James Kinneavy offers a useful scheme for understanding the writing situation in his application of the familiar communication triangle to the aims of discourse. By emphasizing one or more of the various elements of discourse represented in the triangle, the writer chooses modes of discourse. Exploratory writing asks questions. Informative writing answers questions. Scientific writing provides proof for its assertions.
Literary writing invites attention to the message itself.
Persuasive writing attempts to change the views or behavior of the reader. The purposes of writing offer alternatives to the topic-centered research paper in which the writer is expected only to report on research findings rather than to apply, analyze, synthesize, or evaluate resources. Using the four elements of the communications triangle as a frame, you can generate writing assignments that have real context in various disciplines and in the workplace. The aims of discourse. University of Maryland University College 3501 University Blvd.