Rhetorical Modes of Discourse

	Descriptive	Narrative	Expository	Argumentative
Purpose	To express something using sensory details/ a way of expressing how the world is perceived through the five senses To give sensuous details about places, times of day feeling, etc.	To tell a story based on real or imagined events. To present an event to a reader To inform or explain a personal recount or fictional experience.	To analyse a situation To give directions To inform or explain and define a term.	To convince or persuade an audience that a claim is true. To explain, challenge and or argue opinions.
Audience	Children, teachers, instructor all individuals	Teachers, students, journalists	Instructors, teachers	Debaters, Lawyers, teachers, government officials, judges
Content	First paragraph is usually an introduction with a thesis statement. The rest of the paragraphs or the body of the essay expresses and provides vivid sensory details based on the particular subject. Final paragraph is a conclusion	Plot (Conflict, resolution), Setting, theme, characters (major and minor)	Factual information, illustrations.	Facts, evidence, authoritative opinions, refutation of counter arguments, personal experiences, emotive language, rhetorical questions, and examples.
Style	technical/ scientific description Artistic description.	Artistic narration Technical/ scientific narration	Technical/ scientific exposition Artistic exposition Combination of artistic exposition and scientific exposition	Logical or technical/scientific argument. Persuasive or artistic argument
Voice	Soothing, excited, pleasant, casual, informal, formal, bitter, happy, unpleasant.	Casual, monotonous, compassionate, excited, eager , fearful	Formal Indifferent	Critical, convincing, commanding
Organization	the organizing principle of description is spatial Follows the movement of an imaginary eye.	Temporal sequence. Chronological order	Compare and contrast Cause and effect Problem/ solution Sequence, description, illustrations and or classifications	Statement of the claim and thesis statement Information to support the claim Counterclaim(s) Rebuttal Conclusion