Purpose

Explanation

“When students understand the real-world purposes for writing (instead of simply writing to meet the next school requirement) they begin to internalize the relevance of writing, and more important, they develop an understanding that writing is an important skill to carry into adulthood. When students begin to understand this relevance, their writing improves.”

~ Kelly Gallagher, Write Like This, Page 9.

Express and Reflect

The writer…

… expresses or reflects on his or her own life and experiences.

… often looks backward in order to look forward.

Inform and Explain

The writer…

… states a main point and purpose.

… tries to present the information in a surprising way.

Evaluate and Judge

The writer…

… focuses on the worth of person, object, idea, or other phenomenon.

… usually specifies the criteria to the object being seen as “good” or “bad.”

Inquire and Explore

The writer…

… wrestles with a question or problem.

… hooks with the problem and lets the reader watch them wrestle with it.

Analyze and Interpret

The writer…

… seeks to analyze and interpret phenomena that are difficult to understand and explain

Take a Stand / Propose a Solution

The writer…

… seeks to persuade audiences to accept a particular position on a controversial issues.

… describes the problem, proposes a solution, and provides justification.