Expository Text: Structures, Forms, and Writing Tips
What is Expository Text?
Expository text is one that aims to inform the recipient of topics of interest, trying to answer questions like “what?”, “how?” and “why?” It presents a series of ideas that clarify or express concepts and arguments. The information in expository texts can cover issues, discoveries, characters, news, events, advances in technology or medicine, events, etc.
Internal Structure of Expository Text
A. Deductive Structure
The deductive expository text is recognized because the subject is set at the beginning of the text and has the character of a general idea or definition. It then develops specific information that explains or demonstrates the main idea.
B. Inductive Structure
The inductive text begins with the presentation of data or specific information, such as examples, to end with the main idea of the topic.
C. Cause-Consequence Structure
This structure has an event or situation that causes an effect determined by the relationships of cause and effect established between the information data. Expressions are used such as: therefore, as a result, so to, because, etc.
D. Problem/Solution Structure
The structure of this type of text has two parts: first, it raises one or more problems, and the second sets out the respective solutions.
E. Descriptive Structure
The descriptive text is identified by the use of data and information that describe or characterize a fact, theory, object, or character. It is a kind of technical and objective description. You can also use the enumerative structure and the comparison and contrast structure.
F. Enumerative Structure
This type of structure is generally characterized by a list of properties that describe an object, event, or idea. It can be part of the descriptive structure.
G. Temporal Structure or Sequence
In this structure, the information is presented in chronological order and may use keywords that indicate the time sequence that is being used in the text, for example, before, now, then, later, etc. The temporal exhibition is, therefore, a narrative, as it reports on facts or events that unfold over time.
H. Comparison and Contrast Structure
The author discusses a number of ideas to share and contrast the differences and similarities of an object or phenomenon with another. For comparison and differences, the author uses description and analogy.
I. Parallel Structure
The author presents an issue in columns that compare and contrast the information. He uses the analogy to present information.
Basic Forms of Expository Text
- Definition: A discourse that relates to the properties or essential constituent features of objects. If you open a dictionary, you will find a myriad of definitions, but pay attention, because they are present in many of the speeches you hear and read daily.
- Description: A discourse that relates to the objective observations that can be made of an object, whether its properties, features, or aspects that constitute or identify it. In this case, it is to demonstrate and delineate the characteristics of the object described. In this regard, note that it dominates the exhibition of facts concerning the subject matter.
- Narrative: A report consisting of facts or situations that occur in a sequence. The narrative could answer the question “how does it happen or how did it happen?”, “what happened?”, etc.
For example: First I prepared the work of history, then I began to study mathematics, I could finally relax watching a movie.
- Characterization: Provides information on the traits of people, characters, or custom shapes. The characterization also often incorporates the element of subjectivity, so the issuer, in referring to these subjects, issues an opinion about them.
- Commentary: A discursive form that refers to opinions, explanations, judgments, evaluations, comments, and views on matters of the issuer or objects of discourse.
Basic Structure of Expository Text
- Introduction: The initial part of a text that presents or delimits the theme of the exhibition. It can explain the purpose, procedure, and facts to be developed later. It answers the questions: why, how, and what?
- Development: The part of the text that explains, clarifies, explains, illustrates, describes, analyzes, recounts, reports, etc., the topic, organizing information into certain structures. It responds to why?
- Conclusion: A brief summary of the above. It recapitulates the most relevant topic and gives a conclusion derived from the above that may arise as a personal opinion. It is also possible to include suggestions and projections.