ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English & EAL => Topic started by: nosuperstar on October 28, 2013, 02:22:34 pm

Title: Question regarding Expository Essays/
Post by: nosuperstar on October 28, 2013, 02:22:34 pm
So for the exam I wish to write an expository essay for my conflict context, although it was previously known to me that an expository essay involves exposing both sides of the prompt and not taking a side, although through reading study guides, online tutorials and lecture notes, it states that I must choose a side and build my arguments for it through my body paragraphs. Wouldn't that simply make it a persuasive piece? Or am I meant to have an opinion throughout but incorporate the other side of the argument much more than you would with a persuasive piece?

I'm confused, would someone be able to clear this up for me? Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Question regarding Expository Essays/
Post by: maree271 on October 28, 2013, 07:29:47 pm
I need help with this too!
Title: Re: Question regarding Expository Essays/
Post by: Limista on October 28, 2013, 10:27:30 pm
So for the exam I wish to write an expository essay for my conflict context, although it was previously known to me that an expository essay involves exposing both sides of the prompt and not taking a side, although through reading study guides, online tutorials and lecture notes, it states that I must choose a side and build my arguments for it through my body paragraphs. Wouldn't that simply make it a persuasive piece? Or am I meant to have an opinion throughout but incorporate the other side of the argument much more than you would with a persuasive piece?

I'm confused, would someone be able to clear this up for me? Thanks in advance!

The beauty of expository, I think, is that you don't need to have a contention. It's basically an essay that consists of discussing or mulling over the prompt. Essentially, you are explaining what the prompt means from your own perspective; you're grappling with the prompt.
In an expository essay, we do not aim to persuade, but we aim to open the eyes of the examiner, by asking why and how.
Title: Re: Question regarding Expository Essays/
Post by: meganrobyn on October 28, 2013, 11:30:05 pm
So for the exam I wish to write an expository essay for my conflict context, although it was previously known to me that an expository essay involves exposing both sides of the prompt and not taking a side, although through reading study guides, online tutorials and lecture notes, it states that I must choose a side and build my arguments for it through my body paragraphs. Wouldn't that simply make it a persuasive piece? Or am I meant to have an opinion throughout but incorporate the other side of the argument much more than you would with a persuasive piece?

I'm confused, would someone be able to clear this up for me? Thanks in advance!

Do absolutely whatever you like, as long as it's interesting and coherent etc etc. The beauty of Context is the open-form writing style: you choose.

Essays are a bit boring if they don't sound like they're really *going* anywhere, though - that's all I'd say. They need SOME kind of a basic thesis.