1. Components and Structures English I Cleburne High School
Expository Texts
Components and Structures
English I
Cleburne High School

2. Title
Titles usually function as summaries or previews to the content of the text

3. Main Idea and Supporting Details
An expository essay has either a main idea or claim that appears throughout the text
Supporting details and examples elaborate on the idea or claim

4. Subtitles/Subheadings
Two names, same thing
Like titles, serve as a summary or preview to the next section
Sections are usually divided topically

5. Visual Aids Authors include visual aids for ideas that would
Muddy the coherence of the text
Cannot be written well
These include:
Timelines
Photos
Graphs and charts
Diagrams

6. Text Structure 1: Description
Texts using the description structure detail a topic, person, or idea

7. Text Structure 2: Sequence
Texts using the sequence structure detail the chronology of an event or a step-by- step process

8. Text Structure 3: Cause and Effect
Texts using the cause and effect structure detail the genesis of a topic and its results

9. Text Structure 4: Compare/Contrast
Texts using the compare/contrast structure detail the similarities and differences in a topic

10. Text Structure 5: Problem/Solution
Texts using the problem/solution structure describe a problem and provide a solution to it

11. Purposes
Expository texts have two main functions: to inform and/or persuade
Whether or not the text entertains the reader depends on his/her interest in the topic