Expository: Key Points

1.
Expository
Expository writing's main purpose is to explain. It is a subject-oriented writing style, in which authors
focus on telling you about a given topic or subject without voicing their personal opinions. These
types of essays or articles furnish you with relevant facts and figures but do not include their
opinions. This is one of the most common types of writing. You always see it in textbooks and how-to
articles. The author just tells you about a given subject, such as how to do something.
Key Points:
 Usually explains something in a process.

 Is often equipped with facts and figures.
 Is usually in a logical order and sequence.
When You Would Use Expository Writing:
 Textbook writing.
 How-to articles.
 Recipes.
 News stories (not including opinion or editorial pieces).
 Business, technical, or scientific writing.
Example:
Many people associate the taste of pumpkins with fall. In October, companies from Starbucks to
McDonalds roll out their pumpkin-flavored lattes and desserts. Here is how to make an easy
pumpkin pie using only five ingredients. First, make sure you have all of the ingredients.
This writing is expository because it is explaining. In this case, you can already tell that the piece will
be about how to make a pumpkin pie.
2. Descriptive
Descriptive writing's main purpose is to describe. It is a style of writing that focuses on describing a
character, an event, or a place in great detail. It can be poetic when the author takes the time to be
very specific in his or her descriptions.
Example:
In good descriptive writing, the author will not just say: “The vampire killed his lover.”
He or she will change the sentence, focusing on more details and descriptions, like: “The bloody,
red-eyed vampire, sunk his rust-colored teeth into the soft skin of his lover and ended her life."
Key Points:
 It is often poetic in nature

 It describes places, people, events, situations, or locations in a highly-detailed manner.
 The author visualizes what he or she sees, hears, tastes, smells, and feels.
When You Would Use Descriptive Writing:
 Poetry
 Journal or diary writing
 Nature writing
 Descriptive passages in fiction
Example:
The iPhone 6 is unexpectedly light. While size of its screen is bigger than those of the iPhones that
came before, it is thinner, and its smooth, rounded body is made of aluminum, stainless steel, and
glass. The casing comes in a whitish silver, gold, or a color the company calls “space gray,” the color
of the lead of a pencil, with darker gray accents.
This is an example because it describes aspects of the phone. It includes details such as the size,
weight, and material.
3. Persuasive
Persuasive writing's main purpose is to convince. Unlike expository writing, persuasive writing
contains the opinions and biases of the author. To convince others to agree with the author's point of
view, persuasive writing contains justifications and reasons. It is often used in letters of complaint,
advertisements or commercials, affiliate marketing pitches, cover letters, and newspaper opinion and
editorial pieces.
Key Points:
 Persuasive writing is equipped with reasons, arguments, and justifications.

 In persuasive writing, the author takes a stand and asks you to agree with his or her point of
view.
 It often asks for readers to do something about the situation (this is called a call-to-action).
When You Would Use Persuasive Writing:
 Opinion and editorial newspaper pieces.

 Advertisements.
 Reviews (of books, music, movie, restaurants, etc.).
 Letter of recommendation.
 Letter of complaint.
 Cover letters
Example:
Following the 2012 Olympic Games hosted in London, the UK Trade and Investment department
reported a £9.9 billion boost to the economy. Although it is expensive to host the Olympics, if done
right, they can provide real jobs and economic growth. This city should consider placing a bid to host
the Olympics.
This is persuasive writing because the author has a belief—that “this city should consider placing a
bid to host the Olympics”—and is trying to convince others to agree.
4. Narrative
Narrative writing's main purpose is to tell a story. The author will create different characters and tell
you what happens to them (sometimes the author writes from the point of view of one of the
characters—this is known as first person narration). Novels, short stories, novellas, poetry, and
biographies can all fall in the narrative writing style. Simply, narrative writing answers the question:
“What happened then?”
Key Points:
 A person tells a story or event.

 Has characters and dialogue.
 Has definite and logical beginnings, intervals, and endings.
 Often has situations like actions, motivational events, and disputes or conflicts with their
eventual solutions.
Examples of When You Would Use Persuasive Writing:
 Novels
 Short stories
 Novellas
 Poetry
 Autobiographies or biographies
 Anecdotes
 Oral histories
Example:
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said Jaelyn.
“You never used to be such a girl!” retorted Orin, pushing open the door.
Reluctantly, Jaelyn followed.

This is a narrative because it’s telling a story. There are different characters conversing, and a plot is
unravelling.

Expository: Key Points

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1.

 Usually explains something in a process.

 It is often poetic in nature

 Persuasive writing is equipped with reasons, arguments, and justifications.

 Opinion and editorial newspaper pieces.

 A person tells a story or event.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said Jaelyn.

Reluctantly, Jaelyn followed.

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