So, you want to write an article but you don’t know where to start? To make it even more complicated, there are actually several types of articles to choose from. First, you must determine the purpose of your article. The purpose of your article will determine the type of article you are going to write.
Styles of writing:
- Expository – The writer conveys information on a particular topic without using opinion.
- Argumentative – The author poses a problem or an issue, offers a solution, and provides arguments to justify that solution.
- Narrative – The author narrates in the form of a story.
- Descriptive – The writer provides a rich description that allows the readers to visualize what is being described.
- Persuasive – The author attempts to persuade or convince the readers of an idea or point of view.
Digging a little deeper.
Expository writing:
An expository piece is fact-based rather than opinion-based. It is always written in a linear fashion and the purpose is clear. It is not meant to entertain or persuade the reader.
- Some examples of places you might see this type of article are newspapers, journals, or textbooks.
Argumentative writing:
This type of writing is often academic, such as an essay. It should be written objectively and without emotion. You would typically present both sides of the argument, but provide evidence to support why one side in particular makes more sense.
- Many essays in colleges and universities are considered to be done in an argumentative style.
Narrative writing:
Narratives can be fiction or nonfiction, but it always has a beginning, middle, and end. You can write in a linear (chronological) order, or you can choose to be a little more creative by choosing a nonlinear style. Another option might be to write from the point of view of the main character. Even a blog is considered to be a narrative.
- Books, movies, and plays are just a few types of narratives.
Descriptive writing:
This type of writing employs various types of descriptive elements to allow the reader to experience the story. The reader should be able to visualize what is happening or otherwise use the senses to understand the events of the story. Descriptive writing can be fiction or nonfiction.
- Any type of creative writing is descriptive.
Persuasive writing:
Persuasive writing is not exactly the same as argumentative writing. It is typically written from a personal perspective and is not simply to share information. Instead, you are trying to convince the reader to agree with your point of view. Unlike argumentative works, both sides are not explained, but rather, only the author’s point of view is discussed. Since the article is not evidence-based, the tone tends to be more relaxed or conversational.
- Persuasive writing is used in business, marketing, and politics in many ways, such as speeches, blogs, and advertisements.
After brainstorming your topic, try creating a brief outline with pieces you want to include. This may help you decide what type of writing your piece will be. If it is a nonfiction piece, you will need to do research. Then, you can expand your outline to be more comprehensive. Now, you are ready to move on to drafting!
No matter which type of writing is appropriate for your task, it is always crucial to use the correct word choices for your audience. Of equal importance is the title that you choose and making your content more readable through varying sentence structure. Be sure to check out my previous articles on these topics if you want more information.
Heather Malone writes children’s books that focus mainly on Montessori education, special education, and nonfiction. She also dabbles in fiction. Her nonfiction book, Montessori from A to Z, was published in 2023, and her blog on homeschooling students with disabilities using the Montessori method can be viewed at spedmontessorisolutions.com. Her passion is education, which is evidenced by spending over twenty-five years in the field before leaving the classroom to now provide technical assistance to school districts. She lives with her husband and son in Ohio and enjoys traveling to new places in her free time.
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