What is Genre?
Genre was formally known as a specific type of creative style. The different categories of genre were based on familiar features among the text or style. In today’s findings, genre highlights common contexts that continue to reoccur in “particular types of text” (Ezzo, 2012, p.20). The features of a text are a direct result of its purpose. For example, if the writing purpose is to inform, the features of that text will be to inform the reader.
Why is genre important to comprehension and composition?
Genre is important to comprehension and composition because:
- Students should have a full range of the different types of genre.
- To be successful in school and beyond students will need to understand and write different types of genre.
- If students know information about one genre they may not necessarily know about another. Also, lessons about one genre do not automatically transfer over to another genre.
- Students only exposed to fiction will not understand how to comprehend informational or functional literature. For example, a student that has not been exposed to informational text may believe a science book reads like a story.
- To fully develop as a literacy learner, you must have the knowledge and understanding of genre.
Helpful Teacher Links
http://personal.cityu.edu.hk/~enbkwan/EN4312_Unit4.doc
http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/genres.htm
References
Ezzo, D. (2012). Genre PowerPoint.
“Literary Genre.” The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Web. 03 Apr. 2012.
Learning Reference Project 