1. What is the main idea expressed by the text?
2. Did the author provide details to support the
main idea?
3. How would you describe the way the author
presented the ideas in the text?
4. How does this type of text differ
from an argumentative text?
May L. Bulan
Write an exposition or discussion on a
familiar issue to include key structural
elements and language features
This lesson focuses on exploring
and understanding the key
structural elements and language
features of an EXPOSITORY TEXT
presents or provides information about a particular topic
or issue
sometimes called informational writing where the writer
provides facts on a given topic in a way that is
educational and purposeful.
may also include providing descriptions, citing reasons,
presenting explanations, and enumerating steps of a
specific process.
If a parent tried to teach a child to ride a bike in
narrative form, such as only telling the story of
when and how they themselves learned to ride or
what the weather was like that day, the bike-riding
lesson would be less successful. The child would
get frustrated and not be exposed to necessary
skills for riding a bike. Emotions would take over
through the narrative (story telling). The lesson and
facts would be a failed attempt.
Imagine a parent is exposing a child to the thrill of
riding a bicycle. They would speak in the form of
expository text, providing directions that are factbased and focused: hands on the bars, one foot on
the pedal, push off… and so forth. Most likely, this
would have to be done and repeated several times
before a child could be off biking alone, but the
same phrases would be repeated and the child
would be learning.
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 fact-based
 educates the reader by
presenting facts based
on reliable sources
 Clear, concise, and organized
Some of the most common
examples of expository texts
are textbooks, news articles,
instructional manuals, recipes,
and self-help books, city or
country guides among others.
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Introduction
 Usually presented in the
initial paragraph, the thesis
statement introduces the
main topic or idea and
provides the overall direction
for the text.
Thesis Statement
Body
Conclusion
 The use of clear and proper
transitions will glue the
introduction, the body, and
the conclusion together.
 Without effective use of
transitions, the exposition
may seem like a disjointed
collection of sentences.
Introduction
Thesis Statement
Body
Conclusion
Introduction
 While most people might think of
an expository text like an essay as
something that can be written
even without due research and
preparations, the use of supporting
evidences like examples and
explanations forms a huge part of
a facts-based expository text.
Thesis Statement
Body
Supporting Evidence
Conclusion
 It is essential to remember
that a conclusion is not only
meant to summarize the
ideas presented from the
introduction to the body.
 Instead, a conclusion should
tie the ideas altogether while
highlighting the true essence
of the main idea in the text.
Introduction
Thesis Statement
Body
Supporting Evidence
Conclusion
While most expository essays typically follow the
introduction-body-conclusion format, other forms and
examples of exposition can take other shapes and
patterns depending on how the writer intends to present
his or her ideas. Expository texts typically follow one of
the following structures or patterns of idea development:
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 The writer presents the information by explaining how or why a
certain event or occurrence happened [cause] and what resulted
from that particular cause or occurrence [effect].
Recurring headaches can have several disruptive effects in a person's life.
Initially, in many cases, these headaches make a person nauseous to the point
that he or she must go to bed. Furthermore, sleep is often interrupted because
of the pain. This results in disrupted sleep. Disrupted sleep worsens the physical
and emotional state of the sufferer. For those who try to maintain a normal
lifestyle, drugs are often relied on to get through the day. Such drugs, of course,
can lead to other negative side effects. Drugs can inhibit productivity on a job
perhaps , even causing regular absences. Not only is work affected, but the
seemingly unpredictable occurrence of these headaches leads to disruption in
family life. The ensuing interruption to a person’s life is enormous, cancelling
plans in the last minute and straining relationships with friends and family.
Therefore, many of these people feel discouraged and even depressed due to
the cycle of misery re-occurring headaches cause.
 The writer presents the information by providing details as
to how things, concepts, or ideas are alike or different.
Traveling is one of the favorite hobbies almost all people have. There are several ways for traveling around the world, and they all include some good
things and some bad things. Backpacking and staying in hotels are two of the most common ways of traveling, that’s why they are used by most
people. The major differences that could be discussed between these two ways of traveling are the costs, the safety of the staying, and the availability
of plans.
