Teaching Students the Different Writing Formats; 8 Printables to Get You Started

As you head back to the classroom, download eight resources that will assist you in teaching students the different writing formats! These posters and worksheets will be a great addition to your teaching toolkit.

Teaching Students the Different Writing Formats

Informative/Explanatory Writing

The primary purpose of informative/explanatory writing is to increase knowledge. Informative writing educates the reader by imparting straightforward information on a certain topic. Using the anagram INFORM, teachers and students can easily remember the elements of an informative essay. Download a colorful poster to remind your students about the parts of the INFORMative essay! You can also print the poster out as a handout to distribute to students.

To learn more about informative/explanatory writing in the classroom, read this article.

Entertainment Writing

Entertainment writing is used to show a theme, event, or story for enjoyment. There are many ways students can write to entertain. Using the anagram ENTERTAIN, teachers and students can easily remember the important aspects of writing to entertain. Download a colorful poster to display in your room to remind your students about the parts of an ENTERTAINing text! You can also print the poster out as a handout to distribute to students.

To learn more about writing to entertain in the classroom, read this article.

Narrative Writing

The purpose of narrative writing is to tell a story. When writing a narrative essay however you do not simply retell an event or experience. Using the anagram NARRATE, teachers and students can easily remember the elements of a narrative essay. Download a colorful poster to display in your room to remind your students about the parts of the narrative essay! You can also print the poster out as a handout to distribute to students.

To learn more about narrative writing in the classroom, read this article.

Persuasive Writing

The purpose of persuasive writing is to convince reader's to take an action, support a cause, or change a habit/belief. Using the anagram PERSUADE, teachers and students can easily remember the elements of a persuasive essay. Download a colorful poster to display in your room to remind your students about the parts of the PERSUAsive essay! You can also print the poster out as a handout to distribute to students.

To learn more about persuasive writing in the classroom, read this article.

Argumentative Writing

The purpose of argumentative writing is to defend a position on a particular subject with the goal of persuading readers to accept or at least consider the argument. Download two worksheets that can assist students in their argumentative writing. The first is a graphic organizer to capture students’ thinking about a claim, reasons, and evidence. The second is a poster/tip sheet to remind students about the elements of argumentative writing.

To learn more about argumentative writing in the classroom, read this article.

The Many Purposes of Writing

Purpose is the reason we write, and we write for a variety of purposes! Its imperative teachers help students understand how the different writing formats can be used to achieve their writing purpose.The most popular are to inform, to entertain, to explain, or to persuade. However, there are many more including to express feelings, explore an idea, evaluate, mediate, problem solve, or argue for or against an idea. Download a colorful poster to display in your classroom to remind students about why they are writing! You can also print the poster out as a handout to distribute to students.

To learn more about teaching students the many purposes of writing, read this article.

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