This document discusses different types of discourse and their key features. It begins by defining discourse and identifying the main categories as descriptive, narrative, expository, and argumentative. It then provides details on each type: - Descriptive discourse can be static or process-based, and technical or imaginative. - Narrative discourse portrays causally related chronological incidents, often in fiction. - Expository discourse gives explanations through examples, details, and rhetorical devices to inform. - Argumentative discourse aims to persuade by addressing controversial topics through logical presentation and credibility. The document outlines organizational structures and language techniques for each type of discourse. It emphasizes the importance of establishing a writer's purpose to either persuade,

1. DISCOURSE TYPES
MODULE 1 – GATHERING AND PROCESSING INFORMATION
CHAPTER 2 OF THE TEXT

3. What Is Discourse?
• Discourse is a coherently-arranged, serious and systematic
treatment of a topic in spoken or written language.
• It constitutes the categories of academic writing aimed at
teaching students the method of organizing, narrating and giving
detailed description of events in expository paragraphs.

4. Classes of Discourse
• Discourse may be classified into descriptive, narrative, expository (technical/scientific), and
argumentative.
1. Descriptive Discourse
• A descriptive discourse often takes two forms; it can be in static form, or the form called process
description.
• The static description draws a verbal picture using words that appeal to the senses, while the process
description tends to explain the various degrees or levels of advancement involved in carrying out a
task. Again, static description may either be the technical or the imaginative form.
• The technical form gives a lucid description and objective delineation of details; whereas, the
imaginative uses suggestive words and connotations to create a dominant effect about the subject
being described.
• Thus, we may have an equipment being described technically by thoroughly giving details of its parts
and the functions of such parts, or imaginatively — where figures of speech and associated
connotations are used to describe it.

5. Classes of Discourse
• 2. Narrative Discourse
• A narrative discourse is that which in its description, portrays causally related incidents; here
the occurred incidents are often arranged one after another in an order of chronology.
• The narrative discourse in its typical form is often referred to as fiction; this is because it
both provides a highly detailed and structured conception of anecdote.
• 3. Expository Discourse
• An expository discourse consists in giving definitive explanation and clarification by means
of examples and illustrations, details, comparison and contrast, definition, and other
rhetorical devices of like nature.

6. Classes of Discourse
• 4. Argumentative Discourse
• The argumentative discourse is used with the sole purpose of persuading the audience
(hearers or readers) to either accept or reject opinions. As a primary prerequisite,
argumentative discourse only takes effect where there is a contentious or controversial
topic.
• A topic is said to be controversial if there are at least two sides of analyzing or resolving
it, and if both sides are logical as well as equally debatable and defensible. It is
unnecessary writing an argumentative discourse if the resolution to the issue is obvious.
• Credibility of sources and logic of presentation are important factors in writing an
argumentative essay. Also important is combining a number of rhetorical devices to add
rhetorical nuances.
• The most common of such devices are definition, comparison and contrast,
classification, example and illustration, and similar other devices.

7. Classes of Discourse

8. Classes of Discourse

9. Organisational features of Expository,
Argumentative and Persuasive Discourse
• Cause and effect
• Classification
• Comparison and contrast
• Concession and rebuttal
• Counterarguments
• Definitions
• Evidence
• Illustrations and examples
• Juxtaposition
• Lists
• Order of importance
• Problem and solution
• Reasons
• Refutations

10. Organisational features of Narrative and
Descriptive Discourse
• Flashback
• Flash forward
• Foreshadowing
• Time sequence
• Comparison
• Contrast
• Description
• General to specific
• Spatial order

11. Writer’s Purpose
• The purpose must ALWAYS be stated as “to do…”
• For example, “The writer’s purpose in this extract is to persuade,
inform or entertain (PIE)”
• The three main types of discourse will lead you identify the 3 main
purposes of any particular piece-
• PERSUADE (argumentative/persuasive)
• INFORM (expository/descriptive)
• ENTERTAIN (narrative/descriptive)

12. PERSUASIVE/ARGUMENTATIVE
• Convincing someone to believe you by using logical arguments; challenge
opposing ideas; using supporting judgment; or by emotional language
(LOGOS, PATHOS, ETHOS)
• LOGOS – appeal to logic and reason
• PATHOS – appeal to emotions and feelings
• ETHOS – appeal to credibility and ethics
• Types of writing - political speeches, ads, critical essays, letters to the editor,
letters of recommendation