Hostel Backpacking has been used by teenagers for a long time, and it has become really famous among young people who don’t have a lot of money
for traveling. By backpacking people could save a lot of money and travel with less money than what they would need for paying a hotel. As the
travelers will need to sleep in a hostel, there will always be the issue of insecurity, as any kind of people could enter and sleep in a hostel. Hostels are
not always available as there are a lot of people who use them, so change of plans will always be a possibility in this way of traveling. People who rely
on backpacking for their trips should always have a backup plan.
In contrast, hotels are one of the most comfortable ways of traveling, but only if you have enough money. This way of traveling is mostly used by
families and people who are wealthy enough to pay for good hotels. By staying at a hotel people will spend more money than they would spend in a
hostel; of course a hotel will provide a high level of security to the traveler. However, to stay at most hotels, you need reservations, and once you have
them you can rely on a place to sleep every night. In this way of traveling no backup plan is needed.
In this structure, the topic is presented by providing
descriptions about its attributes, features, and examples.
Some belongings are more valuable than others. For example, on one corner of my dresser I
have a smiling toy clown on a tiny unicycle--a gift I received last Christmas from a close friend.
The clown's physical characteristics include short yellow hair, made of yarn, that covers its
ears but is parted above the eyes. The blue eyes are outlined in black with thin, dark lashes
flowing from the brows. It has cherry-red cheeks, nose, and lips, and its broad grin disappears
into the wide, white ruffle around its neck. The clown wears a fluffy, two-tone nylon costume.
The left side of the outfit is light blue, and the right side is red. The two colors merge in a dark
line that runs down the center of the small outfit. Surrounding its ankles and disguising its long
black shoes are big pink bows. The white spokes on the wheels of the unicycle gather in the
center and expand to the black tire so that the wheel somewhat resembles the inner half of a
grapefruit. It is not big, for instance compared to my stuffed bear, the clown and unicycle
together stand about a foot high. As a cherished gift from Tran, this colorful figure is like him, a
real friend, who greets me with a smile every time I enter my room.
The writer may present a problem and provide one or
more solutions to the said problem.
In the early 1800s, the United States needed room to grow. The problem was
most people lived in the East. The cities were crowded. New land was
expensive. Because of this, young families couldn’t afford to buy farms. Then, as
a solution, The United States government purchased land from France. The
government also acquired land from Mexico. Soon the country stretched all the
way to the Pacific Ocean. People looked to the setting sun with outstretched
arms and said, "Go West!" However, now there was a new problem: getting
there. They rode in wagons or on horses, following long, dusty trails across hot
plains for thousands of miles. There was no shelter. People slept in tents on the
ground. they had to watch out for wild animals like wolves and snakes. The trip
west could take months. The government helped solve the problem by building
a railroad. It stretched from the East Coast, almost to the West Coast. It made
travel faster. More people poured into the new lands, settled and called it home.
In this structure, information may be presented in
a way that follows numerical or chronological
sequence either explicitly or implicitly.
Hotels and transportation on trips can be expensive if you
don’t book them plenty of time in advance. When you go on
a trip, first you need to think about how much money to allot
for things like transportation, food, and hotels. It is important
to plan your trips carefully. Planning your trip carefully will
allow you to have a more relaxed trip. Another thing to plan
for is how much time you want to spend sightseeing and
doing different sorts of activities. Finally, even though you
may want to do everything, you have to remember that there
are only so many hours in the day!
In terms of language features commonly employed in exposition, the use of signal
words always plays a crucial role as they make clear transitions from one idea to
another possible. It also helps greatly in giving the readers a hint of where a
particular idea is leading to. Through signal words, coherence in writing and smooth
flow of ideas can be achieved.
In your notebook, copy and answer the
items below. Put a check (✔) mark on the blank provided
if the statement corresponds to expository writing, and a
cross (X) if it is not.
___1. presents information about a topic as its main goal
___2. does not tell a story
___3. uses emotion in presenting facts
___4. makes use of signal words to establish idea development
___5. textbooks, news articles, instructional manuals, recipes,
and self-help books are some of the common examples
Read the expository text and
check whether it has the features of an
expository writing based on the discussion.
Think of a familiar topic or issue you
may use as a subject in writing an expository essay.
You may also choose from the given suggested
topics below.
Suggested Topics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Steps to saving the planet
The Best Ever Pizza Recipe
Maintaining a Stress-Free Life
Describe Your Favorite Hobby
Define the meaning of true friendship