EXPOSITORY WRITING:LOGICAL FALLACIES, APPEAL TO EMOTION

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Journalistic Writing MCM310

LECTURE 24

EXPOSITORY WRITING

Expository writing is a mode of writing in which the purpose of the author is to inform, explain,

describe, or define his or her subject to the reader. Expository text is meant to `expose' information and is the

most frequently used type of writing by students in colleges and universities. A well-written exposition remains

focused on its topic and provides facts in order to inform its reader. It should be unbiased, accurate, and use a

scholarly third person tone. The text needs to encompass all aspects of the subject. Examples of expository

writing can be found in magazine and newspaper articles, non-fiction books, travel brochures, business reports,

memorandums, professional journal and encyclopedia articles and many other types of informative writing.

One of the most familiar and basic forms of expository writing is the five-paragraph essay, which features an

introduction with a clear thesis statement, three main body paragraphs and a conclusion.

Some example topics for expository writing:

9. Global warming

1. Alcohol

10. Homosexuality

2. Animal experimentation

11. Immigration

3. Capital punishment

12. Internet Privacy

4. Censorship

13. Old homes

5. Endangered species

14. Nuclear weapons

6. Gambling

15. Students gangs

7. Biological weapons

16. Medical ethics

8. Genetic Engineering

Expository writing is difficult because

1. Some of your arguments may be irrelevant or unreasonable.

2. The reader may disagree with you strongly.

3. These topics are more difficult than writing, for example, about a person or place you know well.

Expository Writing: Guidelines

1. Keep your temper.

2. Don't attack people of a different race or religion.

3. Consider both sides of a topic.

4. Don't exaggerate.

5. Provide proof or examples if you make a claim or a statement.

6. Avoid dogmatic words like always, never, only, etc.

Expository writing: Organization

1. Opening

2. Discuss the both sides

3. Give your opinion

4. Conclusion

Journalistic Writing MCM310

Pattern Name

Written and Graphic Example of the Pattern

Description

The author describes

a topic by listing

characteristics,

features,

and

examples.

provides

details

about

how

something

looks,

feels, tastes, smells, Example of Descriptive Writing

makes one feel, or

Expository essays are written by students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of a

sounds

particular topic. For example, a student might use a descriptive pattern to emphasize the features

Words and characteristics of a topic. Sequential writing emphasizes the order of events, listing items in

Cue

example, numerical or chronological order. A writer might use a comparison or contrast pattern to

for

the characteristics emphasize the similarities or differences between two topics. A cause and/or effect pattern shows

the relationship between events, while a problem/solution pattern shows a different kind of

are...

relationship that discusses a problem and suggests solutions. Variations of these patterns are

sometimes used, as well as a combination of patterns to create an expository essay.

Sequence

Process

The author lists

items or events in

numerical

chronological order.

Cue

Words

first, second, third; Example of Sequential Writing

next; then; finally

Expository writing is intended to convey the writer's knowledge about a topic. While different

patterns may be employed to create the essay, every essay contains the same features: the

introduction, the thesis, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. The introduction is the first

paragraph in the essay. The introduction contains the thesis statement, one sentence that

summarizes the main idea of the essay. The body paragraphs follow the introduction and explain

the main topics. Lastly, the conclusion is the final paragraph that restates the main topics and

the thesis. Every expository essay contains these features, in this order.

Journalistic Writing MCM310

Comparison

The author explains

how two or more

things

are

alike

and/or how they are

different.

comparison

essay

usually discusses the

similarities between

two things, while the

contrast

essay

discusses

the

differences.

Cue

Words

different; in contrast; Example of Compare/Contrast Writing

alike; same as; on the

other hand

Expository writing has distinct features that distinguish it from creative writing. The content of

an expository essay is factual and straight-forward while the content of a creative story is

imaginative and symbolic. Expository essays are written for a general audience but creative

stories are designed for a specific audience. The writing style of an expository essay is formal,

standard and academic, while a creative story uses an informal and artistic style. The

organization of an expository essay is systematic and deliberate; on the other hand, the

organization of a creative story is more arbitrary and artistic. Finally, the most important

difference between the two types of writing is the purpose of the text. An expository essay is

written to inform and instruct, while a creative story is written to entertain and captivate.

Cause / Effect

The author focuses

on the relationship

between two or more

events

experiences.

The

essay could discuss

both causes and

effects, or it could

simply address one

or the other. A

cause essay usually

discusses the reasons

why

something

Example of Cause/Effect Writing

happened. An effect

essay discusses what

There are several reasons why so many people attend the Olympic games or watch them on

happens after a

television. One reason is tradition. The name Olympics and the torch and flame remind people of

specific event or

the ancient games. People can escape the ordinariness of daily life by attending or watching the

circumstance.

Olympics. They like to identify with someone else's individual sacrifice and accomplishment.

