Genre in English Text

G. Genre in English Text

A text is a reflection of a social activity. It is always situated in social context. It implies that when we discuss a topic in a text, then we refer to certain genre. In short, certain type of text will accomplish a certain goal. There are two models of genre classification to be described here, the first is based on Martin 1992 and the second is based on Gerot and Wignell 1995. Martin 1985: 5 divides genre, which he calls educational genre, into two main categories, i.e story genres and factual genres. Story genres comprise recount and narrative genre. Recounts typically comprise an activity sequence in chronological order and use past tense. While narrative is a genre of writing that entertains or tells a story with text types that include: adventure, fairy tale, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, personal narrative, realistic fiction, and science fiction. Factual genres comprise reports and expositionsdiscussions. Reports store factual information, as in scientific report, or an encyclopedia Martin: 1985: 5. Expositionsdiscussions provide explanations along with causes and effects, andor judgment of social issues that call for justification. Gerot and Wignell 1994: 209-210 provide the main reference to identify expository genre by looking at the social functions, generic structure and linguistic features. They explain that the main function of expository text is to explain something in order to persuade the reader to agree to someone’s opinion or judgment. In this case, they divide exposition into two categories, analytical and hortatory exposition. Analytical exposition functions to persuade the reader that something is the case being discussed. Hortatory exposition socially functions to persuade the reader that something should or should not be the case. To describe further about the differences of analytical exposition from hortatory exposition see the table below: Table 2.1 Genres of Analytical and Hortatory Exposition Based on Gerot and Wignell 1995: 197-210 Analytical Exposition Hortatory Exposition Social Function To persuade the reader or listener that something is the case To persuade the reader that something should or should not be the case Generic Structure Thesis Position: introduce topic and indicate writer’s position Preview: outlines the main arguments to be presented. Arguments Point: restates main argument outlined the Preview. Elaboration: develops and supports each pointargument Reiteration Restates writer’s position. Thesis Announcement of issue of concern Argument Reasons for concern leading to recommendation Recommendation Statement of what or what ought not to happen Linguistic Features Focus on generic human and non human participants Use of simple present tense Use of relational processed Use of internal conjunction to stage argument Reasoning through causal conjunction or nominalization Focus on generic human and non human participants Use of mental processes Use of material processes Use of relational processes Use of simple present tense.

H. Argumentative Essay