In This Lesson
Practice
Practice 1. Identify the rhetorical mode of writing in short passages.
Quizzes (with scores)
Test how well you have learned this lesson by identifying the rhetorical mode of writing based on seven short paragraphs in each of the quizzes below.
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Introduction to Rhetorical Modes of Writing
Writing for Different Purposes
We write for different purposes. We write stories to entertain our readers and share our experiences. Storytelling is also an effective way to present an important life lesson (the “moral of the story”).
We write to inform or teach something to our readers. We even create lists and tables to make it easier for our readers to grasp information at a glance and perhaps learn and remember it more easily.
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We write business proposals to focus the reader’s attention on important details about a project. We outline steps and procedures and perhaps convince our readers that our ideas are worthwhile.
These are only a few examples of how we use writing to communicate ideas. Depending on our ultimate goal, we may end up with different types of writing.
Targeting Your Readers
Writing a recipe in the form of a poem would be an interesting way to express your creativity. However, how effective would it be for your readers?
Similarly, would you write a short story to persuade your employers to promote you? Although there may be a situation where storytelling would be effective to address your employer, that would likely be an exception. You would more likely want to emphasize your strong points, your accomplishments, your vision for your company, and so on.
Choosing the right type of writing is important so that your message is conveyed the most effectively.
Note about rhetorical modes and mixed modes of organization
Regardless of the type or mode of writing you choose to express your ideas, you must still organize the information in your writing. Some modes of organization are better suited to present information than others depending on your purpose and the main point.
There is no mode of organization that you will find only in one type of writing or another. Let’s say you are writing a persuasive essay. You can include elements from narrative and expository writing (i.e., use storytelling and an explanation) as long as they ultimately help you build your argument and convince your readers. For example, you can do the following:
- You can tell a story (as you would in narrative writing) to frame the issue and propose a solution or course of action. You use storytelling to help your readers visualize the issue; you can then effectively persuade them to believe or do something about it.
- Next, you can present factual evidence (as you would in expository writing) to support your proposed solution.
- Finally, you can propose the solution or course of action that you want to convince the reader is the best one.
The presentation of a story, facts, and logical arguments has a purpose from the start: Convincing your readers to accept your argument and take action that they might not have agreed with initially.
Writing tip
Before you even start writing, you should ask yourself, “What is my main purpose?” and “Who am I writing for?” Depending the answer, you might decide that the best way to present your ideas is to write
- an essay for academic readers or
- a story for young readers.
Carefully considering the topic and your readers before you start will guide your work. This planning will save you time and produce better results in the end because you will choose the best mode of organization for your work and rhetorical modes of writing in each of your paragraphs.
Choosing the Right Mode of Writing
When we consider the topic, our purpose, and our readers, we end up choosing from five types of writing or modes of writing appropriate for the task: expository or informative, narrative, descriptive, persuasive, or reflective. Choosing the right type of writing is crucial so that you convey the message the most effectively.
Let’s go over the five main types of writing.
Up Next: Expository Mode
Continue the course to learn about the expository mode of writing.
Related Lesson
Learn about Modes of organization, which has to do with how you organize information within different rhetorical modes.