Expository Nonfiction
Types of Expository Nonfiction
Expository nonfiction is writing that explains or informs. You encounter expository nonfiction every day through newspapers, brochures, magazines, journals, textbooks, instruction manuals, recipes, how-to books, maps, pamphlets, infographics, etc. In this interactivity, take a moment to explore different types of expository nonfiction as well as possible options for organizing the information of expository texts. Click the player button to begin.
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Locating Information in Expository Nonfiction
While literary fiction is meant to be read from beginning to end, expository texts serve as tools or reference guides. As such, expository texts do not necessarily have to be read in its entirety, especially when you only need to access a specific section of the material. How can you locate the information that you need in an expository text, and how do text features and design layout help to clearly explain and organize information? Take a few moments to answer these questions. In this interactivity, click each of the tabs to explore various features that help you to locate and comprehend information. Click the player button to begin.
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After studying different types of text features that can help you locate information in an expository text, you are ready to read an example how-to article that serves as a model of expository nonfiction. Access and read the how-to article Incubating Eggs in Small Quantities by the University of California, Davis. As you read, pay close attention to how the text features help you to understand the task of incubating eggs.
- What is the main idea of the article, and what are the relevant details?
- How many days do goose eggs need to incubate, and how does the article explain this?
- What four conditions are important when incubating eggs?
Expository Nonfiction Review
Now that you have explored characteristics of expository nonfiction and learned about hatching baby chicks from a model how-to article, it is time to review your knowledge and practice what you have learned. In this non-graded activity, read the questions and select the appropriate answers. Click the player button to get started.