Words to Remember
This page gives basic definitions for some important terms that can help you learn about types of expository writing. You can get a more complete definition of each term from Fact Monster*.

New Words
Cause: A person, group, event, idea, action, or object that produces a specific result or outcome.

Classify: Arrange people, groups, places, events, ideas, actions, or objects so that each one is assigned to a category.

Compare: Study two (or more) people, groups, places, events, ideas, actions, or objects to identify shared characteristics.

Contrast: Type or graphics that work together to create a desired effect; also, study two (or more) people, groups, places, events, ideas, actions, or objects to identify distinctive characteristics.

Divide: Separate people, groups, places, events, ideas, or things so that each one is placed into a category.

Effect: A specific result or outcome produced by something said or done by a person, group, event, idea, or thing.

Interpret: Understand or explain meaning.

Review Words
Audience: The people who read a publication or view a work of art, performance, or presentation.

Data: Information collected by observation or measurement.

Essay: A short written work that makes an important point about a particular topic.

Expository: A type of writing that explains a topic or informs an audience.

Fact: Information widely believed to be true and supported by objective data.
 
Information: Anything that can be used to create knowledge. For example, words, numbers, images, audio, and video can all contain information.

Logical: Capable of thinking in a clear and consistent way to draw correct conclusions.

Nonfiction: Any creative work that describes or comments on actual events, such as a newspaper article or biography.

Objective: Able to put aside personal feelings and opinions.

Opinion: Beliefs that may or may not be supported by facts.

Third Person: A type of writing that tells a story by using pronouns that refer to a character in the story, such as he, she, or they.

< Back to Expository Types | Next to Exploration >