Genres of Writing-- The NOTES page

You should have started and are about ready to FINISH your artifacts by this point.  With that being said, you really need to think about in which genre each belongs.  For example, if you wrote a diary entry, it would fall under a different genre than would a wanted poster or some sports trading cards.  Look at the sample list & descriptions of writing genres, and see if you can place YOUR particular artifact into one of the broader genres and a sub-genre (it's probably easier to do the sub-genre first then the main genre...)

BROAD categories of Genres & GENRES DESCRIPTION

EXPOSITORY--a genre of writing that informs, describes, or explains with text types such as: autobiography, biography, descriptive, essay, experiment, informational report, and media article

NARRATIVE--a genre of writing that entertains or tells a story with text types such as: adventure, fairy tale, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, personal narrative, realistic fiction, and science fiction

PERSUASIVE--a genre of writing that attempts to convince readers to embrace a particular point of view with text types such as: advertisement, editorial, persuasive essay, political cartoon, pro/con, and review

PROCEDURAL/HOW TO--a genre of writing that explains the instructions or directions for completing a task with text types such as: experiment, how to, and recipe

TRANSACTIONAL--a genre of writing that serves as a communication of ideas and information between individuals with text types such as: business letter, friendly email, friendly letter, interview, invitation, postcard, speeches, and weblog entry

Where would you put the following types of artifact?

Memoir/Journal/Diary

Informational--Anything News-Related, Website or other Web-based Artifact, Obituary, Time Line, etc. 

Ad/Wanted Poster/etc.

Creative Writing/Poetry--flash fiction, poem, etc

A Brief List of Sub-Genres (from http://multigenre.colostate.edu/genrelist.html)

• Journal Entries
• Personal Letter
• Greeting Card
• Schedule/Things to Do List
• Inner Monologue Representing Internal Conflicts
• Classified or Personal Ads
• Personal Essay or Philosophical Questions
• Top Ten List/Glossary or Dictionary
• Poetry
• Song Lyrics
• Autobiographical Essay
• Contest Entry Application
• Business Letter or Correspondence/Persuasive or Advocacy Letter
• Biographical Summary
• Critique of a Published Source
• Speech or Debate
• Historical Times Context Essay
• Textbook Article
• Science Article or Report/Business Article or Report
• Lesson Plan
• Encyclopedia Article
• Short Scene from a Play with Notes for Stage Directions
• Short Scene from a Movie with Notes for Camera Shots
• Dialogue of a Conversation among Two or More People
• Short Story
• Adventure Magazine Story
• Ghost Story
• Myth, Tall Tale, or Fairy Tale
• Talk Show Interview or Panel
• Recipe and Description of Traditional Holiday Events
• Classroom Discussion
• Character Analysis or Case Study
• Comedy Routine or Parody
• Liner Notes
• Picture book
• Chart or Diagram with Explanation and Analysis
• Brochure or Newsletter
• Time Line or Chain of Events
• Map with Explanation and Analysis
• Magazine or TV Advertisement or Infomercial
• Restaurant Description and Menu
• Travel Brochure Description
• How-To or Directions Booklet
• Receipts, Applications, Deeds, Budgets or Other Documents
• Wedding, Graduation or Special Event Invitation
• Birth Certificate
• Local News Report
• Pop-Up book
• Review and Poster for a Movie, Book, or TV Program
• Board Game or Trivial Pursuit with Answers and Rules
• Comic Strip or Graphic Novel excerpt
• Power Point Presentation
• Informational Video
• Web Site
• Future News Story
• Letter to the Editor
• Newspaper or Magazine Feature/Human Interest Story
• Obituary, Eulogy or Tribute
• News Program Story or Announcement
• Tabloid Article

Still thinking about the type of genre in which you want to write? Here are some ideas and reasons to pick different genres...