Expository TEXTS An Introduction

In this lesson, you should accomplish 2 objectives: Learn what we mean when we use the words expository text or expository writing Purpose Form – Fiction or Non-Fiction? Examples Begin to start thinking about how to recognise some basic features of expository texts Structure Grammar

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

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 NOT 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

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

Decide if the following are expository texts After you decide on the answer, click to check if you are correct. The trilogy: The Lord of the Rings No An information report: The Singapore Bus Transport System Yes The documentation of an experiment: The Effect of Different Degrees of Plant Exposure to Cold A story: The Day My Little Brother Ate the Family Goldfish

Now try to answer the question on the next slide How did you do? Now try to answer the question on the next slide

Is an expository text fiction or non-fiction? Click for the answer. The expository text is non-fiction An expository text develops its ideas with Factual information (FACTS!) Real examples Like COKE, it’s the REAL THING!

So what exactly is an expository text? Read on to find out… So what exactly is an expository text?

Expository Texts - Definition An Expository Text is just a fancy phrase for things like information reports, book reviews, biographies, persuasive texts, texts that explain or instruct…the list goes on and on. We are surrounded by expository texts!  We can find expository writing in magazines, newspapers, speeches, essays, manuals, books, government documents and lots of other places.

Purpose So what is the PURPOSE of an expository text?

Purpose 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: An expository text can be used to: Compare or Contrast two items Example: Why More Boys Prefer Soccer to Basketball Identify a Cause-Effect relationship Example: How Smoking Causes Cancer Explain with examples Example: Why Charlotte Can be Considered a Good Friend to Wilbur Divide and Classify Example: 50 Common Breeds of Dogs Define Example: The Meaning of Life Explain a process Example: How to Drive Your English Teacher Crazy

Features of Expository Texts Common characteristics Features of Expository Texts

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#what

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.

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

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 NOT 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