Reading: Understanding Different Text Types & Genres
B2 Lesson 2: Understanding Essays, Short Stories, and Simpler Academic or Technical Texts
Reading in Academic and Formal Contexts
As your reading skills advance, you will encounter texts written for more formal or academic purposes. Recognizing the structure and purpose of these genres is essential for effective comprehension.
Today, we will analyze the key features of three important genres: the academic Essay1, the literary Short Story2, and the informative Academic Text3.
Part 1: The Essay (Argumentative / Expository)
Purpose: To present and defend a specific argument (a thesis statement5) or to explain a topic in a structured way.
Key Features: A formal tone, a clear introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs that develop single ideas, and a conclusion that summarizes the points.
Example (Introduction to an argumentative essay):
...The integration of technology into the modern classroom is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for student success in the 21st century. While some critics worry about distraction, the benefits are undeniable. This essay will argue that providing every student with a tablet or laptop significantly enhances learning by offering access to vast resources and promoting essential digital literacy skills.
Part 2: The Short Story (Literary Fiction)
Purpose: To entertain the reader and explore a theme about human experience through a narrative.
Key Features: Characters, a setting, a plot (with a conflict and resolution), dialogue, and often figurative language to create atmosphere.
Example (Opening of a story):
The afternoon heat hung heavy over the river, as thick and still as the water itself. Chenda sat on the old stone steps of her guesthouse, watching a lone fishing boat drift slowly by. She had been waiting for an hour, re-reading the short message on her phone for the tenth time: "Meet me at the usual spot. I have news." Her heart was a nervous drum against her ribs. She didn't know if the news would be good or bad, but she knew it would change everything.
Part 3: The Academic or Technical Text
Purpose: To inform or explain a specific, specialized topic in a clear, objective, and precise way.
Key Features: A neutral and objective tone, precise/technical vocabulary, definitions, facts, and a logical, explanatory structure.
Example (A simple scientific explanation):
The Cambodian Monsoon Cycle
The climate of Cambodia is dominated by a monsoon cycle, which consists of two distinct seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. This cycle is driven by a seasonal reversal of wind direction. From approximately November to April, cool, dry air from the Asian continent is blown southwards, resulting in the dry season. Conversely, from May to October, warm, moist air originating over the Indian Ocean flows inland, bringing heavy rainfall and high humidity.
Your Turn! Identify the Genre.
Practice Quiz
Read the excerpt and choose the correct genre.
1. "He pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside. The air was thick with the smell of old paper and dust. Sunlight streamed through a single high window, illuminating millions of tiny dust motes dancing in the air. He had found it at last: the forgotten library."
This is an example of a: (Short Story / Essay / Technical Text)
Answer: Short Story. It uses descriptive, atmospheric language to create a setting and follows a character's actions.
2. "This report will first analyze the economic causes of rural-urban migration in Cambodia. It will then examine the social effects of this trend on both urban centers and rural communities. Finally, it will propose several policy recommendations."
This is an example of a: (Short Story / Essay / Technical Text)
Answer: Essay. The language ("This report will first analyze...") clearly outlines a formal, structured argument, which is characteristic of an academic essay.
Vocabulary Glossary
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Essay (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: សំណេរ
A formal piece of academic writing that explains or argues a point about a specific subject. ↩ back to text -
Short Story (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: រឿងខ្លី
A short work of fiction designed to entertain and explore a theme through characters and plot. ↩ back to text -
Academic / Technical Text (noun phrase)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: អត្ថបទសិក្សា/បច្ចេកទេស
A text that provides factual, objective information about a specialized subject. ↩ back to text -
Thesis Statement (noun phrase)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ប្រយោគសារណា
A sentence in an essay, usually in the introduction, that states the main argument to be proven. ↩ back to text
Homework Task
Genre Analysis!
Find an example of ONE of these text types in English. You could find a short story for learners online, or the introduction to an academic essay on a site like Google Scholar.
- Identify the genre (Essay, Short Story, or Academic Text).
- Write down two key features from the text that helped you identify it.
Example: "I found an essay. I knew it was an essay because it had a clear thesis statement in the first paragraph and used a formal tone."