Expository text (non-fiction) is written to inform or describe.
It is not written in story form. It looks more like a news article, a page from your science book, or even a flyer.
In order to produce an expository text, the author must research to gain information to use to inform the reader.
Types of expository writing
compare/contrast - tells how 2 things are alike (compare) and different (contrast)
description - tells all the characteristics, features, and attributes of something
.
cause/effect - tells the reasons (causes) that an event (effect) happened or tells how an event (cause) caused other things to happen (effects).
sequencing - puts information in a specific order (time order, alphabetical order, et)
problem/solution - tells about a problem and possible solutions to that problem
.
Examples
Ex: Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall both studied apes. (compare) Fossey studied the mountain gorrilas and Goodall researched chimpanzees. (contrast)
Ex: The new Ford Mustang has a V6 engine. It gets 35 miles to the gallon, and can go from 0 to 60 in less than 8 seconds
Ex: Pollution causes illness, ozone depletion, and loss of nature. (pollution - cause, illness - effect)
Ex: Mrs. Jan Smith was born on January 1, 1965. At the age of 3, she wrote her first novel. Four years later she won the Pulitzer Prize.
Ex: Cheating is becoming a big problem in elementary schools. Teachers and parents need to teach students good character to stop this epidemic. (cheating - problem, teach good character - solution)