Common genres of multimodal compositions

GENRE

DESCRIPTION

Informative Web site

Informative Web sites usually present statistics, research data, definitions, or other factual information. The Web site format allows composers to provide a large amount of information in manageable categories. A public transit Web site might, for example, have separate pages for timetables, maps, and policies.

Artistic video

Composers use artistic videos to present ideas on personal, political, environmental, and other themes. The video format allows composers to control the sequence of ideas.

Instructional video

Instructional videos often demonstrate steps for learning, creating, or installing something. A furniture manufacturer may, for example, provide an informational video to demonstrate the step-by-step assembly of a chair.

Slide presentation

Composers typically use slide presentations to present ideas and information in small chunks and in a particular sequence. A presenter might use a series of slides to show how a proposed business plan could lead to corporate growth, for example.

Print advertisement

Print advertisements often occupy all or part of a page in a magazine, journal, or newspaper and can be used to promote products, services, events, or programs. Because their space is limited and most readers won’t spend more than a few seconds looking at them, print advertisements need to present key information at a glance.

Television commercial

In general, television commercials promote products, services, events, or programs. Usually less than a minute long, commercials often rely on jingles and slogans to engage the viewer and convey their message in a quick, memorable way.