Writing Modes

The type of writing, or rhetorical mode, dictates the writing style. Most writing can be broken down into four modes:

Exposition–a genre of writing in which the purpose of the author is to inform, explain, describe or define his or her subject to the reader.

Narration–storytelling, as found in short stories, novels, drama, and personal accounts.

Argumentation–the writer tries to persuade the reader to agree to a new belief or to take a course of action. Also called persuasive writing.

Description–the writer uses sensory details to show the reader what is being written about.