1、Expository EssaysUnit FourUnit FourObjectivesAfter Studying the unit,the student should be able to:Learn how to write an expository essay;Master the skills and methods of explaining a process or what something is,for instance,comparison and contrast,classification,cause and effect,and definition.Exp
2、ository Essay Introduction to an expository essay Introduction to an expository essay Expository writing is the most widely used type.Exposition means explaining.An expository paper explains something,such as the process of making a machine,the causes of a natural or social phenomenon,the solution o
3、f a problem.It mainly deals with processes and relationships.Expository writing in most cases requires a rather impersonal attitude.It can be handled successfully only with careful and logical thinking.Expository Essay What is an expository essay?What is an expository essay?There are 2 kinds 1.“how”
4、it explains a process,how to do sth.eg.How to cook a dish How to learn English well How to solve energy crisis How to write an essay2.“what”-it explains an idea,a phenomenon,etc.eg.Culture shock birth-control policy in China science and human lifeExpository Essay Structure1.Introduction:lead into t
5、he subject and state thesis statement.It is advisable to state the thesis in the first paragraph.2.Body:develop the thesis statement3.Conclusion:summarize the previous discussion;restate thesis statement;propose a solution;predict a result,etc.Structure of Exposition1.Introduction Note:You should no
6、t include anything in your introduction that is not addressed in the body of your composition.Example:Many a time in my life Ive been asking myself about what career I shall take and what I can do to prepare myself for it.Although my ideas are not consistent,I have now decided on college teaching as
7、 my life-long career.Structure of Exposition2.Body paragraphs Note:Refer to the keywords from the question as often as possible.A variety of reasons have led me to choose this occupation over other more lucrative ones.First,teaching means learning.College is a place where I can enrich my knowledge a
8、nd improve myself.Besides,to make my lectures more constructive and stimulating,I have to read extensively,explore new knowledge and gain a better understanding of the worldthe very thing I enjoy in my life.Second,teaching means independence.As a teacher,I am my own boss and free to use my own ideas
9、 to make my own decisions.It is a privilege not everyone can have,even those with highly-paid positions.The content of my lessons and the way of delivering lessons largely depend on myself.Finally,I like teaching because it offers a sense of dignity.A teacher is not only a person who passes down kno
10、wledge,but a person who plays an important role in the process of studentsgrowing.To be a teacher,I am a person who helps to create and mould studentspersonality.I am proud of such a noble career.Structure of Exposition3.Conclusion Answer the question according to your thesis bring together all your
11、 information in a more general way in the introduction.Example However,teaching is a demanding job.Only a person with rich knowledge can make a qualified teacher.In order to be a college teacher,I shall study hard not only in class,but also in daily life.Moreover,I shall train my patience,improve my
12、 handwriting,and enlarge my knowledge.Developing Methods-illustration Developing Methods1.Illustration Illustration is the use of example to illustrate a point.It is the most common,and often the most efficient,pattern of exposition.Good examples help to clarify a writers thought by making the gener
13、al specific,and the abstract concrete.They also add interest and help to persuade or convince the reader.Developing Methods-illustrationA successful illustration paper depends on a wise selection of sufficient examples which are specific and typical,interesting and relevant-personal or second-hand f
14、rom reliable sources;Developing MethodsDeveloping Methods-illustration-illustrationModelLanguage and Culture Once a group of Chinese were visiting the home of a fairly well-to-do American.As they were shown around the house,they commented,“you have a very nice home.Its so beautiful.”The hostess smil
15、ed with obvious pleasure and replied in good American fashion“Thank you”which caused surprise among some of her Chinese guests.Later,while conversing at the dinner table,the host remarked to the Chinese interpreter,a young lady who had graduated not long ago from a Chinese university,“Your English i
16、s excellent.Really quite fluent.”To this she said,“No,no.My English is quite poor”an answer that he had not expected and found a bit puzzling.Was the American hostess reply immodest,as it seemed to some of the Chinese?Was the young Chinese interpreters remark insincere,as it sounded to the Americans
17、In both cases the answer is no.Thesis Statement:Thesis Statement:The same words or expressions The same words or expressions may not mean the same thing to people of different may not mean the same thing to people of different languages and cultures.languages and cultures.Developing Methods-classif
18、ication2.Classification It is used to classify one subject into several categories according to a common quality.eg.courses in college can be classified into“elective”and required/obligatory”,or into those taught in the native language and those offered in foreign languages.The same group of things
19、may be classified according to different principles.Developing MethodsDeveloping Methods-classification-classification when using classification in your writing,keep in mind the following guidelines:1)Choose an appropriate principle A body of students may be classified into male and female,or majors
20、 of natural sciences,social sciences,etc.2)Apply your principle consistently and thoroughly,and avoid overlapping.eg.It is faulty to classify delegates at a conference into Europeans,Africans,Canadians,Chinese and blacks.For the first two categories are based on regional distinction,and the two in b
21、etween on nationality,whereas the last on race.Analysis of Model 9 on p61Developing MethodsDeveloping Methods-comparison and contrast-comparison and contrast3.Comparison and Contrast A comparison explains how things are similar,and a contrast,how they are different.Only items of the same general cla
22、ss can be compared/contrasted.eg.There is no sense in comparing a computer with an apple.It is reasonable to compare computer with human brain.Developing Methods-comparison and contrast A comparison/contrast essay usually follows one of the two patterns:subject-by-subject pattern or point-by-point p
