]

Text Type Purpose( Most Conventions/Features

Common)

Advertisement persuade, promote a colour scheme, slogan, testimonial, rule of thirds, weasel
product, sell, inform words, groups, ethos/pathos/logos, plain folks, signature,
magic ingredient, copy, facts & figures, snob appeal,
glittering generalities, bandwagon, card stacking,
endorsement, avant garde, wit & humour, logo, rhetorica

Biography inform, narrate, narration, third person narration, descriptive/figurative

share experiences, language, multiple settings, usually chronological
instruct/educate order, possible gaps in time, bias & sensationalism,
testimonials, characterization, plot arc

Blog comment, share, informal or familiar language, ads/banners,

inform, persuade, subheadings, hyperlinks, direct address,
evaluate acknowledgment of reader, self-referential (expects
previous knowledge), narration, comment section,
title/headline, subjective, thematic topic, narrow
columns, use of lists/GIFs/visuals, figurative
language, links to social media

Brochure/ inform, educate, size/layout/fold, cover, colour schemes, visuals,

leaflet advertise images, font/font size, small paragraphs, columns,
headings/subheadings, bullet-point lists, contact
information, facts& figures, glittering generalities,
formal/informal register

Cartoon entertain, educate, panels, visual, graphic style, gutter, speech/thought

comment, satirise, bubble, splash, bleed, emanate, narration, voice over,
criticise graphic weight, colour scheme, camera angle,
closure, transition styles, exaggeration, movement
lines, onomatopoeia, symbols, allusion, irony, humour

Diary recording first person, ‘Dear diary’, personal pronouns, date,

events/feelings, narration, anecdote, informal language, stream of
expressing emotion, consciousness, daily experiences, self-referential,
remembrance, imagery, descriptive language, personal or reflective
expressing opinion tone, little contextualisation

Essay analyse, persuade, formal register, formal structure, thesis statement,

narrate, comment, topic sentences, concluding sentences, arguments,
describe, evaluate, linking words/connecting phrases, cohesion,
offer solution citations/references, examples,

Infographic educate, inform, colour scheme, condensed information, subheadings,

persuade data/facts & figures/statistics, charts, symbols,
graphics, exaggeration/symbolic value, varying font
sizes, cohesion/sequence of information,
representation of groups
Interview give opinion, Q&A format (Interviewer:…/response), reported
inform, extract (transcript of Q&A format), quotations, formal/informal
views/information language, relationship & interviewee status determine
language & overall tone, open-ended questions, facts
& figures, bias, thematic focus, direct address

Letter /Email Express ideas, Level of formality depending on recipient, greeting

thoughts, feelings, (‘Dear...’), closing remarks (‘best regards’, yours
concerns, sincerely’ etc.), address, formulaic expressions, set
exchange structure, name at the bottom/signature, P.S.
news/information, To/From/Cc/Bcc, subject line, greeting, closing
apply for position, remarks, attachments/links, emojis, abbreviations
invite, complain,
suggest/recomme
nd, address the
editor, resign,
notify (official)

Magazine Inform, promote Heading/Title, subheadings, spread or embedded

article (products, people, photos/visual elements, possibly in columns (depends
events etc.), on layout of magazine), rule of thirds, isolated quotes,
comment, capitalisation of first word/line, possible
entertain, review, advertisements, captions for images, colour
criticise, advise scheme/fonts/font size, bias/guided approach, poetic
Determined by language
type of magazine

Memoir Share First person narration, single perspective,

story/experiences, anecdotes/first hand experiences, strong elements of
advise, inspire, cultural context, author = narrator = protagonist,
warn, vindicate, selection of events/experiences, possible visuals,
entertain descriptive, expression of thoughts/feelings,
reflection/retrospection, past tenses,
foreshadowing/dramatic irony, figurative language,
imagery, mostly chronological order

Photograph Comment, Single perspective, possible subjectivity,

provoke, inspire, foreground/middle ground/background, focus/blur,
shock, record a colour/black & white, rule of thirds, balance, subject or
moment, provide topic, out of frame
evidence,
entertain, criticise

Report News report/police Evidence/facts/data, possible sub-sections, names of

report/ academic contributors, headings & subheadings, contents page,
report/ financial reviews past events, formal language, rigid structure,
report/ medical objective/impersonal
reports/ scientific
report

Screenplay Entertain, Names of characters per line, stage directions (exits,

 comment, guide entrances, sounds, lighting, camera angles etc.), font,
(actor, director), scene markers, header (episode, series, film)
shock

Set of Advise, inform, Numbering, specific order, short sentences, possible

instructions guide through a visuals/symbols/shapes, verbs in imperative,
process sequencing words, simple language, precise
facts/information, sub-sections, highlighted words,
conclusion of task

Speech Inspire/ motivate, More likely formal register, ethos/pathos/logos,

persuade, address weasel words, rhetorical question, set structure,
a specific figurative language, direct address, repetition,
group/audience, restatement, imagery, facts & figures, chiasmus, body
inform, comment, language, intonation, facial expressions, hyperbole,
criticise, share ways of addressing/ group names, name-calling,
experience/ scapegoating, subjectivity, bias, allusions, plain folks,
knowledge, transfer, patriotism, glittering generalities, assertion,
commemorate, narration/anecdote, simplification, analogy, humour,
deliver eulogy, personal pronouns, emotional appeal
entertain, threaten,
attack, appeal,
advise

Travel writing Entertain, inform, Fist-person narration, subjectivity, strong personal

describe, inspire, opinion, personal style, imagery/ sensory details,
evaluate, descriptive language, figurative language, visual
recommend, elements (photos, maps etc.), quotes, facts &
sensitise, educate figures/details, past tenses, tone, sub-headings,
title/heading, narration/ anecdote, ‘about the author’,
rhetorical questions, informal language, structure