Written communication can be literary or non-literary; therefore, a text either belongs

to the fictional or the non-fictional text group. Especially within the non-fictional textgroup the problem of classification is still open to discussion. Either one follows the
concept that the major communicative functions of the language provide categories
for useful distinctions; or one takes the position that 'the text types correlate with
forms and ranges of human cognition' (Werlich, A Text Grammar of English, p. 21).
According to the latter concept there are five basic text types:
description, narration, exposition, argumentation and instruction.
These are theoretical norms which in actual texts occur in manifold combinations
and individual shapes (i.e. text forms).

1. Descriptive texts basically deal with factual phenomena, e.g. objects and people.
Therefore you find many verbs of 'non-change' (e.g. to be, to stand, lie, sit etc.) and
adverbs of place. Technical description tends to be neutral, exact and impersonal,
while impressionistic description also gives expressions to the writer's feelings or
moods.

2. Narrative texts types deal mainly with changes in time, i.e. with actions and
events. Typical text type markers are verbs that denote 'change' as well as
expressions of time (time-sequence signals)); but adverbs of place are not excluded.
Narration is to be found in short stories, novels, biographies, anecdotes, diaries,
news, stories and reports.

3. Expository texts tend to be explanatory: they explain objects and ideas in their
interrelations. Typical verbs for the identification and explanation of objects and ideas
are: to refer to, be defined, be called, consists of, contain etc. If a relation to
previously mentioned facts and ideas is to be established, words like namely,
incidentally, for example, in other words, etc. are used. A similarity to preceding
phenomena can be expressed by similarly, also, too; additional information can be
indicated by words like in addition, above all, on top of it all, etc. Typical of this text

type are the expository essay, the definition, the summary and the interpretative
piece.

4. Argumentative texts deal with problems and controversial ideas. Reasons for or
against some topic are put forward. The ultimate aim is always to win the
reader/audience round to the author's side. There is a dominantly dialectical text
structure, and words like but, by contrast, however, yet, still, in any case, so, etc. are
linguistic signals of a contrastive text structure. But the basis of any argumentative
text form has to be provided by expository passages, by the explanation of facts,
concepts, developments or processes. While COMMENT tends to be subjective in
character, scientific argument seeks to be objective.

5. In instructive texts the writer tells the reader/audience what to do. The instructive
text type is based on the action-demanding sentence. Commercial and political
propaganda, directions, regulations, rules etc. are typical examples because they
aim at influencing behaviour.
In a linear text, readers would go from start to end in a sequential path. A detective
fiction would be a perfect example, as it would be pretty confusing if readers jump
chapters.
In a non-linear text, its contexts are organized in a network structure. Readers
could start from any node that they care. A guide or encyclopedia would be a perfect
example, as readers are supposed to solve specific problems. It doesn't make sense
for them to read through.
The emerging and developing of the Internet largely increase the amount of
non-linear texts, Wiki is a perfect example. Non-linear texts could be more efficiently
read and edited by a large number of people. It is like a creature, as long as people
care about its topic, it would evolve forever.
Among the current non-linear text writing tools, Weavi (Weavi) maintains a
leading position. It is a powerful tool to manage your knowledge, and a platform to
create and share contexts worldwide.