23、attern.In subject-by-subject pattern,the writer discusses the various points of one subject before going on to the other.In point-by-point pattern,the writer discussed both subjects under each of the various points Developing Methods-comparison and contrastModel:subject-by-subject patternThesis stat
24、ement:A is a better school than B.A 1.student body 2.teaching staff 3.library and other facilities 4.campus B 1.student body 2.teaching staff 3.library and other facilities 4.campusDeveloping Methods-comparison and contrastModel:point-by-point patternstudent body 1.A 2.B teaching staff 1.A 2.B libra
25、ry and other facilities 1.A 2.B campus 1.A 2.BDeveloping Methods-comparison and contrast Students are suggested to use point-by-point method as the similarities or differences are more impressive and striking.The comparison/contrast should be balanced;the two subjects are to be given equal treatment
26、All aspects of the two subjects should be discussed in the same order.Use transitional expressionsModel Though my father and I look like each other,we are very different in many things.First,my father is a workaholic;he works more than then hours a day.He doesnt care for music,sports,sightseeing or
27、 TV.Unlike him,I always finish my assignments as quickly as I can in school,and then I spend most of my after-school hours in the playground.I play all kinds of ball games.Sometimes I go to nearby parks with friends or go to see movies.Second,my father is known for his tidiness both at the office an
28、d at home.He puts everything in its proper place and he will be rather upset if anyone,even my mother,moves them form their usual place.In contrast,Im often scolded for leaving things everywhere.My room is always a mess:books and magazines are on the table,bed,sofa and floor.Last,as far as intellige
29、nce goes,my father is very good at science.In fact,he is an expert in electronic engineering.But I often get only passing grades in math and physics and am always scared to death when the chemistry teacher writes incomprehensible formulas on the blackboard.Obviously,the proverb“Like father,like son”
30、is not true with my father and me.Developing Methods-cause and effect4.Cause and Effect A cause-effect essay explains why something happened or what are the consequences.In a short essay,we focus either causes or on effects.ModelThe Reasons Why College Students Smoke It is widely known that more and
31、 more college students nowadays have joined the group of adult smokers.While the whole society is making efforts to stop them from smoking,the young smokers claim that everything that exists is reasonable and try to justify their behavior.Their justification is presented as follows,from a survey con
32、ducted among these college smokers.First,they claim that smoking can help them relax.The heavy burden from the stress,hard competitions and various confusions make these young people tired and painful at time.Naturally they resort to cigarettes and try to find some comfort to divert them in another
33、direction,as is often the case with the adults.Second,smoking gives an appearance of physical maturity.They admire the adults,who gain independence and are able to act on their own will.They get an excellent feeling of maturity from the adult smokers.Third,smoking makes the smokers attractive.It is
34、not surprising that some boys want to be in the limelight when there are girls around and for some girls,a boy with a cigarette between his lips or fingers is more ideal a figure.To win girls attention and admiration,they believe the money spent on cigarettes is worth its while.Regarding the behavio
35、r of smoking cigarettes,it is generally accepted that it is a bad habit,a waste of money and,more importantly,does harm to ones health.One may have one thousand reasons to smoke,but which is more important,the short time pleasure on the one hand,or the health on the other?Developing Methods-definiti
36、on5.Definition Definition is to explain the meaning of a mon problems in writing a definition 1)circular definition:it means one defines a term with the term itself.eg.Literature study is the study about literature.Developing Methods-definition2)over-restricted definition:it means one explains a ter
37、m in a way that only one aspect,or one part,or one side of the item is covered.eg.A table is a piece of furniture at which one eats.(read,write)Developing Methods-definition3)Overextended definition:it means one uses a word that can be applied to more things than just the term being defined eg.Coke
38、is a refreshing drink.(Pepsi,milk,lemonade)Analysis of sample 13 on page 66.Developing Methods-showing a process6.Showing a Process it instructs readers how to do something.it involves a series of steps.Therefore,the steps must be organized in chronological order.use transitional words.Expository Es
39、say writing task1.How I Overcome My Difficulties in Learning English2.My view on Income GapHow I Overcome My Difficulties in Learning English I,like many other English learners,have encountered various difficulties in my learning process.But I managed to overcome most of them and made much progress.
40、Firstly,meaning and usage of words can be hard for a beginner to master.At the beginning,I just copied them again and again,only to find it inefficient.Then I was advised to memorize them as parts of the whole sentence,together with other words ahead or after with which they collocate.Learn the chun
41、k,not the isolated word,imitate and practice the usage.This is my experience.It helped me a lot.Secondly,I found grammar particularly difficult.It is so even now.I have tried to learn the rules by heart.But just reading lots of grammar books is of little help.Then I read interesting books and magazi
42、nes in English.The sentences and structures in them familiarize me much better than what is said in the grammar books.They give me better insight into and keener sense of the English language.Thirdly,I had a little difficulty in translation.I had a wrong conception of translation and usually were co
43、ntent with using the Chinese counterparts to replace the English words.It make the whole sentence unnatural and unsmooth.Gradually,I realized that words of the same meaning in different languages are not completely equivalent,and different languages have different sentence structures.Now I first und
44、erstand the general idea of the whole sentence or passage and then transform the meaning into the corresponding English expressions,which,of course,are available in mind.To learn English well needs fortitude.We must keep practicing the skills of listening,speaking,reading,writing and translating all the time.Thats why I can beat my difficulties and make progress.谢 谢!






