Style 1: Expository

Lesson Wednesday 23rd April

By Ben Moody – amended by A Fedrizzi

Writing in Context

What is EXPOSITORY writing?

As one of the four traditional modes of discourse, expository writing may include elements of narration, description, and argumentation, but unlike creative writing or persuasive writing, its primary goal is to deliver information about an issue, subject, method, or idea.

What is EXPOSITORY writing? "Expository writing is designed to explain

a topic. It often gives facts, explains ideas, or defines conditions. Whether it's giving directions or explaining how to accomplish something, an expository piece is helpful because it provides the reader with deeper insights into a subject. With this type of informative writing, ideas are presented in a certain order so that the reader can follow the explanation easily."(Frances K. Hubbard and Lauren Spencer, Writing to Inform. Rosen Publishing, 2012)

Examples of EXPOSITORY forms

Essays – analytical or reflective News reports Biographies & autobiographies Feature articles - newspapers, weekend

magazines, other magazines or journals Blog entries for specific websites Speeches – multiple contexts Interviews – radio, TV, online or other context Report, submission, finding Review, critique, analysis Personal letters Diary or journal entries

Good EXPOSITORY writing must:

Have a clear sense of PURPOSE. Why has the piece been written? Express purpose through the use of

INFINITIVE VERBS:▪ Eg: to inform, to illuminate, to explore, to

discover, to reach a deeper understanding of, to present a balanced view of, to challenge existing stereotypes, to examine the pros and cons, to grapple with the complexity of, etc▪ It is often desirable to have multiple,

complementary purposes to your writing – this aids complexity.

Good EXPOSITORY writing must:

Have a clear sense of AUDIENCE. For whom has the piece been written? Identify your audience specifically:▪ By age: children, teenage, young adult, mature▪ By specific interest: motoring enthusiasts, gardeners, political

junkies, travel enthusiasts, web surfers, bloggers▪ By profession: economists, doctors, lawyers, educators▪ By politics: traditional/conservative, progressive/liberal,

environmentalists, animal rights activists, left-wing, right-wing, government, political party

▪ By social role: parents, children, carers, women, men, husbands, fathers, workers, authority figures

▪ By experience: victims, perpetrators, leaders, followers Multiple, complementary audiences can assist

complexity.

Good EXPOSITORY writing must:

Use LANGUAGE in a way that is expressive, fluent and coherent.

Use LANGUAGE that is appropriate to the: Purpose▪ VOICE: Formal/informal, reflective, personal,

objective▪ TONE: Positive tones, neutral tones, negative tones

Audience▪ Sophistication, vocabulary, jargon, specificity

Selected form▪ What are the appropriate CONVENTIONS?

Good EXPOSITORY writing must:

Be underpinned by a solid IDEA and articulate a clear THESIS or CONTENTION, even though it is not fundamentally persuasive in nature.

Think about the parallels with your Text Response essays (an example of analytical, expository writing).

What is your POSITION? Be very clear in your own mind.

Dealing with the PROMPT

A prompt is a starting point. It is not a topic question. A prompt must be interpreted for

meaning. Do not agree straight out with the

prompt. What are the key words/phrases

that need to be explored? What are the assumptions that

must be challenged? What big IDEAS are reflected in the

prompt?

Dealing with the TEXT

Do not write exclusively about Animal Farm.

Introduce Animal Farm by way of illumination, evidence, or further illustration of the key, central idea.

Consider how the ideas of the prompt echo the ideas of Animal Farm – where is the accessible crossover?

What other EXTERNAL examples can you also discuss – wider contextual knowledge!

Transforming your writing from bland to captivating

Writing in Context - Expository

1. Personal Anecdote(Prompt: Conflict inevitably changes us.)

Beginning with a anecdote (a personal short story) can demonstrate that you have first-hand experience with something related to the prompt and therefore provide some interesting and credible points about it.

Although few know of him, his name is Pol Pot – the ruthless Cambodian dictator from 1975 to 1979. In those four years, over a quarter of the Cambodian population died under his leadership. Most of the deaths were merciless executions imposed by the leader against his own people. My parents suffered under the terror of Pol Pot. They have told me stories of how under impossible situations they escaped near death, not once – but innumerable times. When individuals encounter conflict, many find themselves in unfamiliar situations where they must face new challenges and struggles. It is in these moments that we can experience a change, for we may come to a sudden realisation, understanding or insight of ourselves.

How does this introduction engage and yet link to the context of Encountering Conflict? What are the signposts illustrating that this is not a creative writing piece? If you were writing this piece, how would you be able to relate it to Animal Farm?

2. Real Life Example(Prompt: Conflict inevitably changes us.)

Sometimes another's experience may be more suitable for the topic. Use examples from history, literature and current media to demonstrate your understanding of the prompt.

When we think of 'The Stolen Generation,' we think of the extensive pain, grief and suffering inflicted upon the Indigenous people by the Australian Government. Since this devastating conflict began slightly over a century ago which, in some aspects continues now, Australians' attitude has changed significantly as they have realised the considerable damage they caused to Indigenous people's families and friends. When individuals encounter conflict, many find themselves in unfamiliar situations where they must face new challenges and struggles. It is in these moments that we can experience a change, for we may come to a sudden realisation, understanding or insight of ourselves.

How does this introduction engage and yet link to the context of encountering conflict? What are the signposts illustrating that this is not a persuasive writing piece? If you were writing this piece, how would you relate it to Animal Farm?

3. Quote(Prompt: Conflict inevitably changes us.)

Quotes from key people in particular field such as philosophers or even an insightful message spoken by your grandparent can help answer your prompt effectively.

"Conflict builds character. Crisis defines it.” Those were the words of Steven V. Thulon, which demonstrates how conflict can change us. When individuals encounter conflict, many find themselves in unfamiliar situations where they must face new challenges and struggles. It is in these moments that we can experience a change, for we may come to a sudden realisation, understanding or insight of ourselves.

▪ http://www.vcestudyguides.com/category/vce-context

4. Rhetorical Question(Prompt: Conflict inevitably changes us.)

Rhetorical questions urge the reader to be involved with your ideas and think about the unique points you present. 

What propels us to continuously change our identity, beliefs and morals? What is it that urges us to grow, understand and become wiser as we age? When individuals encounter conflict, many find themselves in unfamiliar situations where they must face new challenges and struggles. It is in these moments that we can experience a change, for we may come to a sudden realisation, understanding or insight of ourselves.

▪ http://www.vcestudyguides.com/category/vce-context

Activity

Carefully read through the PowerPoint, taking notes as you go on the key ingredients of an expository piece

Consider the sample openings and answer the questions in red on slides 12 and 13

For each of the samples on slides 12 to 15, write a title and a written explanation illustrating the purpose (5), specific audience (6), purpose or thesis (8), the language features you will employ (7) and how it will relate to both Encountering Conflict and the text “Animal Farm”

Be prepared to discuss this next lesson