How do you use genre analysis to plan your writing tasks?

1 Identify the genre

The first step is to identify the genre of the text you need to write or analyze. A genre is a category of texts that share a common communicative goal and follow certain norms and conventions. For example, a genre of academic writing is a research paper, which aims to present and support a thesis based on evidence and analysis. To identify the genre, you need to consider the purpose, audience, context, and format of the text. For example, if you need to write a text that informs and persuades a general audience about a topic of public interest, you might choose the genre of an op-ed article.

2 Collect samples

The second step is to collect samples of texts that belong to the same genre as the one you need to write or analyze. You can find these samples in various sources, such as books, journals, websites, or databases. You should collect at least three samples that are relevant, reliable, and representative of the genre. For example, if you need to write an op-ed article, you might collect samples from different newspapers or magazines that cover similar topics or issues.

3 Compare features

The third step is to compare the features and conventions of the samples you collected. You can use a table or a chart to organize your comparison and highlight the similarities and differences among the samples. You should compare the following aspects of the genre: structure, style, and language. Structure refers to how the text is organized into sections, paragraphs, and sentences. Style refers to how the text uses tone, voice, and rhetorical devices to engage and persuade the audience. Language refers to how the text uses vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation to convey meaning and clarity.

4 Apply principles

The fourth and final step is to apply the principles and patterns you learned from the genre analysis to plan your own writing task. You can use the samples as models or guides to help you structure, style, and language your text according to the genre conventions. You should also consider your own purpose, audience, context, and format when planning your writing task. For example, if you need to write an op-ed article, you might use the samples to help you craft a catchy title, a strong introduction, a clear thesis, a logical argument, and a compelling conclusion.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?