GEN - Expository Lesson

Expository

A photograph of the cover art of "EASSAIS DE MICHEL SEIGNEVR DE MONTAIGNE," a collection of essays by the originator of the term, Frenchman Michel de Montaigne.

 

When Frenchman Michel de Montaigne coined the term "essay" to describe his writing, he meant a short piece that investigates a single topic. Writing to explain is called expository composition.

An expository essay attempts to explain the subject to the audience. This may be accomplished by explaining a process, comparing or contrasting two items, identifying a cause-effect relationship, explaining with examples, dividing and classifying, or defining. Depending upon the particular type of expository essay being written, the order of presentation of supporting details may vary. The process essay will employ chronological order; the essay which compares or contrasts, explains with examples, or divides and classifies may use an order of importance (most-to-least important or least-to-most important); the essay which employs causal analysis may identify a cause and then predict its effect or start with the effect and seek to identify its cause.

Reading Assignment: "Federer as Religious Experience" by David Foster Wallace

The example of expository writing provided below is by author American author David Foster Wallace. Many regard his novel, Infinite Jest, the finest of the last two decades.

While an expository essay may make an "attempt" to explain how to play tennis, Wallace's essay tries to capture the ephemeral nature of the greatness of Roger Federer's game. 

Written in 2006, perhaps at the apex of both Federer's and Wallace's skills, this essay has already become a classic of sports writing. Like Mailer's piece on boxing, Wallace's writing displays apt figurative language and creatively elevated diction.

While reading any material that you are required to study - be prepared to take notes. Note any vocabulary that is unfamiliar or odd. Reading vocabulary in context is certainly the best method for increasing results on standardized tests like the SAT or AP Exam.

Click here to read "Federer as Religious Experience" by David Foster Wallace Links to an external site..

Shown in this photograph is Swiss professional tennis player Roger Federer. He is wearing a white polo shirt, white shorts, white shoes, white socks, white wristbands, and a white headband. He is shown playing tennis on a grass court and his red racket is held aloft in his right hand.

Self-Assessment and Practice

Vocabulary: Which of these terms have religious or philosophical connotations?

Drag the card from the bottom to the correct category.

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