Types of Texts, Mode / Medium
There are many different ways to group and categorise texts. Different categories make use of different "conventions": the building blocks for expression (of ideas, perspectives, style) in texts.
A text (includes visual texts like movies) may be categorised based on:
- Mode (written / visual / auditory)
- Form (e.g. novel, poetry, short story, plays)
- Fiction / Non-Fiction (a part of form)
- Purpose (analytical / imaginative / interpretive / persuasive)
Types of texts (purpose)
According to the syllabus, "types of texts" refers to the 4 types of purposes a text can have:
- Analytical Texts: Purpose is to explore, examine and make conclusions on another text based on its components / conventions. They develop an argument. For example, critical essays, reflections, reviews.
- Imaginative Texts: Texts that are "composed", whose primary purpose is to entertain or provoke. Typically a very expressive text type. For example, novels, poetry, plays, film.
- Interpretive Texts: Texts whose purpose is to explain and interpret personalities, ideas, or other concepts. For example, auto/biographies, documentaries, feature articles.
- Persuasive Texts: Texts whose purpose is to lay out and persuade a reader to adopt or consider a certain point of view. For example, persuasive essays, persuasive speeches, advertisement.
Mode
What is mode?
Mode refers to the process of communication between a viewer and a text. There exist different language features for different modes.
| Mode | Definition | Example language features (brief examples) | Example texts |
|---|
| Written | Communication through written language | - Lexical choice
- Sentence structure
- Rhetorical devices
| - Novel
- Feature article
- Persuasive essay
|
| Visual | Communication through visual images | - Rule of thirds
- Costume
- Body language
- Facial expression
| - Advertisement poster
- Documentary
- Movie poster
|
| Auditorial | Communication through sound | - Music
- Sound effects
- Voice over
| - Podcast
- Movie sound track
- Audiobook
|
Multi-Modal
There are some types of texts which make use of multiple modes, simultaneously.
Some example multi-modal texts are:
- Film: visual and auditory
- Music video: visual and auditory
- Visual podcast (which may feature images/videos aswell as sound, e.g. Bad Friends, TigerBelly, JRE): visual and auditory and sometimes written
Medium
The medium of a text refers to the channel of communication from which it is recieved.
For example:
- The medium of a film may be through cinema, television, or Netflix
- The medium of a newspaper may be through print, or digitally via online access
- The medium of a podcast is typically through digital streaming platforms (Spotify, YouTube)