Module 1: The English Language

Interpretations of Expository Text

Lesson Objective

Review and practice recognizing the main kinds of expository text.

Organizational Patterns of Text

Nonfiction writing can be divided into four categories: expository, descriptive, narrative, and persuasive. Knowing which type of organizational pattern is being used by an author allows the reader to better analyze and understand the material and its purpose.

Each type of writing has its own organizational pattern and characteristics, and by analyzing the text structure you can more easily follow the author’s logic and message.

What Is Expository Writing?

Expository writing encompasses any type of writing that conveys information, examines relationships, describes concepts, explains difficult subject matter, analyzes ideas, or combines some of these elements.

An author will most likely use one or more of the following types of organizational patterns in order to present the information logically to the reader.

The following table describes each organizational pattern and offers an example of a topic that would be appropriate for that type of expository writing.

Organizational Patterns of Text
Type	Description	Example
Problem/Solution	Author examines a complex problem and discusses possible solutions.	Discuss Jonathan Swift’s solution to help impoverished children in Ireland.
Comparison/Contrast	Author examines similarities and differences to draw conclusions and find relationships.	Compare and contrast the characters of Captain Beatty and Montag in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.
Process/Sequence	Author explains how something works or occurs in a numerical or chronological order.	Describe the creation of the world based on Milton’s Paradise Lost.
Cause and Effect	Author describes the causes and effects of something and discusses the relationship between the two.	Discuss the causes and effects of the Harlem Renaissance as it relates to literature.
Building an Hypothesis	Author uses patterns of facts to make predictions and test an hypothesis.	Explore the notion that some of Shakespeare’s plays were not actually written by Shakespeare.
Classification	Author groups items into organized categories.	Illustrate how female literary characters can be divided into three categories: heroines, victims, or villains.
Definition	Author defines a term using facts, examples, and anecdotes.	Define the term prejudice as used in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Expository writing can take many forms and can be written for very different purposes. By recognizing these forms, you can begin to evaluate the presented material more effectively.