Free English Lessons

Lesson 20: 10th February 2006 (intermediate level)

Exploring Different Types of Written Texts

Cut out from newspapers and magazines, or bring to class, examples of the following types of written texts, and ask your learners to identify them, either matching them from a list or using their judgement to decide what kind of text each one is. After they have identified each one, get them to think about what the purpose of each text is. What did the writer of each text want to communicate and why - and to whom?

Different types of written texts:

  • a postcard

  • a voucher

  • TV listings

  • a leaflet or flyer

  • personal ads

  • a weather report

  • a review (e.g. music, theatre, cinema, etc.)

  • a financial report

  • a sports article

  • a news article

  • a headline

  • a letter

  • a photograph

  • an advertisement

  • catalogue entries

  • a cartoon

  • a booklet

  • a poster

  • an index

  • a form

  • a magazine article

  • classified ads

  • an obituary or death notice

  • what's on? listings

  • puzzles

  • an opinion column or editorial

  • contents

Note: your learners will probably be able to think of more types ... !

Extra Time:

1. Go "Around the World in Fifteen Pictures" with this interesting mixed vocabulary test. [click here]

2. Print out our free printable worksheets. [click here]