13. PERSUASIVE/ARGUMENTATIVE
ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES
- (the layout/the structure of the dish)
• Compare and contrast
• Cause and effect
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Problem and solution
• Transition words/phrases (words
that lead into another paragraph,
smooth flow of ideas)
• Source of authority
• Scientific appeal
• Counter argument
• Analogy
• Use of evidence

14. PERSUASIVE/ARGUMENTATIVE
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES -
INGREDIENTS USED FOR THE DISH
Direct personal appeal (use of you)
Emotive language (Logos, ethos, pathos)
Rhetorical devices
Repetition
Exaggeration
Exclamations
Adjectives
Alliteration
Rhymes
Songs
Catchy phrases
Sarcasm

15. LOGOS
• Logos is the persuasive technique that aims to
convince an audience by using logic and reason. Also
called “the logical appeal,” logos examples in
advertisement include the citation of statistics, facts,
charts, and graphs.
• Logos can be developed by using advanced, theoretical
or abstract language, citing facts (very important),
using historical and literal analogies, and by
constructing logical arguments.
• For example:
• The rise in violent crime that lasted from the 1960s to
the 1990s can be explained by higher levels of lead in
the atmosphere. Since leaded gasoline has been phased
out, crime levels have plummeted.
• Cats should not be allowed to roam the
neighbourhood. A study conducted in Lemmington,
Michigan, showed that when cats were kept on a leash
or indoors, the song bird population rose by 23%.

16. ETHOS
• Appeals to an audience by highlighting credibility.
• Serve to invoke the superior “character” of a speaker,
presenter, writer, or brand.
• Purpose is to convince the audience that the advertiser
is reliable and ethical mainly because it’s easier to make
a decision when someone you respect signs off on it.
• An ethos advertisement plays off the consumer’s
respect for a given spokesperson - through that respect,
the spokesperson appears convincing, authoritative and
trustworthy enough to listen to.
• In terms of the persuasive essay, your audience is being
asked to trust you and what you are saying, you have to
prove credible to them, they have to TRUST you.

17. Example of ethos in advertising: Jennifer Aniston in a
campaign for Glaceau Smart Water

18. PATHOS
• Pathos is the appeal to the emotions.
• Pathos techniques appeal to the senses, memory,
nostalgia, or shared experience. Pathos examples
pull at the heartstrings and make the audience
feel.
• Anytime your writing has an emotional impact
you are dealing with pathos. Consider the
following two statements:
• I think we need to provide more mental health
instruction.
• I lost my daughter to suicide.
• A teenager tries to convince his parents to buy
him a new car, as the old one continually breaks
down, by saying if they cared about their child's
safety they'd upgrade him.

19. INFORMATIVE/EXPOSITORY
• Types of informative/expository writing;
• Academic texts
• Statistical reports
• Incident reports
• Biographies
• News stories

20. INFORMATIVE/EXPOSITORY
• ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES -
• Sequencing
• Process
• Cause and effect
• Compare and contrast
• Classification
• Problem and solution

21. INFORMATIVE/EXPOSITORY
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES -
• Historical data
• Statistical data
• Factual data from websites
• Sequence transition words

22. ENTERTAIN/AESTHETIC
TYPES OF WRITING -
• Short stories
• Novel/novella
• Poetry/Spoken word
• Fables/folktales
• Plays/dramatic pieces
• Realistic fiction
• Journal/ diary/ blog
• Biography/autobiography
• Essays
• Songs

23. ENTERTAIN/AESTHETIC
ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES -
• Chronological order
• Evidence of conflict, action, problem and resolution (plot)
• Characters
• Dialogue
• Point of view

24. ENTERTAIN/AESTHETIC
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES -
• Figurative language
• Imagery
• Sense data
• Action words
• Adjectives
• Transition words

25. REVIEW
Match each of the following to ONE or MORE of the writing genres discussed:
• 1. Poetry
• 2. Historical writing
• 3. Eulogy
• 4. Debates
• 5. Song
• 6. Research
• 7. Advertisement

26. PRACTICE
• Module 1 Practice.pdf

27. LISTENING PRACTICE
• 2005 Listening.pdf

28. ESSAY PRACTICE – 2003
• 2003 Module 1 Essay.pdf