The document discusses expository writing, defining it as a discourse type aimed at explaining and informing. It outlines the structure of an expository essay, emphasizing the five-paragraph format, including an introduction, body paragraphs with evidence, and a conclusion. Additionally, it presents various organizational patterns to enhance the clarity of expository texts.

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EXPOSITORY
WRITING
Submitted by:
Prachi Chaudhary

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EXPOSITORY WRITING
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• Exposition is a type of oral or written discourse that is
used to explain, describe, give information or inform.
• The expository essay is genre of essay that requires the
student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence,
expound on the idea, and set forth an argument
concerning that idea in clear and concise manner.
• The creator of expository text can not assume that
reader or listener has prior knowledge or prior
understanding of the topic that is being discussed.

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EXPOSITORY WRITING
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One important point to keep in mind for the
author is to try to use words that clearly show
what they are talking about rather then blatantly
telling the reader what is being discussed.

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The Five-Paragraph Essay
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A common method for writing an expository essay
is the five-paragraph approach. This is, however,
by no means the only formula for writing such
essays. If it sounds straightforward, that is
because it is, in fact, the method consist of:
An introductory paragraph
Three evidentiary body paragraphs
A conclusion

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Structuring the Expository Essay
1. Introductory Paragraph- Begin with a “grabber” - a
technique used to grab the reader’s attention. Effective
grabber techniques include:
• Quotations
• Definitions
• Facts
The introduction ends with an affirmative sentence that
expresses the main idea of the essay.

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2. Body Paragraphs- The second, third and
fourth paragraphs make up the body of the
essay. The first sentence of each of the three
body paragraphs, also called the topic sentence,
must be backed up with some form of evidence.
Three types of evidence:
• Statistics
• Expert Opinion
• Example

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3. Conclusion- The fifth paragraph is called
the conclusion. The conclusion begins
with a transition term (In summary, To
conclude) and a summary in which the
thesis and the three arguments are
restated.

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The structure of the expository essay is held
together by following:
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– A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement
that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.
– Clear and logical transition between introduction,
body, and conclusion
– Evidential support (whether factual, logical,
statistical, or anecdotal)
– A bit of creativity!
– A conclusion that does not simply restate the
thesis, but redresses it in the light of the
evidence provided.

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Some Expository Organizational Patterns
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Since clarity requires strong organization, one of
the most important mechanism that can be used
to improve our skills in exposition is to provide
directions to improve the organization of the text.
This directions are called organizational patterns.
1. Description
2. Sequence
3. Comparison and Contrast
4. Cause and Effect
5. Problem and Solution

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A. Description
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• The author describes a topic by listing characteristics,
features, and examples. It provides details about how
something looks, feels, tastes, smells, makes one feel,
or sounds.
• CUE WORDS: for example, the characteristics are, etc.
• GRAPHIC ORGANIZER:

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B. Sequence
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• The author lists items or events in numerical or
chronological order.
• CUE WORDS: first, second, third; next; then; finally...
• GRAPHIC ORGANIZER:
1)_____________
2)_____________
3)_____________
4)_____________
5)_____________

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C. Comparison & Contrast
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• The author explains how two or more things are alike
and/or how they are different.
• CUE WORDS: different; in contrast; alike; same as; on
the other hand...
• GRAPHIC ORGANIZER:
alike different

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D. Cause and Effect
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• The author lists one or more causes and resulting effect
or effects
• CUE WORDS: reason, why; if...then; as a result;
therefor; because
• GRAPHIC ORGANIZER:
cause
Effect 1
Effect 2
Effect 3
Effect 1

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E. Problem and Solution
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• The author states a problem and lists one or more
solutions for the problem. A variation of this pattern is
the question- and-answer format in which the author
poses a question and then answers it.
• CUE WORDS: problem is; dilemma is; puzzle is solved;
question… answer...
• GRAPHIC ORGANIZER:
Problem Solution

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