Genre Kits

Celpe-Bras never asks for "a text about a subject". It asks for a kind of text (a gênero) with a writer, a reader and a purpose. Each kind has habits a Brazilian reader expects. These kits are the short version; the course teaches each one on the day shown.

A rule for all of them: the facts come from the source, in your words, and the text must make sense to someone who never saw the source.

Letters and e-mails

E-mail formal (Day 2). To someone you don't know well: a school head, a mayor, a company, your boss.

Never: Oi, Olá, você to an authority, Abraços.

Carta a um grupo (Day 3). From someone who represents a group to its members: a president to the residents, a manager to the staff.

The writer says nós for the group and vocês to the readers. The tone is warm, and every practical detail is there: what, when, where, what to bring.

Carta do leitor (Days 5 and 22). A reader writes to a magazine or newspaper about something it published.

Name the article, say where you stand, give two reasons that use what the article says, close briefly. Sign with your name and city.

Carta aberta (Day 24). A public letter to an authority, meant to be read by everyone.

State the problem, make one clear request, give the reasons. It is firm and polite, and it speaks for a group even when one person writes it.

Texts for the public

Texto de divulgação (Day 16). A public body or an organisation tells the population about a service or a rule.

No greeting and no signature. The voice is the institution's (a Prefeitura informa, a Secretaria ampliou).

Artigo ou matéria (Day 17). A journalist writes for a newspaper or magazine section.

A headline, a first paragraph with the essentials (what, where, when), then the details. No eu, no greeting, no atenciosamente.

Postagem (Day 18). A post for a site, a blog or a social network, by the person who runs it.

Speaks straight to the reader (você), short paragraphs, lively but still informative: the facts from the source must be there.

Panfleto (Day 15). A leaflet handed out to the public.

A title that calls, short blocks with a few lines each, verbs in the imperative, and the place, days and times. Usually not signed by a person.

Coluna ou texto para um guia (Day 19). A specialist writes for readers of a guide or a regular column.

A personal but informed voice: eu is allowed, and so are recommendations.

Texto de homenagem ou perfil (Day 9). A text that honours a person, for a website or a newsletter.

Who the person is, what they did, why it matters to others. Warm, in the third person.

Aviso ou comunicado (Days 20 and 38). A notice to residents or staff.

Short, clear, in the name of the administration (informamos, solicitamos).

Guia de orientações (Day 44). Instructions for the public.

Steps in order, one action per line, verbs in the imperative or the infinitive.

Texts that argue

Proposta (Days 10 and 25). You propose an action to people who decide: a board, a council.

Four moves: the situation, the proposal, the concrete actions, the results expected. Numbers from the source carry the argument.

Texto de inscrição (Day 12). An entry for a prize or a call for projects.

Explain the project to someone who never heard of it, then argue why it should win, with results.

Artigo de opinião (Day 47). You defend a view for the readers of a newspaper.

A title, your position early, two or three arguments with facts, a conclusion. No greeting, no signature line.

Mensagem ao autor (Day 26). A message to a columnist, published on his or her site.

Like a reader's letter, but you speak to the author directly.

Telling a story

Crônica (Day 43). A short, personal story about everyday life, for a newspaper.

Told by eu, in the past, with a small event and a thought at the end. Light, close to spoken language, a touch of humour.

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