english: expository vs argumentative
TRANSCRIPT
Expository vs. Argumentative Writing
What is Expository Writing?Purely informational, objective writingWritten to inform, explain, or describeAuthor assumes the reader has no prior
knowledge of the topicUnlike argumentative/persuasive writing, the
primary goal of expository writing is to deliver information about the topic, not to persuade the reader
Types of Expository WritingDescription
Topic is described using details, characteristics, features, and examples.
SummaryTopic is summarized in your own words
SequenceItems are listed in a numerical order
ComparisonCompare and contrast that explains how
various items are alike and/or different
Examples of Expository WritingNewspaper articles, journals, textbooks,
interviews, studies, letters, memosCNN article:
What is Argumentative Writing?Written to persuade the reader to adopt your
position, beliefs, or behaviorPurpose is to convince the reader that your opinion
is correctAuthor assumes the reader already has prior
knowledge of the topicTherefore, do not devote large sections of the essay to
simply summarizing the topic, texts, or material.
Writing an Argumentative Essay Choose a topic that is:
1. Narrow and focused2. Contains an argument3. Can be adequately supported with evidence
(outside sources, statistics, studies, news articles, expert opinion, etc.)
Narrow and FocusedMake sure your thesis statement isn’t too broad and
unfocused.Zero in on a particular aspect of the media or text to discuss in-
depthBetter to focus on one aspect in-depth than to try to cover a wide
range of issues superficiallyExample:
“Fantasy literature uses a good vs. evil plot.” Too general. “Much of fantasy literature, such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the
Rings, features an over-simplistic binary of good versus evil, which reduces its characters to one-dimensional didactic devices.”
Focused on particular books and how a good vs. evil plot has impacted characterization.
Contains an ArgumentMake sure your thesis statement takes a clear
standAvoid indecisivenessExample:
“Fantasy literature uses a good vs. evil plot, which can be good or bad.”
Vague and indecisive. What is the position? Which side is supported?
“Much of fantasy literature, such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, features an over-simplistic binary of good versus evil, which reduces its characters to one-dimensional didactic devices.”
A clear position is stated (against the good vs. evil plot).
Contains an ArgumentMake sure your thesis statement takes a clear
standAvoid expository writingExample:
“Sam Harris says that there can be a moral truth that science can provide.” Merely expository/factual writing that gives the reader
information about Harris’ speech Facts cannot be arguments
“Contrary to Harris’ assertions, morality cannot be an objective truth. Morality is relative to a person’s viewpoint.” Takes a clear position of disagreement with Harris’ claim
EvidenceMake sure your thesis statement can be adequately
supported with evidence (outside sources, statistics, studies, news articles, expert opinion, etc.)Avoid stating personal feelingsExample:
“I feel that Harry Potter is a boring book to read.” Personal feelings cannot be supported with empirical evidence“Although Harry Potter may be a bestseller, it lacks substance
due to flat characterization.” Can be substantiated using examples from the books and
quotations from literary critics
Court RoomArgue like a lawyer presenting a case in a court
roomA lawyer would:
Take a clear position Ex. Either guilty or not guilty
Present concrete evidence Ex. DNA samples, studies, witnesses, interviews, etc.
A lawyer would NOT: Make an indecisive claim
“Maybe he’s guilty, maybe he’s not… I’m not sure… There’s no point in arguing…”
Build a case entirely on hypothetical scenarios or use examples from his/her personal life as evidence “The dog must not have bitten the plaintiff, because when I was a child,
I had a dog who was so friendly…”
Purpose• Expository
– Used to inform, describe, explain, compare, or summarize in a neutral and objective way
• Argumentative– Used to persuade the reader that your opinion
is correct– Opinion is clearly stated, rather than appearing
neutral• Expository = Facts
Argumentative = Opinion
Focus• Expository
– Focused on information– Main point: To tell the reader of the facts– Consider:
• What does the reader need to know about the topic?• How can I clearly summarize the topic?
• Argumentative– Focused on an opinion, a debatable claim– Main point: Convince the reader of the validity of your
opinion using concrete evidence (studies, news articles, expert opinion, statistics, etc.)
– Consider: • What real-world examples can I use to support my thesis
statement?• What experts in the field might agree with me?• How can I address and refute the opposition’s claims?
Structure• Expository
– Introduction: Introduces the reader to the topic– Body: Describes, explains, informs, classifies, summarizes,
and/or compares various issues regarding the topic– Conclusion: Reminds the reader of main points and gives
sense of closure• Argumentative
– Introduction: Leads the reader to your opinion on the topic, which is clearly stated in a thesis statement of 1-3 sentences
– Body: Discusses the ways in which external sources (ex. studies, news articles, journals, interviews, etc.) are evidence that support your thesis statement. Refutes opposing arguments, saying why counterarguments are incorrect.
