Within a type of communication, the writer, speaker, or designer chooses a form based on the purpose of the piece. Common written forms include narrative, journal, procedural, expository, explanatory, news article, e-mail, blog, advertisements, poetry, novel, and letter.

refers to the consideration of format choices including layout, sequencing, spacing, topography, and colour

refers to the way the author organizes text

elements of the text that are not considered the main body. These may include typography (bold, italic, underlined), font style, guide words, key words, titles, diagrams, captions, labels, maps, charts, illustrations, tables, photographs, and sidebars/textboxes.

refers to the land and other aspects of physical environment on which people interact to learn, create memory, reflect on history, connect with culture, and establish identity