1. Modes of expository writing
How to explain

2. What is expository writing?
Expository writing informs and explains
Examples of Expository Writing
Analysis of a crime scene
Comparison-Contrast of a book or movie
Examination of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
List of steps and directions how-to do something
What is expository writing?

3. Modes of expository writing
Narrative – tells a story
Classification and Division – groups by category or type
Descriptive – describes using imagery
Definition – defines a term or a feature
Comparison-Contrast – Shows similarities and differences
Analytical – explains how things work
Cause-Effect – shows how things happened and their results
Problem Solution – presents a problem and a solution
Process Analysis – shows how to do something in clearly defined steps
Exemplification/Illustration – uses examples to explain meaning
Modes of expository writing

4. The Narrative What? Why? Purpose: The narrative tells a story
Key Features:
Has characters, has dialogue, can use imagery and figurative language
Diagram:
Organizational Strategy
Chronological, but can be non-linear when foreshadowing and flashback are applied
Examples
Short story, feature article
The Narrative

5. Classification and division
What?
Why?
Purpose:
A classification paragraph sorts things by category or type
Key Features:
Has categories and subcategories, items are divided by type or characteristics
Diagram:
Organizational Strategy
List, by type
Examples
Science papers on animal species, box of rocks essay
General
Category
Subcategory
Classification and division

6. description What? Why? Purpose:
The a descriptive paper describes something
Key Features:
Has imagery, uses figurative language, lists characteristics and features
Diagram:
Organizational Strategy
Most important to least important
Examples
Descriptive narrative
Words that describe
(one per line)
Term
description

7. DEFINITION What? Why? Purpose: Definition Key Features:
Gives meaning, description, or explanation of a key term or concept.
Diagram:
Organizational Strategy
Most important to least important
Examples:
Extended definition
Definition
Term
Definition
Definition
DEFINITION

8. Comparison contrast What? Why? Purpose:
To show similarities and differences
Key Features:
Words of comparison, Points, Features
Diagram:
Organizational Structure:
Block or Point by Point
Examples:
English papers comparing two characters, history papers comparing two events
Comparison contrast

9. Analytical What? Why? Purpose:
Explain how something works or what the parts are
Key Features:
Main idea and supporting details, explain a subject and its parts, show connections of ideas through transitional words and phrases
Diagram:
Organizational Strategy:
Main idea, supporting detail, explain
Examples:
Literary analysis, research reports
Analytical

10. Cause-Effect What? Why? Purpose:
Explains why something happened, why certain conditions exist, or what results from an action or condition
Key Features:
Shows connections between causes and effects, if-then statements, logical order, transitions, facts, details, examples
Diagram:
Organizational Structure:
List the cause first and then explain the effect or tell the cause and explain the circumstances that lead to the cause
Examples:
Police report, accident report, lab report,
Cause
Effect
Cause-Effect

11. Problem-solution What? Why? Purpose:
To show the solutions to questions or quandaries
Key Features:
Facts, statistics, data
Diagram:
Organizational Structure:
Chronological Order
Examples:
After-incident reports
Problem-solution

12. PROCESS ANALYSIS What? Why? Purpose: To show steps of a process
Key Features:
Order, steps, clear language
Diagram:
Organizational Structure:
First to last - chronological
Examples:
Cookbooks, instruction mauals
PROCESS ANALYSIS

13. Exemplification What? Why? Purpose:
To use examples to prove a topic or thesis
Key Features:
Examples
Diagram:
Organizational Structure:
Most important to least important
Examples:
Biology papers, history papers
Exemplification