Genre

A knowledge and understanding of genre has a role to play in both reading and writing.

What is genre?

• Genre refers to types of writing that address different purposes. Examples of different types of genre include: Poetry, fiction (and the subtypes of fiction such as fantasy, science fiction, folktales and mystery), non-fiction (and the subtypes of non-fiction such as biographies, reports and manuals) and drama.
• Genres refer to conventional forms developed over time.
• Each genre has a different organisational structure.
• Each genre has specific linguistic and syntactic expectations.

Why is a knowledge of genre important in reading?

• A knowledge of the genre provides readers with specific expectations about what they are reading. It gives them a specific schemata about the purpose and organisation of the text.
• An understanding of text structure supports the reader’s comprehension because they are better able to predict the content and ask questions and therefore better monitor their understanding.
• An understanding of the genre assists with organising ideas and making summaries.
• Consequently, it improves critical reading and evaluation of the text.

Why is a knowledge of genre important in writing?

• The knowledge of genre obtained from reading supports planning, drafting and evaluation of writing because students can match their writing to texts they have read in the same genre.
• An understanding of genre helps provide a purpose for writing.
• It also assists in varied word selection.
• An understanding of genre in writing, in turn, assists in identifying genre when reading texts.

To effectively use genre in writing, students need to:

• Determine the form of their writing.
• Define the topic.
• Determine their audience (which in turn influences the tone and language used).
• Decide on point of view.
• Determine the purpose of their writing (persuade, inform, entertain/convey an experience, etc.) as this will inform genre and consequently the organisation of the text.

From a teaching perspective, students need to be:

• Explicitly taught the structure and elements of different genres.
• Provided with a framework for each genre.
• Given opportunities to compare and contrast texts written in different genres.
• Able to observe the process and then practise orally before writing.

Provide a chart for students to complete after reading:

Provide a rubric for students to evaluate their writing so they can refine their writing:

Links to a large range of resources to teach genre

How to teach genre in upper elementary

Genre anchor chart

Writing booklet

Examples of different sub-types of genres

Reference

Philippakos, Z. (2021). Building a better foundation for writing ages 4 to 8 webinar, International Literacy Association.

Resources

Writing Persuasively Introduction
Writing Persuasively
Introduction to Writing Creatively
Writing Creatively