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Speech modes describe different purposes of communication and genres of composition, with the desired audience response determining the appropriate mode. The four major discursive modes are exposition, narrative, description, and topic, which apply to both written and oral communication. Exposition and argumentative modes involve investigating a topic and presenting a clear view, while narrative and descriptive modes allow for more creativity. Within each mode, specific rhetorical approaches are used to achieve the intended goal.
Speech modes, also known as rhetorical modes, are concepts that describe different purposes of communication and genres of composition. How an author or speaker approaches a particular work, frames the presentation, and outlines what to include depends on the desired audience response. The desired response determines which mode of speaking, or formalized approach to presenting an idea, is most appropriate.
Most often, the term “modes of speech” is used to describe types of essays or other written works. When studying composition, particularly in English composition and English literature, educators are taught four major discursive modes, classified as exposition, narrative, description, and topic. While these genre labels are generally applied to written works, the concepts also apply to oral communication.
The expository and argumentative modalities of the speech are very similar. Primarily, the differences between exposition and argument lie in the amount of preparation required. Typically, an argumentative work requires more research and empirical evidence than an expository work. Both modalities involve investigating a topic, reviewing and evaluating the available information, and then presenting a clear view or argument on the topic. Authors and speakers typically use exposition or argument to persuade an audience for or against a particular point of view.
Narrative essays and similar forms of communication involve more storytelling than expository or argumentative works. In terms of discourse modalities, a narrative approach allows for greater creativity, relying less on research and more on the audience’s ability to relate to the writer or speaker. Rather than facts, figures, and evidence, storytelling allows the creator to provide personal insights, stories, and other experiential or anecdotal examples to persuade an audience.
Descriptive works cover a wide range of topics. An essay on the architecture of the Sistine Chapel, for example, would be an example of a descriptive work. Like narratives, descriptive works allow for more creativity than other modalities. Unlike a narrative, descriptive works need not present personal insights. Instead, descriptive works provide a clear and vivid mental picture for the audience, relying on the audience’s personal intuition, knowledge, and emotions to evoke certain responses.
Within each of the four major modes of discourse, a speaker or author furthers the purpose of oral or written communication with specific rhetorical approaches. For example, an expository essay might employ methods such as comparison and contrast, examples and case studies, or cause and effect. Similarly, an argumentative or persuasive speech might employ classification and division. The effective use of rhetorical approaches within the limits of a particular mode of speech helps to achieve the intended goal of an author or speaker.
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