Types of Writing, Ways to Teach

27.02.2026

9 minutes

Writing
Tips & Strategies
Methodology

In the epoch of the modern world and tech-savvy people, typing is prevailing over common writing. Uh, this feeling of taking a pen and a piece of paper to jot something down.

Writing is quite sophisticated, as one has one’s own tempo, handwriting, feature of being right-handed or left-handed, etc.

Even lots of tests on the Internet exist to define a type of personality by the handwriting. Amazing, isn’t it?

BTW, there was a pile of factors in how to choose that excellent pen: what colour, thickness, whether it is a gel one or not. Neat and clear handwriting depended on this.

On the other hand, some teachers could tell students off for not writing legibly. So it was an essential motivator to write so that it’s understandable. But what if it’s “your identification code”, so to speak.

The Internet has enlightened this process and is continuing with it more and more. Just type, and some apps can even check a message immediately.

Not by checking alone, there is an autocorrect that checks mistakes while you are typing something. In most cases it would work for you, but different slips tend to happen, and people still crack jokes about it.

“I’m on my way” → “I’m on my whey”
Sounds like you’re a protein shake.
“I’ll be there soon” → “I’ll be there spoon”
No explanation needed.
“I love you so much” → “I love you sofa much”
Love… but make it furniture.
“Sorry, I’m late” → “Sorry, I’m latte”
Coffee has entered the chat.
“Let’s meet at the mall.” → “Let’s meet at the jail”
Very different plans.
“I miss you” → “I moss you” Sounds poetic… or botanical.

Funny, isn’t it? But that’s okay if a friend hits upon this. It’ll be clear for them. What about dropping a message to your boss or the whole project team?

Kind regards, → Kind retards,
Career-ending typo.
Let’s discuss this tomorrow. → Let’s disgust this tomorrow.
Suddenly, very honest feedback.
Great work, team! → Great work, termites!
Very small but hardworking colleagues.
Sorry for the delay. → Sorry for the decay.
Sounds like something is rotting.
Please find the attached file. → Please find the attacked file.
IT security alert.

A lot can happen, so one should be vigilant.

Shortly, writing is a skill to gain. And as everything is connected to learning, this should be trained all the time: to refresh some knowledge, to maintain, to learn something new…

What’s more important is understanding writing and its style.

What You Had Better Know

ESL teachers dedicate certain time to brushing up these skills as well. Moreover, it is not simple practice. There are methodological requirements for how and what to do.

Let’s dive deeper into different writing styles, their teaching, and their understanding!

1. Narrative writing

Narrative writing is a type of writing in which the story is told or a sequence of events is recounted, either real or fictional.

The main purpose of such writing is to entertain the reader. But it can also be used to inform or to share personal experiences in a more engaging, rather story-based way.

Short stories, novels, and historical writings are great examples of that.

Usually there are such key features that narrative writing contains:

Characters — people or figures in the story
Setting — time and place
Plot structure — beginning, main part, ending
Conflict — a problem or challenge
Resolution — how the problem is solved
Use of past tenses and markers of time

How to teach:

Each kind of teaching writing starts the same. The teacher shows a pattern which is fully analysed.

The teacher prepares a narrative story, which is read during the class, and then the students identify characters, setting, problem, and a solution. Then, they have a mind map of the characters, places, and sequence of actions.

The parts of this story are analysed, too, as the “beginning → main part → ending” structure will come in handy for their writings.

Some other classroom exercises:

Story skeleton — students fill in characters, setting, and conflict
Chain story — each student writes one paragraph
Reorder the story — put mixed paragraphs in the correct order
Change the ending — rewrite the resolution
Class discussion — define whether the paragraph is well-written. What would you change? Is the beginning good enough? Prove it.

2. Descriptive writing

Descriptive writing is a kind of writing that explains what something is like by focusing on details.

Its purpose is to create vivid images and help the reader imagine clearly with the help of stylistic devices. Poetry, fictional novels or plays, and memoirs belong to this kind of writing.

Usually there are such key features that descriptive writing contains:

Sensory language (five senses: smell, taste, hearing, touch, sight)
Precise adjectives and adverbs
Figurative language (similes, metaphors, epithets, metonymy…)
“Show, don’t tell” technique

How to teach:

The sample is given to analyse. Mostly this is important for the students to look over stylistic devices and define whether it’s enough and what they would add or change.

Here it is important to pay attention to making it colourful and use the maximum number of adjectives. The teacher can prepare some lists with descriptive adjectives and adverbs to give to the students in advance and make them implement it.

Some other classroom exercises:

Mystery object — describe without naming it
Picture zoom — describe small details only
Adjective upgrade — replace “nice, big, good”
Five-sentence challenge — one sentence per sense
Class discussion: Which details helped you imagine best?

3. Expository (expositive) writing

Expository writing is another type that explains facts, ideas, or processes. Its purpose is to inform the reader and explain how or why something happens.

“How to articles” are of that kind, and many others: textbooks, instructions, news stories, and business or scientific writing.

Usually there are such key features that expository writing contains:

Clear topic sentence
Logical structure (cause-effect, compare-contrast, steps)
Neutral tone
Facts, examples, definitions

How to teach:

The teacher should recall the TEE sample (Topic sentence → explanation → example) with their students. This is important to stick to.

The learners keep in mind explaining, not persuading or describing. Minimum of words and getting the main point across.

Some other classroom exercises:

Explain it to a child — simplifying a concept to the full
Fact sorting — organise facts into paragraphs
Sentence matching — topic sentence + supporting detail
How it works paragraph (e.g., how Wi-Fi works)
Class discussion — Is it easy to understand?

