6 Types of Text Types

1. Narrative
- A narrative is a telling of some true or fictitious event or connected sequence of
events, sometimes recounted by a narrator to an audience (although there may
be more than one of each). A personal narrative is a prose narrative relating to a
personal experience.

Examples
E.g 1

How I learned swimming

Learning something new can be a scary experience. One of the hardest

things I’ve ever learned to do was to swim. I was always afraid of the water, but I
decided that swimming was an important skill that I should learn. I also thought it would
be a good exercise and help me become physically stronger. What I realized was that
learning to swim would also make me a more confident person.

E.g 2

Me, My self and I

Hi and hello, I want to make myself known as Cember Zane U. Canonigo, a 14-
year-old boy living in New Frontier, Iligan City. Born on December 6, 2008. I like to eat
as my coping mechanism when I get stressed but I may include my other hobbies as
another way of coping, including Volleyball, Skating, and Reading. Aside from all of
them, I too love watching movies. My dislikes include receiving a huge load of work in
school. I take pride in my taste when it comes to my fashion and my music taste. I try
my best to be ME and not someone who I am not when I am with other people because
I know it would literally make me go insane. I would say I am a carefree kind of guy with
a hint of a rebellious attitude. In my perspective, sometimes it’s better to not go with the
flow and be your own person.
2. Explanatory
- Explanatory texts provide information on specific facts and concepts. Its main
objective is to disseminate content that is understandable to the recipient. For
example: the definition of a concept in a dictionary, the concept of study manuals,
or a science article published in a magazine.

Examples
E.g 1: How is ice cream made? Ice cream is made with milk, cream, and sugar. All of
the ingredients are mixed together. Then, the mixed ingredients are heated up to kill off
any germs. Flavors and colors are added next, strawberry-flavored ice cream is usually
pink. The mixture is then frozen and whipped at the same time. This makes it softer.

E.g 2:

Photosynthesis: It is a chemical process through which inorganic matter is transformed

into organic matter, from the energy of light. In this process, glucose molecules are
generated from carbon dioxide and water, on the one hand, and oxygen is released as a
by-product, on the other.

3. Expository
- Expository are informative texts that explain something to the readers. They
give facts and information about a specific topic. The author’s purpose is to
inform, describe, or explain the topic itself. Because of that, it is a non-fiction text.
It is not made up. Expository texts are often seen in educational settings, but they
are also found in professional settings as well as in books that are meant to
teach.

Examples
E.g 1:
Cause and effect: a man offends his neighbor by insulting him (the cause). His
neighbor becomes angry (the effect and the next cause) and he in turn tells his friends
(the next effect and cause). His friends also become angry (another effect and cause)
and tell their friends (another effect and cause).
E.g.2:

Compare and contrast: an apple has thin skin that we can eat; an orange has thick
skin that we cannot eat).

4. Procedural
- Procedural text is simply any text that provides instructions in a simple, step-
by-step format. The name comes from the fact that the reader must follow
a procedure if they wish to carry out the instructions. A procedural text is a great
way to teach someone something new, from how to ride a bike to how to get from
one place to another. Procedural writing is a great example of a non-fiction text
that your children might encounter.

E.g.1:

To make a banana shake, we’ll need the following ingredients:

 ½ Glass of milk
 1 Banana
 1 Egg
 2 Scoops of ice cream
 Pitcher
 Bowl
 Glass
 Fork
Method:
 Fill the pitcher half with milk.
 Break the egg into the milk with care.
 Peel the banana
 Mash it in the bowl with a fork.
 Mix in the banana with the milk
 Pour in the ice cream.
 Fill the glass halfway with the mixture.
  Enjoy your banana shake.

E.g 2:

How to Start (and Complete) a Research Paper

1. Choose a topic.
2. Read and keep records.
3. Form a thesis.
4. Create a mind map or outline.
5. Read again.
6. Rethink your thesis.
7. Draft the body.
8. Revise.

5. Recount
- Recount text is a text that tells a reader about one story, action, or activity. Its
purpose is to entertain or inform the reader. It is basically a text which retells
events or experiences in the past. Writers should remember that while the
purpose is to retell, they still need to craft their retelling into something much
interesting to the reader.

E.g.1: Yesterday, my family and I went to the National Zoo and Aquarium to visit the new
Snow Cubs and the other animals.
In the morning, when we got to the Zoo and Aquarium there was a great big line, so we
had to wait a while to get in.
After we entered the zoo, we went straight to the enclosure for the Snow Cubs. My
brother and I were so excited to see them. They were so cute and playful.
At lunchtime, Dad decided to cook a barbeque. He cooked sausages so we could have
sausage sandwiches. Mum forgot the tomato sauce so we had to eat them plain.
In the afternoon, we visited the aquarium. My brother was excited to see the sharks and
the tropical fish.
At the end of the day when we left, we were going to go and get ice cream but we
decided we were too tired so we drove straight home.
E.g. 2:

I remember the day my cat died. It was on July 7, 2020. My cat, named Mayo died
of internal bleeding caused by a motorcycle hit. Within a few minutes of hearing the
heart-breaking news, I had been in denial, refusing to believe that he died not a
peaceful death even after witnessing what happened. I calmed down as my grown
siblings cried. When my father, who was also in tears brought his dead body home, the
reality hit like a plane crash and my heart broke down to pieces. I immediately ran to his
dead body and held him in my arms as my mother tried to comfort me.

6. Persuasive
- A persuasive text is any text where the main purpose is to present a point of
view and seeks to persuade a reader. A persuasive text can be an argument,
exposition, discussion, review or even an advertisement.

E.g.1:

'Plastic is incredibly versatile and long-lasting, finding its way into every corner of our
lives. But the very qualities that make plastic so useful also make it a huge problem.
Cheap and disposable, plastic has been a symbol of our throwaway culture.

'As a result, vast quantities pollute our world. Much of it flows into the oceans, turning
them into plastic soup. A truckload of plastic enters the ocean every single minute and
UK supermarkets produce 800,000 tonnes every year. With production increasing,
that’s set to rise.'

E.g. 2:

'Celebrities and socialites are also turning their backs on fur. In January, Anjelica Huston
donated her old, unwanted furs to PETA and helped us cut them up to be used as
bedding for orphaned wildlife. "These coats were given to me decades ago when I had
no idea how animals suffered in the fur trade"