Monographic text: characteristics, types, functions and structures

The "text" is defined as signs or characters of a form of writing that together form a meaningful expression, usually for the purpose of transmitting information or communicating. In the case of monographic text, this refers to the texts used in some literary genres to express every detail about a topic or to just focus on one aspect of it

What are monographic works?

The etymology of the word comes from the Greek, where "monkey" means a and "graphs" means writing. Monographs are texts or works in which research is carried out in different sources such as books, magazines, web pages, among others; in order to collect the greatest amount of information and the most important aspects of a specific topic.

Features

• It is normally used in the elaboration of written work, research, reflections and essays.
• The author has the ability to approach the subject from different points of view.
• The purpose is to present the reader with as much information and data as possible about a topic. In addition, in the academic field also seeks to find different hypotheses in order to extend the different topics that are addressed in the subject.
• It is necessary to follow a structure (introduction, development and conclusion) and research methodology.
• Although these are usually quite extensive, although this does not mean that they must be mandatory.

Monographic text types

Monographic works can be of various types, which contain their own characteristics. Among them we find journalists, scientists, schoolchildren and generals.

• Journalistic: are those that are prepared with the purpose of spreading the information about one or more journalistic investigations. At the same time, topics are addressed from an ethical and philosophical perspective, in order to use personal arguments and give more subjective opinions.
• Scientific: It is a document that extensively exposes a topic with an orderly and clear structure, aimed at professionals and the scientific community. For this, tests of all kinds are usually used, such as laboratory, social, statistical experiments, tables or theories that allow an objective approach to the subject.
• Schoolchildren: Obviously these are carried out with the objective of preparing a research work for the school. Although these normally present the characteristics of general monographic works.
• General: finally, the generals are those in which an interesting topic is approached for a large part of a community, respecting the basic structures. These are usually used in business, private or personal settings.

What are its functions and importance?

As we have mentioned throughout the article, they seek to present the most complete information about a specific topic, therefore, that is their main function. However, this type of text also has other more specific purposes, such as:

• They seek to contribute to the education of readers of the work done.
• They also aim to help expand existing information about the topic or some topic of the same; since the author must contribute new, fresh or innovative content, in addition to the fact that the area where the subject belongs also benefits.
• For professionals, the development of this type of work allows them to gain recognition in the community where they work.

Therefore, in addition to presenting several functions, it also brings advantages or benefits; which means that these texts are of great importance in different fields such as education or the scientific community.

Elements or parts of the monograph

The monographic text may vary due to the different parts that compose it. It depends on the type of work to be done and the audience it will be aimed at.

There is a basic structure that we mentioned in its characteristics (introduction, development and conclusion), which is usually used in essays and reflections, for example; while the other is the traditional one and that typically used in academic or scientific work, which is: summary, introduction, development, conclusions, bibliography and annexes.

These elements fulfill their own objective within the work, so it is necessary to explain them to get an idea of ​​what they are about and what their objective is. Because the traditional model is broader in terms of elements and includes those of the basic structure, that will be the one that we will explain below.

The summary

It refers to a small excerpt about the content that readers will find in the monograph; in which it is used by some authors in order to provide a bit of information that allows to draw people's attention to the subject at hand.

The introduction

It is a part of the text or work in which we must combine the ideas to be developed together with the context of the topic, in order to prepare the reader about what it is about.

The development

It is a section where, as its name indicates, the topic or topic of interest is developed, in an organized way and trying to provide as much information and data as possible. For a correct structure of this part, the ideal is to divide it into chapters that must be read in order to understand it correctly; since for example, it would not be advisable to talk about the types of text without knowing their definition.

Conclusion

It is the part where the answers to the ideas, doubts or hypotheses presented on the subject are expressed, as well as a way of summarize the content covered highlighting the most important; in it it is possible to argue and interpret all the information collected.

Bibliography or references

They refer to the queries made to prepare the work, that is, the sources where all the material used was found. Despite the fact that it is not usually used correctly at school, the purpose of the section is to provide sources so that those interested can consult more about a particular aspect.

Attachments

They are the final part of the monograph where the author can provide readers with graphic material that was used as a basis for the development of the work, such as a comparative table, statistics or percentages, interviews, among others.

Each material must be classified and numbered in order to be able to reference them throughout the development in a comfortable, fast and simple way.

The monographic text is one of the most used academic works around the world, as well as by journalists, scientists and any person, organization or company in general. Therefore, we hope that the information collected about it has allowed you to obtain the necessary knowledge for its realization.