– Conclusion: Restates overall argument and gives sense of closure. (Do not introduce a new argument.)
Argumentative• Example:
– Thesis: “Sam Harris is correct that morality is objective and all his claims are true.”• Paper then goes on to summarize Harris’ speech, inserting quotations
from Harris– A weak thesis statement that demonstrates little insight or individual
thought, and an overall essay that is highly expository in merely summarizing what Harris has already said.
– Thesis: “As Sam Harris says, science is indeed capable of providing a universal moral truth that is based on the goal of decreasing human suffering, an idea that is supported by scientific findings and contrary to the claims of moral relativists.”• Paper then goes on to explain why Harris is correct, using scientific
studies as evidence that humans share a universal morality and that moral relativism is incorrect.– A strong thesis statement that clearly agrees with Harris, addressing
the counterargument of moral relativism. Overall essay supports the thesis statement using concrete evidence from external sources.
– Does not simply repeat Harris’ claims, since Harris never examines specific scientific studies or moral relativism in-depth.
Using Expository WritingWhere to use exposition in an argumentative paper
Introduction:J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series and J. R. R.
Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy are among the bestselling works of fantasy literature. Both series have had wide appeal and been adapted into profitable films. However, much of fantasy literature, such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, features an over-simplistic binary of good versus evil, which reduces its characters to one-dimensional didactic devices. Expository writing is used to introduce the reader to
background information about the topic
Using Expository WritingWhere to use exposition in an argumentative paper
As supporting evidence in the body of your essay:For instance, little insight is given into the internal lives of Tolkien’s evil characters, and they become an essentially homogeneous group defined simply by their label as ‘evil.’ As Hourihan says, “Nor is Sauron himself more than a cipher. He has no discernible motivation […] Neither Sauron nor his servants the Orcs provide any insights into the nature of institutionalized or individual evil […] The Lord of the Rings simply reasserts the traditional dualisms” (34). Expository writing is used to inform the reader
of a critic’s comments
Using Expository WritingMake sure that your argumentative essay is not
actually an expository essayExpository writing should be embedded within an
overall argumentative frameworkAsk yourself:
Is my entire essay a compare and contrast? Does the majority of my essay merely summarize the
topic? Does my essay only describe the events? If the answer to any of the above is ‘yes,’ then you have
written an expository essay, not an argumentative essay
Writing an Argumentative Essay Overall steps
1. Choose a topic2. Consider both sides of the topic and take a
position3. Find evidence to support your position4. Plan your essay
○ Consider making an outline to gain a clear picture of how you will structure your essay and how you will incorporate the evidence
5. Write your essay
Template Introduction
Thesis statement (clearly stated in 1-3 sentences at the end of the introductory paragraph)
Body My thesis statement is correct because of [cited quotation/paraphrase from
Example #1]. Example #1 supports my thesis statement in the following ways: x, y, z…
My thesis statement is correct because of [cited quotation/paraphrase from Example #2]. Example #2 supports my thesis statement in the following ways: x, y, z…
Counterarguments: Some people do not agree with my thesis statement. For example, [opponent] claims that [cited quotation/paraphrase from opponent]. However, [cited quotation/paraphrase from opponent] is incorrect in the following ways: x, y, z…
Conclusion Re-establishes the main points of your argument Brings essay to a feeling of closure
Checklisto Thesis statement: Clear Focused Takes a position
o Body paragraphs: Thesis statement is supported using external sources (newspaper articles,
interviews, studies, statistics, etc.) How these external sources support your thesis statement is clearly articulated Quotations and paraphrases are accurately documented in the MLA style Counterarguments are refuted
o General: Free of spelling, grammar, and citation errors Avoids first person narration Overall paper is not expository
Does not extensively summarize the text or speech Is not a mere repetition of what the author or speaker has already stated Is not just a compare and contrast
RememberIt is not enough to simply state whether you
agree/disagree with the author or speaker. Instead, you must clearly articulate why you agree/disagree.
Always provide evidence from valid external sources (newspaper articles, studies, interviews, statistics, expert opinion, etc.) to support your thesis.
Works CitedHarris, Sam. “Science Can Answer Moral Questions.” TED, 11 Feb 2010, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Long Beach, CA, USA. Conference Presentation. Hourihan, Margery. Deconstructing the Hero: Literary Theory and Children’s Literature. Routledge, 1997.