ARGUMENTATIVE, EXPOSITORY AND NARRATIVE WRITING

These are the 3 main types of writing styles we will focus on this year. Although they go by fancy names, they're really nothing more than the type of writing and speaking you do all the time. Brainstorming a topic, finding sources, taking and outlining notes, writing and citing sources will help with these assignments just as they help with research.

Expository - Sometimes called informational writing. Used to explain, describe and inform about a topic. You might compare and contrast two characters in a story, or two systems of government. You might explore the causes and effects of global warming or steroids in sports. You might explain the series of events that led to the Civil War. (You would conduct research to gather information)

Narrative - This writing draws from your own life and experiences. It can be fiction or nonfiction. Your college admission essay is usually a narrative essay. (You might use research to find rich details about a place, person or event to incorporate into your writing). 

Argumentative - Sometimes called persuasive or opinion writing. With this type of writing, you make a claim about a topic, and then gather evidence to back up the arguments you make to support your claim. You might argue that the book Lord of the Flies is really about religion, or the drinking age should be lowered, or that the U.S. was right in using atomic bombs to end World War II. (Research would help you gather your evidence)