0What is Expository Writing?
Expository writing analyzes and explains information about a particular subject to inform or educate the readers. In other words, expository writing is mean to set forth information with the purpose of explaining it to the readers. In expository papers, the writer must explain an idea. All aspects of the paper should reflect and serve this explanatory purpose.
How is expository writing different from other genres of writing such as narrative or descriptive writing?
Unlike other forms of writing, expository writing requires an author to research an idea, come up with evidence and put together the ideas in concise manner.
Why should you develop your skills in expository writing?
With its emphasis on logic and organization, expository writing is most likely the type of writing you will be doing in college and throughout your career. When you enter the workforce, you will find that expository writing is necessary is almost any profession and that your ability to write exposition requires the same skills necessary to succeed in many careers: thinking critically, analyzing complex situations, and presenting information clearly to coworkers. Business reports, memos, and many types of presentations are examples of expository writing.
Expository Writing Structure
An expository article may be organized into three parts. An introductory paragraph with a defined thesis statement, body paragraphs each with a topic sentence supporting the main idea suggested through the thesis statement, and the conclusion. To understand this topic further, let us see how an expository paragraph is organized.
How to develop an expository paragraph?
A paragraph is a complete piece of writing in a longer composition such as an essay. An essay consists of many paragraphs each with a clear topic sentence supporting the main idea. An expository paragraph is organized into three parts.
1. Topic Sentence
2. Supporting Sentences
3. Conclusion
Supporting Sentences
Let us now learn how the information provided in the topic sentence is supported. Once you have expressed your claim, or opinion through a topic sentence, the next task is to explain the claim to make it clear to your readers. To achieve this, you need to provide supporting details which should consist of evidence and reasoning. Your readers want to know who, what, when, where, why and how of your topic, and you are responsible for supplying the answers. Your supporting sentences should include evidences and facts. Evidence consists of the facts that support your point while reasoning consists of the way you think through a particular topic.
Important point: All sentences in a paragraph must be directly related to and explain the topic sentence which conveys the main point of the paragraph.
Topic Sentence
The topic sentence conveys the main idea of the paragraph. This idea is idea is backed up by supporting sentences which provide specific evidence or reasoning to support the general idea of the topic sentence. They are followed by a conclusion that provides closure to the paragraph. The topic sentence consists of two parts: the topic and the controlling idea. The topic is the subject of the paragraph and the controlling idea is what a writer wants to say about a topic.
Example:
1. Climate change in the coming decades can lead to global food crisis.
In this sentence, “Climate change in the coming decades” is the topic, and “Can lead to global crisis” is the controlling idea.
The topic sentence is a statement that expresses the main point of a paragraph-your opinion, or claim about a topic, and thus one that causes the readers to ask questions to understand the idea fully. In other words, you want to him/her to support his/her claim with evidence.
Concluding Sentence
The concluding paragraph gives a writer one last chance to make the point. However, it doesn't mean that he/she can merely repeat what is stated through the topic sentence in the beginning.
The conclusion of a paragraph is simply a tie-up sentence. It is used to make a restatement of the controlling idea or make a final comment about the main point. Be careful not to introduce any new information in the concluding paragraph.
You should see that there is a connection between the topic sentence and the concluding statement. However, it does not mean that you repeat the topic sentence. You should go beyond what has already been stated in the topic sentence. The readers already know the point you are trying to make. So, instead of repeating the same, read the topic sentence and ask, "So what?" Your answer should produce a meaningful comment on your main point.
