Expository and Argumentative Texts
1. Expository Texts
Purpose: To inform and provide knowledge on a subject with a didactic intent. Expository texts should be orderly, clear, and objective. Examples include scientific articles, academic texts, newspaper articles, and study notes.
Types:
- Informative Texts: Report clearly and objectively on a topic of general interest. Readability varies depending on the intended audience.
- Scientific Exposition: Explain complex phenomena and concepts, often requiring prior knowledge. These frequently combine with other text types, such as instructional and argumentative. While exposition provides information, argumentation aims to prove a point.
1.1 Structure
Expository texts develop a central idea through a logical structure. This structure can be:
- Cause and Effect: Explains the reasons behind certain outcomes.
- Chronological: Presents information in a time-based sequence, often used in scientific advancements.
- Hierarchical: Organizes information by importance.
Authors should consider their knowledge of the subject, their perspective, and the audience’s assumed knowledge. The basic structure includes:
- Introduction: Presents the topic. Longer texts may include context, scope, and relevant literature.
- Development: Elaborates on the topic, incorporating subtopics and examples for clarity and support.
- Conclusion: Summarizes the main points, evaluates the information, or offers a final perspective. This may not always be necessary.
Approaches:
- Deductive (Analytical): Starts with a thesis and then provides supporting explanations.
- Inductive (Synthetical): Presents individual cases and then draws a conclusion.
- Both approaches can be used simultaneously.
2. Argumentative Texts
Purpose: To express and defend opinions, persuading the audience to agree or disagree with a particular viewpoint or take action (e.g., voting for a political party).
Argumentation requires the author to have comprehensive knowledge and use persuasive techniques. It employs both referential and appellative functions.
Examples include essays, political speeches, legal arguments, and debates.
Argumentative texts often incorporate exposition to present the issue objectively.
2.1 Structure
Information selection depends on the topic and situation. It’s crucial to anticipate the audience’s perspective and address potential counterarguments.
- Introduction: Presents the thesis, the central idea to be proven.
- Development: Presents arguments supporting the thesis, potentially including partial conclusions that lead to further arguments. Types of arguments include: authority, popular opinion, proverbs, analogy, exemplification, and personal experience.
- Conclusion: Reinforces the thesis and summarizes the main arguments.
Structure Types:
- Deductive (Analytical): Presents the thesis first, followed by supporting arguments.
- Inductive (Synthetical): Presents arguments first, leading to the thesis at the end.
- Mixed: Combines both approaches, often called a “squared” thesis.
2.2 Techniques and Linguistic Forms
Organization: Clear paragraph structure and logical connections (using markers or connectors) are essential for coherence.
Clarity: Prioritize quality over quantity of arguments.
Engagement: Use examples, comparisons, repetition, and figures of speech (irony, metaphor) to enhance persuasiveness.
Language:
- Lexicon: Includes vocabulary related to expressing opinions and may incorporate technical terms or everyday language depending on the topic.
- Syntax: Features coordinated and subordinated sentences reflecting logical reasoning.
- Verbs: Predominantly uses present tense.