Conditional Citizens is written with a combination of generic conventions, including elements from memoir and rhetorical essay writing. Memoir is a genre that presents a narrative of the actual events of a person’s life. It is often categorized as creative nonfiction, in which the events of the story or anecdote are real, but they are presented in a fluid, narrative structure like that of a fictional story. Rhetorical essays, though, are usually abstract, making arguments that bridge gaps between concrete situations and metaphysical, or conceptual, ideas and beliefs. By combining the two genres, Lalami directs her life’s story toward establishing an ideological standpoint on the issues of citizenship and identity.

Each essay presents elements from Lalami’s life. In addition to briefly recounting events, they include vivid descriptions of setting, character, and plot, which are also aspects of fiction narratives. By describing scenes and people in depth, Lalami presents details that not only seek to hook the reader and increase investment in the argument that follows her anecdotes but also provide insights into how and why her ideas developed as they did.