Mode is the type of writing—informative, narrative, or persuasive—that is present in a passage.There are three main writing modes, each having unique characteristics:
Informative writing informs readers how to do something or gives information and or reasons as to why one feels the way he/she does.
Narrative writing is telling a story, usually chronologically, and using imagery and sensory details.
Persuasive writing encourages or inspires readers to move to action or to feel and act a certain way.
After identify the mode of the passages, have student write three paragraphs, one informative, one narrative, and one persuasive. If students are able to write in each of these modes and identify each mode in their own writing, there is no reason as to why students should not be able to identify mode in the writing of other individuals.
Identifying mode helps students understand author's purpose. We all know that writers write stories, but the mode of a passage gives readers clues as to the author’s ultimate purpose—to entertain, to humor, to disgust, to inspire, to motivate, to upset, to rebel, to reflect, etc.
For example, if an author writes a story about a baby’s first Halloween, the mode of the writing is narrative insomuch that he or she is telling a story. Although the writer is telling a story, the author’s ultimate purpose is to entertain his readers by making the readers laugh. At times, some writers compose passages to make readers reflect upon their society and to call attention to injustices, such as prejudice against race, gender, socioeconomics, etc .