This document provides descriptions of various writing genres and literary forms including descriptive, narrative, expository, and persuasive writing. It also defines and gives examples of different types of literature such as historical fiction, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, autobiography, biography, poetry, and drama.

1. How to tell the difference among all of the choices.

2. Writing Genres
Descriptive
Narrative
Expository
Persuasive
Responding to Literature

3. Descriptive
Use lots of adjectives to describe
one or two things
These things can be a person,
place, thing, or event
Many sensory images help the
reader to picture the topic

4. Narrative
Tells a story
Usually about a memorable event
or an important experience
The details answer the 5 W’s:
 Who, What, When, Where, Why

5. Expository
Writer gives information
Choices can be:
 An explanation
 Directions
 How to do something

6. Persuasive
Share opinions or strong feelings
on a topic
Writer works on convincing the
reader to agree with his/her side or
ideas

7. Responding to Literature
Writer shares his/her thoughts
about a particular piece
Writer uses specific examples from
the passage to communicate
his/her thoughts

8. Literature
 Historical Fiction
 Mystery
 Science Fiction
 Fantasy
 Autobiography
 Biography
 Poetry
 Drama

9. Historical Fiction
Is a fictional story using real
characters and events to make the
story more interesting

10. Mystery
A story that has a problem that
needs to be solved
Most often a crime has been
committed
Elements include suspects, police,
weapon, victim, crime, witnesses
and clues

11. Science Fiction
A fictional story that includes
elements of science that could
possibly happen in the far off
future

12. Fantasy
A story in which there are
imaginary elements: flying horses,
magic, or impossibilities

13. Autobiography
A story where someone other than
the person the novel is about tells
that person’s life

14. Biography
A story where the person writes the
novel about him/herself
Written in first person

15. Poetry
Most poems are highly concise,
musical, and have emotionally
charged language.
Poets share thoughts and opinions
through the structured form

16. Drama
A story written to be performed by
actors on a stage
The script is made up of dialogue
and stage directions to tell the
actors how to move and speak.