The Genre of Writing (Text Types)
Writing for education especially high school is taught by giving some types of text.
Teacher explains some important information for each text type includes definition,
communicative purpose (also known as social function), generic structure, language feature, and
complete by giving the example. Some of the text types are taught in junior high school and
some others are in senior high school. According to Standar Isi in KTSP curriculum for senior
high school (2006), there are some text type, which will be taught such as recount, narrative,
procedure, descriptive, news item, report, analytical exposition, spoof, hortatory exposition,
explanation, discussion, and review. Below are brief descriptions of each type of text.
1. Recount
Firstly is recount text. In senior high school curriculum, recount text is taught in first
grade and first semester. it is a text, which retells events or experiences in the past. Its purpose is
either to inform or to entertain the readers. It begins with a background information who; when;
where and describes the series of events in time order. It may end with a personal comment.
From all text types, recount is one of genre, which contains story besides narrative. In addition,
both of them have orientation as a part to introduce participants, place, or time. The difference is
recount does not has problem while narrative does. Besides, recount is fact while narrative is
fiction.
2. Narrative
Secondly is Narrative text. It is a text which mostly taught in all grades. It is a text
focusing specific participants. In simple words, it tells story using a series of events. Its social
function is to tell stories or past events and entertain the readers. The generic structure of
narrative text is orientation, complication, and resolution. Mostly, the story of narratives include
in fiction. There are some kinds of narrative story such as folk tale, fairy tale, legend, and fable.
Furthermore, narrative will be the media for investigate students’ ability in writing in this
research.
3. Procedure
Thirdly is procedure text. This is kinds of text which easy to identify by considering the
text form. Procedure is a text that shows a process in order. It tells how something was made or
done in time order and with accuracy. Procedure begins with a statement of what was made or
done; tells what was made in order; and written in the past tense. The generic structure of this
text are aim or goals, ingredients and steps.
4. Descriptive
Fourthly is descriptive text. It is a kind of text, which describes a place or thing using
facts. It has generic structure namely general classification and descriptions. Descriptive text
begins with an introductory statement; systematically describes different aspects of the subject;
and may end with a concluding statement.
5. News Item
Fifthly is news item. News item informs readers about events of the day. The events are
considered newsworthy or important. It consists of main event, elaboration, and resource of
information. The characteristic of its language are focusing in circumstances and using material
process.
6. Report
Sixthly is report text. Report is a text, which presents information about something and
results of systematic observation and analysis. The purpose is classifies, describes, and gives
factual information about people, animals, things or phenomena. Actually, report text is
approximately same form with descriptive text. It can be seen in the generic structure; both of
them has same structure. The difference is report inclined to give information about natural,
animal or scientific phenomena while descriptive refers to describe the characteristic of an
object.
7. Analytical Exposition
Exposition is a text that elaborates the writer‘s idea about the phenomenon surrounding.
Its social function is to persuade the reader that the idea is important matter. This text begins
with thesis which introducing topic and indicating the writer’s position, then follows by
arguments to support writer position and finally it is closed by reiteration which restating the
writer position.
8. Spoof
Spoof tells factual story, happened in the past time with unpredictable and funny ending.
The communicative purpose of this text is to entertain and share the story. it focusing on people,
animals or certain things. The generic structure of spoof is orientation, events, and twist.
9. Hortatory Exposition
This text is designed to persuade readers about something that should or should not be in
case. It represents the attempt of the writer to have the addressee do something or act in certain
way.
10. Explanation
Explanation explains how or why something happen. It tells processes relating to forming
of natural, social, scientific, and cultural phenomena. Explanation text is to say 'why' and 'how'
of the forming of the phenomena. It is often found in science, geography, and history textbooks.
11. Discussion
Discussion is used to look at more than slide of an issue. It allows reader to explore
various perspectives before coming to an informed decision. Discussion text present a
problematic discourse. This problem will be discussed from different viewpoints. Discussion is
commonly found in philosophical, historic, and social text.
12. Review
Review text is a text that summarizes analyses and assesses the appeal of a novel, play, or
film, to a broader audience. It describes how features (e.g. characters, plot, language features,
humor etc) may or may not appeal.