4. Persuasive (argumentative) writing

Persuasive (or argumentative) writing is a type of writing that aims to convince the reader to accept a particular opinion or point of view.

In persuasive writing, the writer does not simply state an opinion but builds an argument by explaining why this opinion should be accepted. This is always supported with logical reasons and evidence so that the reader is convinced.

Persuasive writing includes letters of recommendation, cover letters, and editorial newspaper articles.

Usually there are such key features that persuasive writing contains:

Clear claim or thesis
Supporting arguments
Evidence (examples, statistics)
Counterarguments and rebuttals
Persuasive language

How to teach:

By the example of a persuasive writing story, the students analyse how well-written it is. They have to use strong verbs, opinion language, and linking words to guide the reader through the argument.

Another strategy to learn is “Opinion → because → example”, which can be done in an interactive way for practice.

Classroom Exercises:

Agree/disagree corners
Opinion sentence expansion
Ad analysis — identify techniques
Group discussion — choose one side and persuade
Class discussion — Which argument is strongest?

These were 4 main types of writing. However, this is not all. Let’s zero in on something extra!

5. Business writing

This one was included in expository writing; however, it is well worth dwelling on it more.

Business one is a type of writing that is used in a professional context. The purpose is to inform clearly, instruct, or report.

Except for a formal tone, the business phrases and constructions are required.

There are lots of types of writing: reports, reviews, proposals, letters, press releases & marketing copy, plans & policies, etc. All the types require their own structure to follow even though there might be some similarities.

Usually there are such key features that business writing contains:

Formal or neutral tone
Clear structure
Short, direct sentences
Bullet points, headings

How to teach:

The teacher has to prepare patterns and phrases to use for every type of business writing that is needed to learn. That will help the students to master it faster.

Classroom Exercises:

Fix the email — correct tone and clarity.
Subject line challenge — write good lines to 3 topics so that it makes a great first impression
Rewrite informal → formal
Instruction writing — write how to reset a password
Role-play — client-employee emails
Swap and check sb’s writing

6. Creative writing

Creative writing is a kind of writing that allows freedom of expression and imagination.

This is slightly connected to narrative and descriptive writing.

And again, there is a pile of types for the ESL to boost their skills and dive deeper: personal essays, storytelling, letters, diaries, plays & screen plays, poetry and lyrics, short fiction, etc.

Usually there are such key features that creative writing contains:

Flexible structure
Original ideas
Strong imagery and voice
Literary devices

How to teach:

Samples of writing (either correct or slightly not) will help the students to find their feet. Creative prompts are welcome, as usual.

Classroom Exercises:

Continue the opening — finish the writing/write the ending to the whole story
Writing the summary
Genre swap (story → poem)
Creative journals
A corrector — rewrite one paragraph using this structure…
Class discussion — define with your partner the strong and weak points of the essay sample
Make a story sentence by sentence

7. Objective writing

Objective writing is a type of writing that presents information in a neutral, factual, and unbiased way, without including the writer’s personal opinions or emotions.

The main purpose of objective writing is to inform, explain, or report facts accurately so that the reader can form their own conclusions. This kind of writing is commonly used in academic texts, reports, news articles, and instructions.

Usually there are such key features that objective writing contains:

Focuses on facts and verifiable information
No personal opinions, feelings, or judgments
Neutral, formal tone
Uses third-person perspective
Often uses passive voice to reduce personal presence

How to teach:

The teacher should explain that objective writing by presenting information without personal opinions or emotions.

Give the samples of the texts to analyse and highlight language that is measurable, provable, or observable. The main focus is on removing evaluative language and personal opinion.

Classroom Exercises:

Fact or opinion sorting — classification of the sentences as factual or opinion-based
Neutral rewrite — change emotional or opinionated sentences into objective ones
Write a short factual report about an event
Rewrite sentences using passive structures where appropriate
Class discussion — identify any subjective language in a partner’s text

8. Subjective writing

Subjective writing is a type of writing that expresses the writer’s personal opinions, feelings, beliefs, or interpretations.

The main purpose of this style is to share a point of view, react to experiences, or persuade the reader by appealing to emotions and personal perspectives.

Unlike objective writing, subjective one is shaped by the writer’s attitude and cannot be proven as true or false in the same way as factual information.

It is commonly found in opinion pieces, reviews, personal essays, and reflective texts.

Usually there are such key features that subjective writing contains:

Expresses personal opinions, beliefs, or feelings
Reflects the writer’s point of view
Emotional or evaluative language is common
Often uses first-person perspective (I, we)
Includes personal experiences or interpretations

How to teach:

Here, the contrast method is the best one to teach the learners. Knowing the objective writing style, they can juxtapose and notice the difference.

Make sure they remember to make their texts rich in evaluative adjectives and first-person voice.

Classroom Exercises:

Opinion paragraph writing — write about a personal preference or experience
Sentence expansion — add feelings and opinions to neutral sentences
Review writing — write a review of a film, book, or place
Class discussion 1 — respond to “How did it make you feel?” questions
Class discussion 2 — identify the writer’s opinion and emotional tone
Challenge 1 — choose something contradictory to your opinion and present in the best way
Challenge 2 — vice versa, choose something you agree with and write the opposite to persuade
Challenge 3 — take a neutral thing to describe from the best perspective

Lots of writing and patterns are to be learned. However, writing skills do not come with learning structures and phrases. But they do with experience.

This is impossible without mistakes as they are an inevitable part of learning.

And the most important thing is no heavy corrections immediately. It’s their way to learn, notice, change, and improve.

Practice makes a habit. Make sure this is the first thing your students come to accept!