Four Modes of Discourse

“Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others should care about.” – Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Mode refers to a method or form used

Discourse is the technical term for conversation

• Exposition – writing that explains or informs

• Narration – writing that tells a story

• Description – writing that appeals to the five senses

• Argument/persuasion – writing that presents a position in hopes that the reader will accept an assertion


A writer rarely uses only a single mode; however, there is a dominate mode that fits the author’s specific purpose – why the author composed each of the sentences/paragraphs/paper/work.

1. Last night I took the train into the city with a couple of old friends to see Herman Overact as the lead in The Crucible at the Humongous Theater, and we had a terrific time.

2. Herman Overact’s performance in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is an acting event not to be missed.

3. Herman Overact is playing the lead role in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible at the Humongous Theater for the next six weeks.

4. Last evening, the sold-out audience buzzed with excitement as it stared wide-eyed at the stage in rapt anticipation of the appearance of Herman Overact in Miller’s The Crucible.


Subject: my love of shoes

Exposition
I own several pairs of Kangaroo sneakers. They take up most of the shoe space in my closet. Yet, I never have enough of them.

Narration
Yesterday, I saw an ad in the newspaper for a sixty percent sale on Kangaroo sneakers at the Bullseye department store. I can’t resist either Kangaroo sneakers or a bargain so I called two of my friends and off we went.

Description
My closet is boxed in by shoes – shoes lined up on the top shelf, shoes straddling a rack on the floor, and shoes nestling in hanging pockets on the door. I like to think of it as my Kangaroo cage.

Argument
I’ve owned many different brands of sneakers, but none is as comfortable, colorful, long-wearing, and reasonably priced as Kangaroos. No other sneaker even comes close.