Lesson 1.2A: Writing Modes - Finding Your Purpose for Writing
 It is important to establish your purpose for writing. Consider the example below:
Think of your dream job. Can you describe why you want this job? Can you explain how to perform the duties required? Can you persuade someone to give you the job? Can you imagine a day at work?
Each of these questions focuses your purpose for writing. It is your purpose for writing that will determine which of the four writing modes - descriptive, expository, persuasive or narrative - that you will use. Each of the four writing modes has its unique characteristics.
The rest of the lessons in this section will deal with these different writing modes. Can you think of differences between them before we move forward in this section? Write down some of the differences and see how accurate your responses are as you progress through this lesson.
 Types of Writing
Paragraphs and essays can often fit into one of the four writing modes or patterns.
Descriptive
Paragraphs take images and pictures and turn them into words that the reader can visualize and imagine. Good description appeals to one or more of the five senses (sight, taste, touch, smell, and hearing). What is of importance in descriptive writing is to be precise and clear in your use of words and details in order to paint this word picture for the reader.
Expository or explanatory
Paragraphs focus on explaining something. Opinions are not expressed in this type of paragraph. Instead, an expository paragraph is carefully organized to explain how something is done or why something is.
Persuasive
Paragraphs focus on convincing the reader of something. Good persuasion relies on the use of facts and anecdotes or examples to convince the reader. This evidence, which needs to be accurate and relevant, makes the writer's argument strong. In order to use evidence well in a persuasive paragraph, the writer may need to do some research to ensure the evidence is accurate and not misleading or incorrect.
Narrative
Paragraphs tell a story. Narrative writing could focus on your own story, or the story of someone else. A narrative paragraph could also be real or imaginary. The important things in a narrative paragraph are to keep your reader's interest and keep the story moving.
It is important to note that these four types of writing can overlap with each other. Writers see these types of writing as existing together, using one in conjunction with the other(s) to suit their purposes for writing.
Summary
Completing this lesson has helped you to:
- select a purpose for writing
- understand different writing styles can be used for different writing purposes
- analyze different writing samples
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