Expository Text Structure Overview

Expository Text Structure

• Expository text provides information about the physical, biological, or social world.
• Introductions introduce the topic, providing context and setting the stage.
• Body paragraphs present factual evidence, logical reasoning, and examples to support the topic.
• Conclusions summarize and validate the information presented, often suggesting future actions or implications.

Key Features of Expository Texts

• Introduction: Introduces the topic, offers a definition or general statement, serves as a roadmap, and may cite statistics or key terms.
• Body: Presents factual evidence, logical reasoning, and examples. Includes various support details to develop the central idea and expand understanding. Utilizes comparisons, anecdotes, and examples for clarity.
• Conclusion: Summarizes the main points, validates the presented facts, and often suggests actions, future implications, or a thought-provoking statement. It reinforces the main ideas and provides a memorable ending.

Strategies for Body Development

• Cause and Effect: Explores relationships between events. Demonstrates how one action leads to a specific consequence.
• Problem and Solution: Identifies a problem and proposes solutions. Presents existing issues and possible future remedies for the problem.

Differentiating Literary and Journalistic Writing

• Literary Writing: Flexible structure and style. Can be factual or imaginary. Emphasis on creativity, imagery, symbolism, and narrative techniques.
• Journalistic Writing: Factual, timely, and concise. Objective tone. Focuses on delivering accurate and timely information.

Features of News Articles

• Headline: Summarizes the main point. Concise and attention-grabbing.
• Byline: Author's name to establish credibility and accountability.
• Dateline: Location and date of reporting, providing context.
• Lead: Provides the 5Ws and H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How). It gives the essential details and sets the stage for the story.
• Body: Includes additional details, quotes, and background information. Develops the main theme in detail.
• Quotes: Provide depth and insight, using direct quotations to support arguments and add authenticity.
• Attribution: Cites sources of information, establishing the reliability of facts.
• Facts and Evidence: Verified for accuracy; statements supported by credible details and data.
• Photos and Captions: Visual elements accompanied by supporting descriptions for greater visual understanding. Inverted pyramid structure places the most important information first.
• Animations: Visual aids that clarify complex ideas and concepts, making the information accessible to a wider audience.

Achieving Organizational Efficiency

• Diction & Style: Uses precise word choice, tone, and figurative language to engage the reader.
• Transition Devices: Connects ideas logically to ensure smooth and coherent flow.
• Sentence Structure: Varies sentence types to maintain reader interest and avoid monotony.
• Vectors & Viewpoint: Logical progression of the text and established perspective.
• Technical Editing: Ensuring clarity, consistency, and correctness in grammar, punctuation, and formatting.

Practice Questions

• Identify the three main parts of an expository text (Intro, Body, Conclusion).
• Define expository writing and give examples.
• Differentiate between journalistic and literary writing.
• Explain the purpose of a news article lead.
• Name two strategies for organizing the body of an expository text.
• Explain how transition devices enhance a text.