THE expository text is used to introduce, discuss or explain a particular subject. It is very common in academic and school contexts, such as in classes, lectures, interviews, seminars, dissertation defenses, congresses, etc.
According to the linguist Marcuschi, the expository text configures itself as a textual type and to it are added narration, argumentation, description, and injunction. Because it is a type, that is, a textual mode, it encompasses a diversity of genres textual.
Read too: Narration — textual type dedicated to telling a story
Summary of the expository text
The expository text has as main objective the presentation of a concept or an idea.
It is commonly used in schools and academic environments through classes, seminars, lectures, interviews, etc.
The expository text can present the following linguistic elements in its composition: conceptualization, definition, description, comparison, information and enumeration.
In order to write an expository text, it is necessary to pay attention to the previous knowledge of the recipient and to elaborate the writing with a language that is consistent with the target audience.
Video lesson on textual typology: exhibition
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What is expository text?
The expository text is known as a typological sequence of texts. In other words, it is defined by lexical, syntactic aspects, verb tenses, logical relations or even style. It is also classified as a textual type.
In its practical composition, the expository text Its main function is to present a theme or idea from descriptive, informative, comparative, conceptual (definition) and, in some cases, argumentation, in the so-called argumentative expository texts.
One of the most explicit examples of expository text is in the class genre. In a literature class, for example, the teacher presents a series of characteristics of a particular literary school through comparative elements (“school X makes use of the everyday reality, while school Y makes use of symbolic elements”), informative (“the school has its starting point at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century”), among others. others.
Read too: Advertising texts — those that are intended to advertise something
Features of expository text
the expository text is characterized by exposing and defending a particular theme or idea to a recipient. Widely used in school and academic environments, the expository text may present some variations in its composition. For example, the seminar it is an expository text that differs from an interview or a report.
However, in general, the expository texts have a language considered neutral, that is, impersonal, in the third person. Communication needs to be clear and accessible to the target audience.
É very common presence of description in expository texts. It helps to detail or highlight a topic within a discussion. In argumentative expository texts, as the name implies, the focus is on building arguments to convince the audience.
Elements and structure of the expository text
The expository text uses some important linguistic resources in its construction. They are: conceptualization, definition, description, comparison, information and enumeration.
conceptualization: consists of the presentation of concepts about a given theme or subject.
Definition: process of establishing the limits of the theme, delimiting it objectively and assigning its meaning.
Description: is the thorough and detailed analysis of the object of study.
Comparison: distinction between two or more concepts in order to clarify and highlight their contradictions or even approximations, if any.
Information: it is a set of statements capable of adding content to the theme.
Enumeration: elaboration of lists or grouping of items with didactic explanations or separation for an isolated approach to each one of them.
The composition of the expository text, therefore, depends on which resources will be present in its construction. As stated earlier, depending on the textual genre (seminar, interview, class, etc.), some elements occupy a more or less prominent position.
Read too: Descriptive text — one that seeks to present impressions or a portrait (through writing) of something
How is an expository text made?
Before starting the written production of a text, it is necessary to have some basic information. From start, It is important to know about your receiverr, that is, the audience that will follow your exhibition. Therefore, it is essential to know which language the audience is used to or even what previous knowledge the audience has.
In a lecture on the Keynesian economic model, for example, it is necessary to take into account what is already known and what is not yet known on the subject. Thus, an investigation about the institution, students and other relevant information is necessary.
Then, knowing more about your receiver, the exhibition preparation process. This requires study and research. In an exhibition, it is important that the receiver knows the subject and, at the same time, is able to learn something new. Therefore, research and studies should aim from basic and introductory knowledge to information and data little known to the audience.
During the writing process, it is recommended to be careful with the language. It cannot be confused, as the public may become disinterested. It is common for exhibitions to start with basic and introductory information and gradually progress to something more complex and new.
In theoretical texts, it is interesting that these are accompanied by examples or even explanations. practices so that the exposure is understood and the receiver does not lose interest for not understanding the subject matter.
Examples of expository text
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Case study — Patient in therapy Patient A. Ç. presented, in its first session, some conflicts about interpersonal relationships involving family, friends and boyfriend. She reported dissatisfaction in relationships and, according to Freud, an ego ideal was created - a moral and perfect model. inherited from her parents - which the patient began to look for in her circles of friends, in her parents and, mainly, in her boyfriend. The main complaint involves a series of conflicts and calls into question a possible marriage union with the partner. Among the elements presented, criticisms of the companion's ironic and sometimes explosive manner stand out. The constant notes of mistakes made by the boyfriend are also reported. She demands from her partner, as she says, “something more romantic and existentialist”. The comparison is based on the patient's knowledge of a series of existentialist scholars, such as Jean-Paul Sartre. As a therapeutic goal, it is necessary to work on the idealizing conceptions of the patient, because only then will she be able to escape the search for “perfect and endowed with excessive morality” subjects. The free association method is the most appropriate in building these perceptions. |
THE text above is a therapeutic case study. In it, a demand for help resulting from psychic suffering by the patient is exposed. The text proposes to bring information and data from the main points worked on in the session, that is, everything that was said by the subject who seeks support. It is from the exposed elements that the therapist is able to develop a therapeutic goal or plan.
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meaning of speech Exposition of ideas, given in public, improvised or written in advance for this purpose; prayer, speak. His own way of expressing himself through speech: his speech was chaotic. Set of sentences and utterances that demonstrate the behavioral mode or the particular actions of a group, ideology, subject, etc.: religious discourse. [Linguistics] Unit of a language that is longer than a sentence; uttered. [Linguistics] Any expressions of a language, its manifestations (oral or written), taking into account the moment and context in which it is inserted. [Linguistics] Language spoken at the moment, as it is used by those who use it. [Popular] Long and boring speech, usually from someone who wants to pass on a teaching, a moral lesson: nobody can put up with your moralistic speech anymore! Available in |
THE snippet above is a dictionary entry and it is one of the genres in which we can find the exhibition. The purpose of the entry is to inform, describe and present some term or expression to the reader.
By Rafael Camargo de Oliveira
Writing teacher
