Common Text Types Used in Science

This article is drawn from content originally included in PETAA Book Teaching with Intent: Scaffolding academic language with marginalised students, written by Bronwyn Parkin and Helen Harper and published in 2018.

To Inform

1) Text type: Procedure

Purpose: To tell someone how to do something, in steps (Aim, materials, method)

Example:

Aim: To make a vegemite sandwich
Materials: Two slices of bread, Vegemite, butter, knife
Method: 1. Take the bread. 2. With the knife, spread the butter thinly on one side only of each slice of bread...

2) Text type: Procedural recount

Purpose: To tell someone about one instance of an experiment or other procedure. Sequenced in time, but written in prose in the past tense (what we did, or what was done)

Example: Today we made a Vegemite sandwich. First we took two slices of bread and placed them on the counter. Then, with a knife, we spread one side of each slice of bread thinly with the butter...

3) Text type: Lab report

Purpose: 'Hybrid' text type that addresses a number of purposes: to tell someone how to carry out an experiment, and to explain and discuss the results: Aim, Materials, Method, Results, Discussion

Example:

Aim: To make a vegemite sandwich
Materials: Two slices of bread, Vegemite, butter, knife
Method: 1. Take the bread. 2. With the knife, spread the butter thinly on one side only of each slice of bread...
Results: A satisfactory sandwich was achieved.
Discussion: Because the butter was hard, it was difficult to spread thinly. In future, the butter should be at air temperature for ease of spreading.

To Describe a Thing

1) Text type: Descriptive report

Purpose: To provide general information about a phenomenon (phenomenon identification, plus paragraphs about whatever is important to know about this phenomenon). Written in present tense (Adaptation is...).

Example: Bread is the generic name given to any cereal-based food which is mixed with a liquid such as milk or water, with optional leavening agent. Once mixed, it is baked in hot coals or in an oven. Bread is a product of chemical reactions...

2) Text type: Classifying report

Purpose: To describe a class of living things (Classification, Habitat, Appearance, Behaviours) OR to compare two subclasses of living things (e.g. mammals and marsupials). Written in present tense (Snakes are reptiles).

Example: Bread is the name given to any cereal-based food which is mixed with liquid such as milk or water. There are two types of bread: leavened bread, and unleavened bread. Leavened bread has a raising agent, such as yeast or baking powder, added at the mixing stage. The leavening agent causes the dough to bubble, creating a fluffy and easily digestable bread...

To Describe a Process (How or why or both)

 1) Text type: Sequential explanation

Purpose: To explain the steps of a phenomenon, staged in time (one step after another)

Example: Bread is the name given to any cereal-based food mixed with liquid. First the flour, yeast (leavening agent), vinegar (preservative), salt and water are mixed together. Once the mixture has formed a moist dough that will keep its shape, it is divided into small loaves, and left in a warm place to prove (rise). It is then punched back to its original size, placed in tins and left to prove a second time...

2) Text type: Causal explanation

Purpose: To explain the steps of a phenomenon, staged in time, but with added information showing cause and effect (e.g. leading to, causing, due to).

Example: Bread is the name given to any cereal-based food mixed with liquid. First the flour, yeast )leavening agent), vinegar (preservative), salt and water are mixed together. The yeast transforms sugars in the dough into carbon dioxide, which is trapped in the dough, causes the dough to rise, while the alcohol evaporates...

3) Text type: Factorial explanation

Purpose: To explain the multiple causes of a phenomenon (i.e. when the causes are happening separately but line up for a particular effect).

Example: An excellent Vegemite sandwich is the product of several factors: the freshness, flavour and type of bread, the use of butter rather than margarine, and the thickness of the Vegemite. Bread is probably the most important ingredient to consider. Wholemeal or rye is best...

To Persuade

Text type: Exposition or argument

Purpose: To argue for a particular point of view or to argue for a particular action (backed up authoritatively with scientific knowledge).

Example: Vegemite is part of the staple diet of Australian children from infancy. While some describe this spread as 'black death', I will convince you of the nutritious qualities of this food that has earned it its rightful place in the Australian larder.