- Explain how and why to use different rhetorical styles
- Examine the purpose, structure, and style of an argumentative essay
- Describe techniques for writing comparison essays
- Describe techniques for showing cause and effect
- Describe techniques for illustrating a point
What are Rhetorical Styles?
rhetorical styles
Non-fiction writing can be defined by sub-genres, sometimes referred to as the rhetorical styles, modes, or patterns, of communication. These are categories of types of writing, and they help us to anticipate the structure and purpose of the text itself.
There are four main types of writing: expository, persuasive, narrative, and descriptive. Each serves a distinct purpose, though most texts use a combination of styles.
While these are the general categories, many other forms—like process or cause-and-effect essays—fit within them as sub-genres. You may also come across different names for some of these types. That’s okay—the goal isn’t to memorize labels but to understand the techniques behind each style so you can write skillfully and flexibly.
After we discuss the four main types of writing, we will turn to some of the common rhetorical modes (like the argumentative essay) and discuss ways to approach these different types of writing tasks.
Expository
Expository writing is one of the most common types of writing. When an author writes in an expository style, they are trying to explain a concept, imparting information from themselves to a wider audience. Expository writing does not include the author’s opinion but focuses on accepted ideas or facts about a topic, including statistics or other evidence. Examples of expository writing include:
- Textbooks
- How-to articles
- Recipes
- News stories (not editorials or Op-Eds)
- Business, technical, or scientific writing
Persuasive
Persuasive writing is the main style of writing you will use in academic papers. When an author writes in a persuasive style, they are trying to convince the audience of their positions or beliefs. Persuasive writing contains the author’s opinions and biases, as well as justifications and reasons given by the author as evidence of the correctness of their positions. Any “argumentative” essay you write in school will be written in a persuasive style. Examples of persuasive writing include:
- Argumentative essays
- Cover letters
- Op-Eds and Editorial newspaper articles
- Reviews of items
- Letters of complaint
- Advertisements
- Letters of recommendation
Narrative
Narrative writing is used in almost every longer piece of writing, whether fiction or nonfiction. When an author writes in a narrative style, they are not just trying to impart information, they are trying to construct and communicate a story, complete with characters, conflict, and settings. Examples of narrative writing include:
- Oral histories
- Novels/Novellas
- Poetry (especially epic sagas or poems)
- Short Stories
- Anecdotes
Descriptive
Descriptive writing is often found in fiction, though it can make an appearance in nonfiction as well (for example, memoirs, first-hand accounts of events, or travel guides). When an author writes in a descriptive style, they are painting a picture in words of a person, place, or thing for their audience. The author might employ metaphors or other literary devices to describe the author’s impressions via their five senses (what they hear, see, smell, taste, or touch). However, the author is not trying to convince the audience of anything or explain the scene – merely describe things as they are. Examples of descriptive writing include:
- Poetry
- Journal/diary writing
- Descriptions of Nature
- Fictional novels or plays
It’s important to keep in mind that the essays you write in college may incorporate more than one of the types of writing.
For example, in a research paper, you will probably include a description of the events or ideas under consideration, and you may even employ narrative as you describe those events or ideas to your reader. You are likely going to be using expository writing to explain the concepts and events you are discussing to your reader. Finally, you are likely to employ some elements of persuasion in order to make the case to your reader about why the events or ideas under consideration in your essay matter or what takeaways you suggest.
Rhetorical Modes
Keeping these four main writing styles in mind, we can break down types of writing assignments even further and consider the types of rhetorical modes, or patterns, needed to be successful within the various types of writing. For example, expository writing may rely on the rhetorical styles of comparison, classification, definition, illustration, or process. Persuasive writing will use an argumentative style, but may also still involve cause-and-effect rhetorical patterns, illustration, or others.
Some generally recognized rhetorical modes include:
- argumentative/persuasive: defends a certain point of view or persuades
- comparison and contrast: discusses the similarities and differences between two or more things
- cause and effect: examines which events lead to specific results
- illustration: gives examples
- narration: tells stories
- personal essay: tells a story based on your life
- description: uses the five senses (touch, taste, sight, sound, smell) to provide a vivid idea or picture of what is being represented
- definition: explains a term, concept, or idea, or tells what something means
- classification and division: sorts a whole group and splits it up into various categories
- process: provides step-by-step directions or guidance to explain how things happen
You probably already have experience with rhetorical styles. Maybe you’ve written a compare-and-contrast essay or used descriptive language in a narrative. Most essays combine multiple rhetorical styles, but some assignments emphasize one more than others.
For instance, an essay that explains different ways to take courses might describe how students manage their time in each format. In one paragraph, the writer may use the illustration style to give examples, but the overall essay may still be considered classification and division because it organizes information into categories.
Learning these styles gives you a toolkit for developing strong writing. While most essays mix techniques, practicing each one individually helps you understand their structure. The more you master each style, the more effectively you can combine them in your writing.