) • Your interpretation of the author’s purpose in a text based on your reading of the text • Your rebuttal of someone else’s interpretation of a text • Comparative Analysis Essays • Literary Review • Critical theory writing (Don’t worry about this one; it’s college stuff…) *Note: This will be the MODE for all of your Weekly Writing assignments.

7. What elements of a work might you try to interpret? • Title, as it pertains to the work as a whole • Significant moments • Character arch • Symbolism • Motifs • Plot development • Setting/atmosphere • Tone • Style • Point of view • Theme (and how these literary elements lead to theme) • Many, many others

8. Guidelines… Literary Analysis Writing: • Identifies the work and its author and provides necessary background. • Explains the meaning of a whole work or some part of it. • Presents a clear THESIS (which is the conclusion you came to, based on your reading and analysis of the text—as a response to an essay prompt) that will be the focus of the essay. • Provides support for the thesis in the form of personal experience (only in the intro or conclusion, or in the general “humanity” sense); examples from the text itself, either through direct citation or paraphrasing; examples from related works. • Provides analysis of that support in order to relate the evidence back to the interpretation. • Is organized clearly and logically.

9. Tone and Audience? • The TONE for literary analysis writing is always formal, unless otherwise stated*. That means that the writer does not use “I,” “you,” or any sort of slang, etc. • Your audience is a teacher or member of the academic community. You want to think: I need to write according to the “standard rules of conventional English.” Q: What else do you think this means?

10. Introductory Assignment Task: You are going to write two paragraphs that explore two different modes of writing. Choose one prompt from column A and one from column B. These may be hand-written (for this particular assignment), but typed is always better! You should proofread these, of course, but no rough draft is needed. Column A • Prompt 1: Describe the most interesting person you know. • Prompt 2: Tell about an experience you had in which you learned a valuable lesson. • Prompt 3: Create a really creepy opening scene for a horror story. Column B • Prompt 1: Choose a character from a novel you have read in and out of class who changes in some important way. Explain how that character changes and why it is significant to the work as a whole. • Prompt 2: Choose any short story that we’ve read so far and explain your interpretation of what you believe to be the author’s philosophical message (theme). • Prompt 3: From any movie you’ve seen, choose a scene that you believe to be symbolic. Explain the symbolism of that scene.