Explanatory methods and functions of expository texts (five most common types)

Common methods of explanation include giving examples, classifying, listing data, comparing, drawing charts, defining, explaining, analogy, imitating appearances, quoting materials, etc. 10. We should choose the best method according to the characteristics of the explanatory object and the purpose of writing. The following are explained separately.

(1) example. Cite practical examples to explain things, make the things to be explained specific and make readers understand. This interpretation method is called example method. For example:

Most people always think that when they are old, their memory ability must be poor. Actually, it's not. Please look at the experimental results: The International Linguistic Society made a comparison between young people aged 9 to 18 and adults over 35 when learning Esperanto, and found that the former was not as good as the latter in memory. This is because adults are rich in knowledge and experience, and it is easy to establish extensive contacts on the basis of existing knowledge. This connection is called "association" in psychology. People's memory is based on association. The more knowledge and experience, the easier it is to establish associations, and the memory will be improved accordingly. Marx began to learn Russian in his fifties. After half a year, he has been able to read the original works of famous poets and writers Pushkin, Nikolai Gogol and Schederin with relish. This is due to rich language knowledge and ability to understand many modern and ancient languages.

The point of this article is that memory is not necessarily bad when you are old. To illustrate this point, the author first provides the experimental results and analyzes the reasons. So far, it's all right, but it's not specific enough and convincing. So, let's take another example: when Marx was in his fifties, it took only six months to master Russian. This way, the content is specific and the persuasion is enhanced.

Illustration in expository writing and illustration in argumentative writing can make the content concrete and enhance persuasiveness. But there are differences between them. Examples in argumentative essays are used to prove points, while examples in expository essays are used to introduce knowledge.

To illustrate things or things through examples, we should pay attention to the representativeness and appropriateness of examples.

(2) classification. According to certain standards, the interpreted objects are divided into different categories and explained one by one. This method of explanation is called classification.

Classification is an important way to clarify complex things.

When using classification methods, we should pay attention to the classification standards, and only one standard can be used at a time to avoid overlapping. For example, "the collection of books in the library includes China, classics, foreign countries, science and technology, literature, modern times and political economy." There is more than one standard used here, so it is not clear. The correct statement should be:

The collection of books in the library is divided into Chinese and foreign countries by country; According to the times, there are classical and modern; By nature, there are science and technology, literature and political economy.

In this way, only one standard is used for each classification, which is clear at a glance.

The characteristics and essence of some things need to be divided into several points or aspects, which also belongs to classification.

Please note that by using the classification method, there should be no omissions in the listed categories.

(3) Column data. In order to make the things to be explained concrete, you can also use the method of column data to make readers understand. It should be noted that the quoted figures must be accurate, and inaccurate figures must never be used. Even the estimated figures should have reliable basis and try to be approximate.

(4) Make a comparison. Explain that some abstract or unfamiliar things can be compared with concrete or familiar things, so that readers can get a concrete and vivid impression through comparison. The characteristics of things often appear in comparison.

When comparing, you can compare things in the same category, things in different categories, things can be compared horizontally or vertically.

(5) draw a chart. In order to explain complex things clearly, we can also use charts to make up for the lack of simple words and explain some things more directly and concretely.

(6) definition. Defining the essential characteristics of a concept in concise language is called definition. Definition can accurately reveal the essence of things and is a common method in scientific and technological discussion.

When defining, we can consider it from different angles according to the purpose of description. Some emphasize characteristics, such as the definition of "person"; Some emphasize functions, such as the definition of "fertilizer"; Some explain both characteristics and functions, such as the definition of "master planning method" and "applied science".

Man is an advanced animal, who can make tools and use them for labor.

Fertilizer is a substance that can provide nutrients to make plants grow.

③ Overall planning method is a mathematical method to arrange the work process.

Engineering technology, called applied science, is the knowledge of applying the basic theories of natural science to solve problems in production practice.

No matter from what angle, no matter in what way, as long as a definition is made, it is necessary to reveal the essence of things, and only such a definition is scientific. For example, someone said, "Man is an upright animal with two feet." This definition is unscientific because it does not reveal the essence of things. "Man is an advanced animal, who can make tools and use them for labor." This is the definition of science, because it reveals the essence of human beings.

(7) interpretation. Explain some characteristics of things from one side. This method is called hermeneutics.

Definition and explanation often adopt the language form of "what is so-and-so". The form is the same, how to distinguish it? Generally speaking, the words on both sides of the word "yes" are interchangeable, which is the definition; If it is not interchangeable, it is interpretation.

For example, the sentence "Man is a senior animal who can make tools and use them to work" is changed to "The senior animal who can make tools and use tools to work is a man", and the meaning remains unchanged. The sentence "Snow is the solid precipitation formed in the cloud" cannot be changed to "The solid precipitation formed in the cloud is snow". It can be seen that the former sentence is a definition and the latter sentence is an explanation.

(8) For example. Using the similarity between two different things to compare, highlight the characteristics of things and enhance the vividness and vividness of explanation is called analogy.

The interpretation method of metaphor in explanatory text is consistent with that in rhetoric. The difference is that there are similes, metaphors and metaphors in figurative rhetoric, while similes and metaphors are mostly used for description, while metaphors are inappropriate.

(9) imitation. In order to make the explained object more vivid and concrete, we can imitate the appearance, which is called imitation.

(10) reference. In order to make the content of the explanation more substantial and specific, you can quote materials to explain. The quoted materials range from classic works, famous sayings, formulas and rules, allusions and proverbs.

One explanation method is rarely used in an explanatory text, and many explanations are often used comprehensively. On the one hand, it obeys the needs of the content, on the other hand, the author has the freedom of choice. Whether to adopt one interpretation method or multiple interpretation methods, one interpretation method is another interpretation method, which can be flexible and not static.