Expository TEXTS

An Introduction

In this lesson, you should accomplish 2 objectives:

1. Learn what we mean when we use the words expository text or expository writing– Purpose– Form – Fiction or Non-Fiction?– Examples

2. Begin to start thinking about how to recognise some basic features of expository texts– Structure– Grammar

A CHALLENGE

Before you are told what expository writing is, do you think you can figure it out for yourself?

Instructions

• You are going to see 2 lists of titles• List 1: Examples of Expository Texts• List 2: Non-Examples of Expository Texts• After you go through the 2 lists, try and guess

what expository texts are and answer a few simple questions.

List A: Examples of expository texts

• A speech: The Importance of Good Manners• A research paper: Why Humans Sweat• An online manual: A Guide to Windows Vista• A book: All About Dalmatians• A magazine article: The Life of Mother Teresa• A persuasive essay: The Most Important

Invention of the 20th Centaury• An essay: How to Think Like a Cat and Never

Have to Go to School Again

List B: NON-Examples of expository texts

These are These are NOTNOT expository texts expository texts. A novel: A Wrinkle in Time A movie: Death on the Nile A comic: Spiderman! A recount: My First Week in the GEP A fable: The Hare and the Tortoise A short story: The Ghost Who Came to Dinner A letter to your best friend A diary entry on how I spent the day A nursery rhyme: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

QUIZ TIME

Now that you have seen the two lists, try to answer the following questions before you click on the answer.

Decide if the following are expository texts

After you decide on the answer, click to check if you are After you decide on the answer, click to check if you are correct.correct.

The trilogy: The Lord of the Rings NoNo

An information report: The Singapore Bus Transport System YesYes

The documentation of an experiment: The Effect of Different Degrees of Plant Exposure to Cold YesYes

A story: The Day My Little Brother Ate the Family Goldfish NoNo

Now try to answer the question on the next slide

How did you do?

Is an expository text fiction or non-fiction?

Like COKE, it’s the REAL THING!

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS AN EXPOSITORY TEXT?

Read on to find out…

Expository Texts - Definition

PURPOSE

So what is the PURPOSE of an expository text?

Purpose

The expository text is used to The expository text is used to Explain a topic Give information on a topic Share an opinion on a topic

Some ways an expository text can tell us more about a topic:

FEATURES OF EXPOSITORY TEXTSCommon characteristics

Structure Expository texts are written in a logical order

They may not necessarily be in chronological order – unlike most narratives!

Different expository texts have different structures.If you would like more details on different structures

of different types of expository texts, check these websites: http://www.geocities.com/soho/Atrium/1437/expo.html http://library.thinkquest.org/10888/expos.html http://www.stanford.edu/~arnetha/expowrite/info.html#w

hat

Tense

• What tense do you think most expository writing uses?– The Present Tense?– Or the Past Tense?

• Pay close attention to the expository text you are going to read and decide whether it is in the present or the past tense.

REVIEW

Examples and Non- Examples. Let’s look at these two slides one more time now that we’re clearer about what expository texts are.

List A: Examples of expository texts

• A speech: The Importance of Good Manners• A research paper: Why Humans Sweat• An online manual: A Guide to Windows Vista• A book: All About Dalmatians• A magazine article: The Life of Mother Teresa• A persuasive essay: The Most Important

Invention of the 20th Centaury• An essay: How to Think Like a Cat and Never

Have to Go to School Again

List B: NON-Examples of expository texts

These are These are NOTNOT expository texts expository texts. A novel: A Wrinkle in Time A movie: Death on the Nile A comic: Spiderman! A recount: My First Week in the GEP A fable: The Hare and the Tortoise A short story: The Ghost Who Came to Dinner A letter to your best friend A diary entry on how I spent the day A nursery rhyme: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Your Task

• Download the worksheet Expository Text and Short Story from 5rv.wikispaces.com/Writing

• Follow the instructions on the worksheet.

A word of advice before your go

• Remember to take a break every 30 minutes

THE END