Expository & Argumentative Text

EXPOSITORY TEXT

• Is used to provide facts/information that is educational and purposeful.
• It is a fact based with the purpose of exposing the truth through a reliable source
• True and deliberate expository text focuses on educating its readers.

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Characteristics:

1. Informative
2. Clear
3. Organized
4. Unbiased

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How to write an Essay?

The expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner.

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Structure of expository essay:

1. Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion
2. Evidential support (whether factual,
   logical, statistical, or anecdotal)
3. Body paragraphs that include evidential support
4. A bit of creativity
5. A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.

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The five paragraph essay

• An introductory paragraph
• Three evidentiary body paragraphs
• A conclusion

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STRUCTURAL ELEMNTS OF EXPOSITORY TEXT

1. Introduction

• Start with a hook sentence that will intrigue the readers. May be in a rhetorical question of a quote from a famous person
• Focus on facts and verified information and not on your opinion or other’s opinion
• Use third person
• No opinion/no argument
• Conclude with the thesis statement

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2. Body paragraphs

• Start with the information you’ve researched.
• Always based on factual evidences.

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3. Conclusion

• Sum up the information you gave
• Do not introduce anything new
• Restate your main points and wrap up everything with a powerful final statement.

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Argumentative Texts

• The aim of writing argumentative is to convince or persuade the reader

Key Terms to Learn

1. Argumentation – a person who disagrees with something and speaks against it.
2. Refutation – the act or process of forming reasons, drawing conclusions, and applying them to a case in discussion.
3. Proponent – point or statement that supports one’s ideas and/or thesis
4. Opponent – point or statement in opposition to the argument being made in a written document or speech.
5. Counter argument (CON) – the process of discrediting the arguments that oppose your thesis statement.
6. Pro Argument (PRO) – someone who argues in favor of something advocate.

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What are the goals of argumentation?

1. Present an opinion on a controversial topic to the reader.
2. Explain, clarify, and illustrate that opinion
3. Persuade the reader that the opinion supported in the essay is valid.
4. Support the opinion by means of giving evidences
5. Present counterarguments to the thesis and refute them respectfully and critically.

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TOPIC SENTENCE

• Is a sentence, sometimes at the beginning of a paragraph that states or suggests the main idea or topic of a paragraph

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How to write topic sentences?

1. The topic of the paragraph
2. The central point of the paragraph

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STRUCTURE OF ARGUMENTATIVE TEXTS

• INTRODUCTION: attention grabber/hook, background information, thesis statement
• BODY: Three body paragraphs (Three major arguments)
• COUNTERARGUMENT: An argument to refute earlier arguments and give weight to the actual position
• CONCLUSION: Rephrasing the thesis statement, major points, call to attention, or concluding remarks

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PERSUASIVE AND ARGUMENTATIVE

• The difference between them is that the persuasive essay depends on opinions and emotions, while an argumentative essay uses logic and reasons.

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TWO MAJOR MODELS

• Toulmin Model
  • It begins with an introduction, follows with a thesis/claim, and gives data and evidence to support that claim.
• Rogerian Model
  • Analyzes two sides of an argument and reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each.

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Tips for writing a good argumentative essay

1. Make your thesis crystal clear
2. Show why the other side is weak
3. Use evidence to support your side

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CLAIMS

Opinion or assertion statements fall into three categories:

1. Claims of fact
2. Claims of policy
3. Claims of value

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• Claim of Fact
  • Is an assertion of a condition that exists, will exist, and has existed.
  • Is supported by verifiable facts or data such as statistics or testimonies; hence there is potential for controversy, conflict or conversion

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• Claims of Policy
  • An assertion that specific plans or courses of action should be instituted as solutions to problems
  • Often procedural and/or organized
  • The following markers are used to formulate claims of policy: should, ought to, must, or use strong verbs

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• Claim of Value
  • An attempt to prove the desirability or undesirability of something or if something is good, bad, or wrong
  • Expresses approval or disapproval.
  • Also involve taste or preferences

PUBLIC SPEAKING

• Is the process and act of speaking or giving a lecture to a group of people in a structured deliberate manner
• Intended to inform, to influence or to persuade, to motivate, and to entertain audience by listening.

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Public Speaking includes various genres

1. Impromptu - A speech of an individual event that involves a five to eight minutes speech with a characteristically short preparation time of one to three minutes.
2. Lecture - An educational talk to an audience, especially to students in a university or college.
3. Extemporaneous - Is a limited preparation speech event based on research and original analysis
4. Monologue - A long speech by one actor in a play or movie, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast program.
5. Oratorical - Competitions in which competitors deliver an original speech on a subject of their choice, though the speech must be factual.

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THREE WAYS DELIVERING A SPEECH

1. Reading a prepared speech
2. Delivering a memorized speech
3. Giving an impromptu speech

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ELEMENTS OF MULTI MODAL TEXTS

What is multi modal text? A text may be defined as multimodal when it combines two or more semiotic systems.

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• Linguistic – vocabulary, structure, grammar of oral or written language
• Visual – color, vectors and viewpoint in still and moving images.
• Audio – volume, pitch, and rhythm of music and sound effects.
• Gestural – movement, facial expression and body language.
• Spatial – proximity, direction, position of layout, organization or objects in space.

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Digital Multimodal texts

Like film, animation, slide shows, e-posters, etc. It conveys meaning through combinations of written and spoken language, visual, audio, gestural and even spatial modes.

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Live multimodal texts

Like speech, dance, performance, and oral storytelling, it convey meaning through combinations of modes such as gestural, spatial, spoken language and audio.