Scaffolding Writing for English Language Learners: Genre Awareness and Text Features

Scaffolding Writing for English Language Learners:Genre Awareness and Text Features

Elizabeth SmithEnglish Language Fellow

AgendaGenre Theory: Writing for a PurposeOverview of GenresText FeaturesStrategies for Teaching Specific GenreDebrief

1Once upon a time1Once upon a time

Folk/fairy tale2Dear sir2Dear sir

formal letter36 eggsbreadjuice36 eggsbreadjuice

shopping list4The next stop isManagua.4The next stop isManagua.

bus announcement(informative)5This process is called photosynthesis.5This process is called photosynthesis.

science textbook explanationWhat are genres?The term genreFrom the French word genre (and the Latin word genus) meaning kind, type, sort, category, or classRefers to a type or category of communicative or artistic productionUsed in artistic fields: film genres, music genres, art genres, literary genresUsed in language to describe any type of written or spoken textLanguage GenresCategories of textsDetermined by a set of parametersUsed for a variety of purposesUsed in a variety of contextsCan be written or spokenCan be formal or informal

Examples of Language Genres:Categories of Written TextsNarrative: novels, short stories, biographies, autobiographies, historical accounts, plays

Expository: letters, newsletters, definitions, instructions, guidebooks, catalogs, newspaper articles, magazine articles, pamphlets, essays, reports

Persuasive: argumentative essays, discussion papers, advertisements, persuasive letters

Language Genres:Categories of Written TextsExpressive: poems, songs, sayings, proverbs, mottos

Technical: research papers, lab reports, medical reports, accident reports, progress reports, directions (to a destination), manuals, evaluation forms, questionnaires, business letters, resumes, presentations, descriptions of features (products/designs/projects), instructions

Language Genre ParametersThe parameters that determine language genres are:PurposeAudienceContextFormat

PurposeWhy a speaker is speaking or a writer is writing the reason for the text, related to the topic, function, & aimExamples of PURPOSE include:To exchange informationTo make arrangementsTo negotiate a decisionTo give instructionsTo express feelingsTo make a complaintTo express thanksAudienceWho the text is aimed at target person/group of people (the reader or listener)Examples of AUDIENCE include:General public, spectators, audience (theater, movie, concert, sport, etc.)Students, colleagues, friends, familyVisitors to a website (browsers or users)Participants in a workshop, presentationMembers of a sports teamRhetorical audience, an anonymous listener or reader, or yourselfContextWhere and when the written text will be read or the speaking is taking place the time, place, and situation (the setting)Examples of CONTEXT include:Time period (present, past, or future)A public place (street, square, park)At the workplace (factory, office)In the city, in a village, in the countryOn TV, radio, a website, in the newspaperIn a meeting, workshop, or presentationAt an event (wedding, graduation, opening)FormatHow it is delivered what form it will be published or presented inExamples of FORMAT include:Spoken:Direct/face-to-face (conversation, meeting, recital, loud speaker)Broadcast live on TV or radioPre-recorded video (DVD, video files, podcasts)/audio (CD, audio files)FormatWritten:Handwritten (letter, memo, notes, essay, list)Printed/hard copy (letter, book, magazine, newspaper, journal, document)Digital/soft copy (CD-ROM/flash drive, website, computer files, online chats, scanned documents)So, what exactly do the parameters determine?In other words, what are the characteristics of a genre?

Characteristics of a GenreThe characteristics of a genre can be put into two groups:Text structureText featuresNote: All texts, whether written or spoken, have text structure and language features. However, FORMAL TEXTS have CONVENTIONAL FORMS with more established text structures and language features.Text StructureText organization and form:Parts or sections of the textIntroduction, body, conclusionParagraphs & paragraph structureSubheadings, subtitles, & summaries

Text Features:Titles, subtitles, captions, picturesForm: letter, poem, essay, letterLanguage Use: (formal vs. informalTone: persuasive vs. informative

Genre Awareness & Text StudyGenre-based learning helps native and non-native learners of English improve as it focuses producing a whole text.Studies show that explicit genre-based instruction with the attendant metalanguage helps learners improve their writing. [1]Genre awareness and text study gives both native and non-native users of English greater language independence.

Strategies for Teaching Genre1) Explicit Teaching of Genre Awareness

This is a nonfictional, informative text and I know this because of the research presented and the sources referred to by the author.

2) Effective Modeling through SamplesShow vs. Tell

3) Guided Writing Deconstruct texts together and analyze text features

4) Group Curriculum Based on Genre StudiesUnits organized into genres: Biographies/Narratives, Expository, Persuasive, etc.

Activity: Identifying Text FeaturesInterview, Directions, Fable, Editorial Letter, Narrative, Persuasive Speech, Poem

Genre:

Purpose:

Features:

DebriefWhat are genres?

What are the four language parameters of teaching language genre?

How is teaching genre awareness explicitly helpful to English Language Learners?

Homework!Read: 7 Steps to Teaching a Genre and Promoting Genre Awareness in the EFL Classroom

Plan: Think strategically and plan how you can begin incorporating genre awareness into your lessons

Thank you!Next Session: Thursday, September 26th at 2:00pm!

Elizabeth Smithelfsmith@ccnn.org.ni

Source: Genre Awareness & Text Study in the ESL/EFL Curriculum by Phillip Keane. Presented at UAE, 2011.