EXPOSITORY WRITING
WHAT IS IT?
Expository Writing is the most straightforward genre of writing that you do. It is also one of the most flexible
genres.
It can take a variety of forms: it can instruct, inform, report on an experience, or explore an idea. Expository
writing conveys information to the reader in such a way as to bring about understanding, whether it is a process,
procedure, information or the writer’s ideas on a concept.
Well-written exposition has a clear, central presentation of ideas. It uses examples or definitions to enhance the
reader’s experience, and is carefully crafted to engage and maintain the reader’s interest. These facts, examples,
and definitions are generally objective and not dependent on emotion, although the writing may be lively,
engaging, and reflective of the writer's underlying commitment to the topic.
WHAT FORMS CAN IT TAKE?
Expository writing is everywhere and can take a wide variety of forms. These include:
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News Reports
Feature Articles and columns in Newspapers
(especially the weekend lift outs), Magazines and
websites - anything from food writing to travel
writing.
Essays - analyse ideas; compare and contrast;
present information; cause and effect; explain;
interpret; define.
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Personal Experiences
Biographies/Autobiographies
Interviews
Reviews
Speeches
Blog entries
What else?
WHAT STYLE OF WRITING?
The language style of expository writing can vary, depending on the purpose, form and audience you have chosen.
An essay – will be more formal, written in the third person and gives an objective consideration to the prompt.
A news report – formal, objective and written in the third person, shorter
feature article – also formal, but could include personal experiences or reflections that enhance the points being
made, is usually longer.
Personal reflection – written in the first person, shows thoughtful consideration of an idea, doesn’t give strong
opinions or try to persuade.
Generally, it will usually use formal language and have a clear structure, with an introduction, body and conclusion
as it explores ideas. TEEL is very useful, however, there is more freedom for flexibility in this style of writing.
The best way to understand the style of writing is to read a wide variety of expository pieces. Start
collecting examples from newspapers, magazines and online.
HOW DO I START?
1. UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT AND SET TEXTS: The most important aspect is to develop a deep understanding of
“Identity and Belonging”, what this means and how it is reflected in your set texts.
2. BROADEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEYOND THE SET TEXTS: Do your own research into broader ideas and
references to Identity and Belonging. This could be by keeping up with current news events, using what you have
learnt in other subjects, or what you have read in other novels or viewed in films or on TV. Collect ideas that are
relevant to the context and set texts that you could use in a number of different pieces of writing.
3. UNDERSTAND THE PROMPT: What is it suggesting? Where is it directing you? What ideas come to mind?
Consider the following questions:
- What aspects of Identity and Belonging does the prompt lead you to explore?
- What aspects of the set text are most obviously relevant to the prompt?
- Are there less obvious, but relevant and interesting aspects of the text that the prompt triggers?
- Are there broader ideas or concepts that you can discuss to get the most out of this prompt?
4. CHOOSE THE FORM, LANGUAGE, AUDIENCE AND PURPOSE (FLAP):
Form: Will you write an essay? A blog reflection? A feature article? What type of publication?
Language: What style will your writing take: formal, descriptive, personal, reflective, casual?
Audience: Who will read it: Family and friends? Readers of a weekend newspaper? A youth or parenting magazine?
Purpose: Why are you writing: to inform or explain? To entertain? To provoke thought or action?
HOW DO I PLAN?
As for any essay:
Come up with a central thesis statement (your contention). This will mostly likely be very similar to the prompt.
Mind map or list key ideas you will discuss to explore the central idea in greater depth.
For each idea, give supporting evidence: from the text, from your own experience, from your wider knowledge
Ensure you can explain these ideas.
HOW DO I STRUCTURE IT?
This will vary, depending on the form you have chosen. But a basic structure is like any essay:
INTRODUCTION:
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Grab the readers’ interest with thoughtful phrasing, provocative questions, interesting or moving
anecdote, personal experience.
State your thesis clearly, making clear what you will be exploring.
Introduce or allude to main ideas.
BODY:
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Put the key ideas into an order (most important to least, least to most)
One idea per body paragraph
Use TEEL as a guide for structuring your ideas.
CONCLUSION:
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Revisit main thesis statement and ideas discussed.
Consider further implications suggested by the essay
Finish strong: leave the reader thinking or feeling in response to what you’ve written.
SO DO I HAVE TO WRITE IT NOW ?
Yes!
There are many different ways your expository piece can turn out, don’t be afraid to go beyond the basic structure.
Remember this is demonstrating how creatively and fluently you can use language to explore the context.
PICK A PROMPT!
Pick a prompt from the list you have been given. You are to write an expository response to this prompt of 400-600
words.