4 types of INFORMATIVE TEXTS
In Spanish we can meet different types of texts, since each of them has different purposes. In this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to talk about types of informational texts that we can meet. To do this, in the first place, we must make an approach to these and know them more in depth.
Informative texts are those that seek to transmit data on a specific topic or event. Their key is objectivity, since their only objective is to get the person who reads them be informed about the event that occurred. Derived from this we can say that they must be easy to understand and provide details so that the reader can assimilate what we are explaining easily.
What are the characteristics of an informational text?
Now that we know what an informative text is, we are going to focus on what its main characteristics are:
- They are based on reality: transmit information on different topics, but based on real events.
- The information is exposed from the clearest way possible avoiding data repetitions.
- It has a structure based on an introduction and development and a conclusion.
- The language used is direct, objective, simple and coherent to get the information to the reader as clearly as possible. Avoid using expressions that are too colloquial.
- The data provided must be accurate and they must be exposed in an impersonal way to be able to explain the fact to the reader. That is, that you have all the essential data after reading the text.
- Ideas must be presented in an orderly manner.
The informative texts are divided into 4 main types that we will see below:
Formal letter
Looking for convey important information that should be treated in a serious way. Usually the issuer of these is a person unknown to the receiver, a company or authority. The tone is respectful and the language is very careful but understandable. Its structure is as follows:
- Date and place where it was written.
- Header: The name to whom it is addressed is written.
- Greetings courteous and formal.
- Introduction: is the first paragraph of the letter and contains the key information that helps to understand the rest of the letter.
- Body: The information raised in the introduction is explained and developed.
- Fired: The main idea of the letter is synthesized and he says goodbye politely.
- Firm
The news
The News it's a journalistic text in which a real event is narrated. This is always attached to the present and is of interest to the public. The issuer tries to inform the reader about an event in the most objective way possible.
They offer all the data that may be decisive for the news. The writing is aseptic and the editor should never give his opinion. In classic journalism, the news is about answer 6 questions:
- What happened?
- When it happened?
- Where did it happen?
- Who or who were those involved?
- How did it happen?
- Why did it happen?
On the other hand, these questions are structured throughout the different parts of the news:
- Headline: it concisely shows the most outstanding data of the event
- Subtitle: add additional information to the headline
- Entradilla: first paragraph of the news in which the main information about the event in question is offered.
- Body: go deeper into the initial questions going from the most important to the least important
- Closing: final paragraph of the news. Sometimes it is shown as a conclusion to the text.
Report
Often used in scientific settings to show a concrete situation, although it is also used regularly in the business world. It conveys the information in a clear manner, with the main data in a clear and concise manner, as well as including recommendations for the reader on the subject being discussed. It does not have a defined structure, but most of it contains the following data:
- Date
- Qualification
- Body: objective information on the topic covered
- Firm
Memorandum
It is a formal letter of short extension used in the communication of companies and organizations to transmit necessary information among their workers. It uses a language of a formal type, but understandable to the recipient. It has a defined structure:
- Qualification: Memo
- Header: shows who sent it, the recipient and the theme.
- Greetings
- Body: develop the information to be transmitted
- Fired
- Firm
- Date
These are the types of informative texts that we can find in Spanish. As you can see, they help us to show the reader data in a clear way and with different elaborations depending on the objective we have when transmitting it. In other words, writing for a newspaper is not the same as a report for companies and For this reason, each of these texts, although they have the same purpose, present a structure different.