What Is Expository Critique?

1. What Is Expository Critique? Feature Menu Critiquing Texts Evaluating Expository Texts Unity Coherence Logic Internal Consistency Structural Patterns Your Turn

2. Critiquing Texts How do you evaluate informational materials? When you read to learn about a subject, it’s important to consider how the information is presented.

3. Critiquing Texts A critic’s job is to critique, or critically evaluate, analyze, and judge. • To rate chefs, food critics visit restaurants and taste dishes. • To determine the best buys, consumer critics test-drive cars. • To help listeners decide what to purchase, music critics evaluate new releases.

4. Critiquing Texts A critic’s job is to critique, or critically evaluate, analyze, and judge. Critics use a set of criteria, or standards, for making their judgments: [End of Section]

5. Evaluating Expository Texts Expositorytexts are texts that explain. • Expository texts present information about complicated material to readers. • Well-written expository texts clarify a complex issue or process.

6. Evaluating Expository Texts When you analyze and evaluate expository texts, consider the following criteria:

7. Evaluating Expository Texts: Unity Unity means “oneness or wholeness.” When a text has unity, all of its details support the main idea or proposal. Detail Detail Main Idea Detail Detail [End of Section]

8. Joe hit the ball. The umpire called him out. They argued. Evaluating Expository Texts: Coherence Coherence means “sticking together,” like the atoms in a molecule. In a coherent piece of writing, all of the elements hold together and can be clearly understood.

9. Evaluating Expository Texts: Coherence Transitional words and phrases help readers connect sentences and ideas. Here are some examples of transitional words and phrases: to continue a line of thought to contrast with a previous thought to show time order in addition also similarly furthermore but however yet on the other hand first next then finally

10. Evaluating Expository Texts: Coherence Notice how a transitional phrase makes the passage below coherent. [End of Section]

11. Evaluating Expository Texts: Logic Logic is correct reasoning. Logical texts present statements supported by reasons, evidence, and examples. I think Grandma and Grandpa had a good time at my graduation party. They both were talking and laughing the whole time. They even stayed later than they usually do.

12. Evaluating Expository Texts: Logic The logical text below contains an example that specifically supports a statement. [End of Section]

13. Evaluating Expository Texts: Internal Consistency If a text is logical and coherent, it has internal consistency. Consistency is essential because unimportant or disconnected details distract readers and disrupt the logic of the text.

14. Evaluating Expository Texts: Internal Consistency [End of Section]

15. Evaluating Expository Texts:Structural Patterns The structure of something is the way that thing is put together. For example, the blueprint of a house illustrates its structure for builders. All texts have a structure as well.

16. Evaluating Expository Texts:Structural Patterns Most expository texts are organized according to one or more of these structural patterns: chronological order comparison and contrast order of importance classification proposition and support

17. Evaluating Expository Texts:Structural Patterns Chronological orderistime order—steps or events presented in the order they occur. Which words let you know the passage below is in chronological order? The sunflower began as a bud. Then, petals developed. Finally, the beautiful flower opened in full bloom. The sunflower began as a bud. Then, petals developed. Finally, the beautiful flower opened in full bloom.

18. Evaluating Expository Texts:Structural Patterns Order of importance is the ranking of facts by their significance to the writer’s main idea. • More important information precedes less important information.

19. Evaluating Expository Texts:Structural Patterns Comparison and contrast is the arrangement of information by similarities and differences. comparison: Both Jenny and Lisa are fourteen and in the eighth grade. contrast: Jenny is active in sports, but Lisa prefers to focus on her music.

20. Evaluating Expository Texts:Structural Patterns Classification sorts information into groups. All the items in a group are related. • When you recycle, you sort trash into related groups: glass, plastic, paper, and so on. • Similarly, if you were to write an essay about recycling, you might classify, or group, the various methods of recycling.

21. Evaluating Expository Texts:Structural Patterns Read the following passage. How does its organization represent classification? When you visit an animal shelter, you’ll find many different types of pets. Our local shelter has more cats than any other kind of animal. You can choose from dozens of kittens and fully grown cats. The next largest group is dogs. Some are pups that were born in the shelter; others are older pets who need a new home. Believe it or not, next are snakes and reptiles—including two six-foot boa constrictors. When you visit an animal shelter, you’ll find many different types of pets. Our local shelter has more cats than any other kind of animal. You can choose from dozens of kittens and fully grown cats. The next largest group is dogs. Some are pups that were born in the shelter; others are older pets who need a new home. Believe it or not, next are snakes and reptiles—including two six-foot boa constrictors. The passage groups animals by species. It also orders them from the biggest group to the smallest.

22. Evaluating Expository Texts:Structural Patterns Proposition and support is a pattern in which a proposal is supported by evidence such as facts:statements that can be proved true quotations:comments from people who are experts in a field statistics:facts presented in number form

23. = statistic = quotation = fact Evaluating Expository Texts:Structural Patterns What evidence supports the proposition below? Vegetarians need more healthy choices in the school cafeteria. The 12 percent of students that are vegetarians have trouble getting a balanced meal. The salad bar has few protein-rich options. Furthermore, vegetarian students who want hot food are limited to potatoes and steamed vegetables. Some have argued that adding more vegetarian items would be costly. However, according to a local nutritionist, “many vegetarian foods offer good nutritional value for the money.” In addition, healthy meals for all students should be a priority, regardless of cost. Vegetarians need more healthy choices in the school cafeteria. The 12 percent of students that are vegetarians have trouble getting a balanced meal. The salad bar has few protein-rich options. Furthermore, vegetarian students who want hot food are limited to potatoes and steamed vegetables. Some have argued that adding more vegetarian items would be costly. However, according to a local nutritionist, “many vegetarian foods offer good nutritional value for the money.” In addition, healthy meals for all students should be a priority, regardless of cost.

24. Evaluating Expository Texts:Structural Patterns Quick Check Which sentence disrupts the passage’s unity? With so many different video games on the market, it’s important to understand which kinds you’ll most enjoy playing. My cousin doesn’t like video games at all. Action-adventure games focus on exploring strange environments. Players fight enemiesand gather items to help them on their quest. If you like solving puzzles, you’ll enjoy these games. Sports games let you feel the thrill of being a professional athlete in sports such as racing and football. What structural pattern organizes the passage? [End of Section]

25. Critique Expository Text Your Turn Explain whether this passage contains logic and coherence: In 1989, a huge earthquake shook San Francisco. The earthquake hit during a World Series game between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s. These teams had never met in the playoffs before. Oakland, however, had won the series in the 1970s. [End of Section]

26. The End