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The Expository Mode
Definition: Expository writing gives information, explains something, clarifies a process or defines a concept. It is objective (impartial, non-prejudice and not opinion based) and not dependant on emotion. It can be lively, engaging and reflective of the writers underlying comment about the topic.
> E.g. if you were informing your audience about the Apartheid you can inform them of the negative economic, social and cultural impact it had on the indigenous people of South Africa – this still shows your underlying comment on the Apartheid, that it was wrong, without trying to persuade your audience or by overtly expressing your opinion.
Expository writing is characterised by the following:
* Development of a main idea/topic
* Support of the main idea/topic using examples, details and/or facts.
* Presentation of logically organised information (no appeals to emotions)
* Commitment to the topic (don’t include anything that isn’t on topic)
Form:
Expository writing appears in:
* Letters,
* Newsletters,
* Definitions,
* Guidebooks,
* Catalogues,
* Newspaper articles,
* Magazine articles,
* How-to writing,
* Pamphlets/Brochures,
* Teaching script,
* Testimonies,
* Experiments,
* Biographies/Autobiographies/Memoirs,
* Presentations
* Comparison/contrast essays,
* Analytical (investigating and questioning) essays,
* Reflectve essays,
* Reports,
* Research papers,
* Literary analyses,
* Informative speeches, to name just a few.
Whatever the form, its purpose is to inform, explain, clarify, define, or instruct
In expository writing, a formal language style and serious tone to state facts is often used. However, it is a very flexible mode of writing that allows for many different approaches and subjects.
E.g.
News reports
– impersonal detached tone to state facts, uses a vocabulary that suits a wide, general readership.
Analytical essays
– uses formal style in a close study of a subject matter (e.g. a novel or event). They tend to use the third person but presents the writer’s own viewpoint or interpretation using selected facts and examples
Reflective essay
– more personal and oftent uses the first person ‘I’to present the writer’s thoughts and ideas. They are less formal and include anecdotes, personal experiences and elements of humor.
Research articles
– use a serious tone, scholarly styles and technical language relevant to the subject (jargon of the subject). They refer to previously published work and consider different theories and/or viewpoints
Keys to effective expository writing:
* Write clearly
* Use a logical and well-defined structure
* Explain thoroughly the different ideas or arguments
* Emphasise reason rather than emotion
Have you clearly shown:
o Topic – what you are writing about
o Tone – how your writing sounds (consistent throughout writing)
o Structure and Features– what the form you’ve chosen should look like and contain
o Message – what you want to say
o Purpose – why you want to say it
o Audience – who do you say it
o Language – how you want to say it
Can you:
* Identify the language you’ve used and how it is appropriate for the audience and form?
* Identify the form and why it supports your purpose?
* Express what your overall message is to your audience (explain contention)?
* Discuss how your piece shows an awareness of purpose and audience?
* Link your piece to the text?
* Link your piece to identity and belonging?
* Show that you’ve thought of different perspectives (or interpretations, positive and negative elements, underlying reasons, etc) of the text, context or your written
piece’s topic?
* Show you have thought about the complexities of the issue/topics in the text and how this is reflected in your piece?
* Discuss how you’ve used ideas/arguments from the context and set text in your writing?
* Show the relation of your piece to the prompt?
* Show that you’ve used a varied but appropriate vocabulary?
> E.g. if you were informing your audience about the Apartheid you can inform them of the negative economic, social and cultural impact it had on the indigenous people of South Africa – this still shows your underlying comment on the Apartheid, that it was wrong, without trying to persuade your audience or by overtly expressing your opinion.
Expository writing is characterised by the following:
* Development of a main idea/topic
* Support of the main idea/topic using examples, details and/or facts.
* Presentation of logically organised information (no appeals to emotions)
* Commitment to the topic (don’t include anything that isn’t on topic)
Form:
Expository writing appears in:
* Letters,
* Newsletters,
* Definitions,
* Guidebooks,
* Catalogues,
* Newspaper articles,
* Magazine articles,
* How-to writing,
* Pamphlets/Brochures,
* Teaching script,
* Testimonies,
* Experiments,
* Biographies/Autobiographies/Memoirs,
* Presentations
* Comparison/contrast essays,
* Analytical (investigating and questioning) essays,
* Reflectve essays,
* Reports,
* Research papers,
* Literary analyses,
* Informative speeches, to name just a few.
Whatever the form, its purpose is to inform, explain, clarify, define, or instruct
In expository writing, a formal language style and serious tone to state facts is often used. However, it is a very flexible mode of writing that allows for many different approaches and subjects.
E.g.
News reports
– impersonal detached tone to state facts, uses a vocabulary that suits a wide, general readership.
Analytical essays
– uses formal style in a close study of a subject matter (e.g. a novel or event). They tend to use the third person but presents the writer’s own viewpoint or interpretation using selected facts and examples
Reflective essay
– more personal and oftent uses the first person ‘I’to present the writer’s thoughts and ideas. They are less formal and include anecdotes, personal experiences and elements of humor.
Research articles
– use a serious tone, scholarly styles and technical language relevant to the subject (jargon of the subject). They refer to previously published work and consider different theories and/or viewpoints
Keys to effective expository writing:
* Write clearly
* Use a logical and well-defined structure
* Explain thoroughly the different ideas or arguments
* Emphasise reason rather than emotion
Have you clearly shown:
o Topic – what you are writing about
o Tone – how your writing sounds (consistent throughout writing)
o Structure and Features– what the form you’ve chosen should look like and contain
o Message – what you want to say
o Purpose – why you want to say it
o Audience – who do you say it
o Language – how you want to say it
Can you:
* Identify the language you’ve used and how it is appropriate for the audience and form?
* Identify the form and why it supports your purpose?
* Express what your overall message is to your audience (explain contention)?
* Discuss how your piece shows an awareness of purpose and audience?
* Link your piece to the text?
* Link your piece to identity and belonging?
* Show that you’ve thought of different perspectives (or interpretations, positive and negative elements, underlying reasons, etc) of the text, context or your written
piece’s topic?
* Show you have thought about the complexities of the issue/topics in the text and how this is reflected in your piece?
* Discuss how you’ve used ideas/arguments from the context and set text in your writing?
* Show the relation of your piece to the prompt?
* Show that you’ve used a varied but appropriate vocabulary?