1.

The descriptive text type (also called description):

aims at giving the reader a vivid impression of a space, place, landscape, town, etc. and thus has a spatial dimension.


2.

The narrative text type (also called narration):

aims at telling the reader about events he/she considers important, newsworthy,m worth telling, etc. and thus is a series of small events and has a temporal dimension, which may be chronological or a mixture of events from the past and present and hint at potential future developments. (Flashback; anticipation)

3.

The expository text type (also called exposition):

  • The expository text type (also called exposition): aims at explaining a particular issue, matter, problem, procedure etc, to the reader without offering a personal opinion or taking sides. Thus it should not be influenced by personal opinions, feelings, interests.It is clear, non-partisan, unbiased, impersonal explanation. It has an instructive dimension.
  • 4.

    The argumentative text type (also called argumentation):

    The argumentative text type (also called argumentation): aims at convincing the reader of the writer's opinion. There is "sound argumentation", which is objective and attempts to convince with good arguments and logical reasoning. There is also persuasive argumentation (or "persuasion", by some theorists considered a text type of its own), which tries to persuade readers with stylistic means to get the reader's spontaneous consent.