What is the difference between narrative and informational texts?

The distinction between narrative and informational texts primarily lies in their purpose and structure. Narrative texts are designed to tell a story, often with characters, a setting, a plot, and a resolution. They engage readers through a structured sequence of events and are often used for entertainment or teaching life lessons through storytelling. In contrast, informational texts aim to deliver factual content, providing details, explanations, and data about specific subjects or phenomena. These texts are structured to inform or educate the reader, often lacking the narrative arc found in story-based writing.

This understanding clarifies the functional roles of each type of text in literacy and education, emphasizing the importance of narrative as a tool for storytelling and emotional connection, while highlighting the role of informational texts in conveying knowledge and understanding.