To compose a clear and concise paper, a writer greatly benefits from jump-starting their process with questions! By asking themselves questions about the paper’s intent and purpose, the writer can choose an appropriate writing style for their piece. Here’s a list of example questions!

-Who is my audience (peers, instructors, fiction readers)?

–Is this writing going to be fact or fiction?

-Why am I writing this (for enjoyment, for a grade, for a report)?

-Do I need to organize my writing in a way that will help with reader comprehension?

-Am I using other people’s research?

These questions can help writers determine which approach to take in their writing. The three writing styles highlighted in our resources are Narrative, Opinion, and Informative Writing. All three of these styles have their places and purposes in the world of literature, and if writers use the wrong style, their whole message could come out totally twisted and wrong! So, what is the difference between Narrative, Opinion, and Informative writing? Let’s take a quick look.

NARRATIVE WRITING

Narrative pieces tell stories over time and include a beginning, middle, and end. Think about Cinderella! There are story elements like a narrator, setting, characters, problems, and solutions, all within one piece of writing. There is suspense and a climax as the plot unfolds. Within a narrative piece, the author will include words and phrases that bring the story to life. They create imagery—a picture in your mind. However, be aware that narrative writing is not reserved for fairytales and fiction! Students could narrate the life of their favorite musician, their dog, or their own life. More experienced writers will have an underlying theme to their story.

ELEMENTS OF NARRATIVE WRITING:

Tells a story using time.
Has a beginning, middle, and end.
Can be real or imaginary.
Uses story elements: narrator, characters, setting, problem, solution.
Crafts a plot.
Has vivid descriptions of events, scenes, characters, and objects.
May include dialogue.
Conveys a message or lesson learned.

OPINION WRITING

Students should use Opinion Writing styles when forming their own arguments. Whereas Narratives tell stories, Opinion pieces aim to convince others of something. In these papers, it’s very important for students to state their opinion, as well as to provide supportive reasons that strengthen their argument. Often, the author adds a personal or another person’s experience to appeal to readers’ emotions and create a believable impression. In upper elementary grades and above, opinion pieces should include facts, quotes, and statistics from trustworthy sources to achieve credibility.

ELEMENTS OF OPINION WRITING:

Has three supportive reasons.
Uses an expert or important person’s quote or experience.
May add statistics.
Includes researched facts.
Reaches the readers’ emotions.
Proves to be a trustworthy source.
Explains the importance of acting now.
Has a believable impression.
Shows how it will benefit the reader.
Avoids threatening.

INFORMATIVE WRITING

Informative Writings are similar to lab reports, in which a scientist writes and presents their findings to inform the reader of the experiment. Informative pieces have technical layouts that include a table of contents to help readers find specific topics and subtopics, as well as glossaries and works cited pages. Whereas Narrative writings are organized chronologically to depict a plot and storyline, Informative pieces are organized according to how the author wants to present important details about the subject. Illustrations, charts, diagrams, and maps are all useful visuals for reinforcing data in Informative writing.

ELEMENTS OF INFORMATIVE WRITING:

May have a table of contents.
Uses subtopics.
Includes headings for each subtopic.
Important details presented in order.
Keywords are boldfaced.
Has illustrations or photos with captions.
May include labeled charts, diagrams, or maps.
May add a glossary for keywords.
Should display sources.

Let’s take a closer look at the comparison. Below is a chart showing the differences among the 3 types of writing.

Through our Rockstar Writers® programs with Step-by-Step Writing®, students will learn more in-depth about the differences and similarities among these three popular writing styles. Through modeling and mentor text, they will develop their own effective essays. Learning and practicing different writing styles will equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to become the best writers they can be!