Words National pride is another reason, and an athlete's or a team's hard earned victory becomes a

Cue

why; nation's victory. There are national medal counts and people keep track of how many medals

reasons

if...then; as a result; their country's athletes have won.

therefore; because

Journalistic Writing MCM310

Problem / Solution

The author states a

problem and lists

one

solutions for the

problem. A variation

of this pattern is the

Example of Problem/Solution Writing

question- and-answer

format in which the

One problem with the modern Olympics is that it has become very big and expensive to operate.

author

poses

The city or country that hosts the games often loses a lot of money. A stadium, pools, and playing

question and then

fields must be built for the athletic events and housing is needed for the athletes who come from

answers it.

around the world. And all of these facilities are used for only 2 weeks! In 1984, Los Angeles

solved these problems by charging a fee for companies who wanted to be official sponsors of the

Cue

Words

games. Companies like McDonald's paid a lot of money to be part of the Olympics. Many

the problem is; the

buildings that were already built in the Los Angeles area were also used. The Coliseum where the

dilemma is; puzzle is

1932 games were held was used again and many colleges and universities in the area became

solved;

question...

playing and living sites.

answer

LOGICAL FALLACIES:

Strong, logical arguments are essential in writing. However, the use of faulty logic or reasoning to reach

conclusions discredits arguments and shows lack of support and reasoning. This handout lists some of these

logical errors--called logical fallacies--that are most commonly encountered in everyday communication.

APPEAL TO AUTHORITY: Accepting someone's argument because of his or her authority in a field

unrelated to the argument, rather than evaluating the person's argument on its own merits. (Also called

Argumentum ad Verecundiam or "argument from modesty")

EXAMPLE: My dentist says she's voting for the conservative candidate, so I will too.

APPEAL TO EMOTION: Exploiting the audience's feelings to convert them to a particular viewpoint.

Appeals to fear, flattery, ridicule, pity, or spite are among the most common forms this fallacy takes. In some

circumstances, appealing to emotion may be appropriate, but writers should avoid appeals to emotion when

reason and logic are expected or needed.

EXAMPLE: I'm sure someone with your vast experience can see that plan B is better. (Appeal to flattery)

APPEAL TO IGNORANCE: Basing a conclusion solely on the absence of knowledge. (Also called

Argumentum ad Ignoratiam)

EXAMPLE: I've never seen an alien, so they must not exist.

APPEAL TO POPULAR OPINION: Claiming that a position is true because most people believe it is.

(Also called Argumentum ad Populum)

EXAMPLE: Everyone cheats on their income taxes, so it must be all right.

ATTACKING THE PERSON: Discrediting an argument by attacking the person who makes it, rather than

the argument itself (Also called Poisoning the Well or Argumentum ad Hominem--literally, "argument against the

man")

EXAMPLE: Don't listen to Becky's opinion on welfare; she just opposes it because she's from a rich family.

BEGGING THE QUESTION: Using a premise to prove a conclusion when the premise itself assumes the

Journalistic Writing MCM310

conclusion is true (Also called Circular Argument, Circulus in Probando, and Petitio Principii)

EXAMPLE: I know I can trust Janine because she says that I can.

COMPLEX QUESTION: Combining two questions or issues as if they were one, when really they should be

answered or discussed separately. Often involves one question that assumes the answer to another.

EXAMPLE: Why did you steal the CD? (Assumes you did steal the CD.)

COMPOSITION: Assuming that because parts have certain properties, the whole does as well. (The reverse

of Division)

EXAMPLE: All the parts of the engine were lightweight, so the engine should have been lightweight.

CORRELATION IMPLIES CAUSATION: Concluding that because two things occur at the same time,

one has caused the other. (Also called Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc--literally "with this, therefore because of

this.")

EXAMPLE: There was a full moon the night I had my car accident, so I'm never driving again under a full

moon.

DIVISION: Assuming that because a large body has certain properties, its parts do as well. (The reverse of

Composition)

EXAMPLE: Europe has great museums, so every country in Europe must have great museums.

EQUIVOCATION: Applying the same term but using differing meanings.

EXAMPLE: The sign by the pond said, "Fine for swimming," so I dove right in.

FALSE CAUSE AND EFFECT: Claiming that because one event occurred before a second, it caused the

second. (Also called Coincidental Correlation and Post-Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc--literally "after this, therefore

because of this.")

EXAMPLE: Yesterday I ate broccoli and then failed my test. I'm never eating broccoli before a test again.

FALSE DILEMMA: Suggesting only two solutions to a problem when other options are also available. (Also

called Bifurcation)

EXAMPLE: America--loves it or leaves it!

HASTY GENERALIZATIONS: When a writer arrives at a conclusion based on inadequate evidence or a

sample that is too small.

EXAMPLE: I liked the last Chinese restaurant I went to, so I will like every Chinese restaurant in the world.

IGNORING THE ISSUE: Shifting the reader's attention from the real issue to a different argument that

might be valid, but is unrelated to the first (Also called Arguing beside the Point and Ignoratio Elenchi.)

EXAMPLE: No, the criminal won't say where he was on the night of the crime, but he does remember being

abused repeatedly as an innocent child.

RED HERRING: Introducing an unrelated or invalid point to distract the reader from the actual argument.

Appeal to Emotion, Attacking the Person, Ignoring the Issue, and Straw Man are a few examples of Red

Herring fallacies.

Journalistic Writing MCM310

SLIPPERY SLOPE: Assuming a chain of cause-effect relationships with very suspect connections.

EXAMPLE: If I give you a free ticket, then I'll have to give everyone a free ticket. Then my boss will get mad

and fire me, and I will become homeless. So giving you a free ticket will make me homeless.

STACKING THE DECK: When a writer tries to prove a point by focusing on only one side of the argument

while ignoring the other

EXAMPLE: Obviously the United States and China should have a free trade agreement, since it would reduce

prices, increase efficiency, and pave the way to greater cultural exchange.

STRAW MAN: Attacking one of the opposition's unimportant or small arguments, while ignoring the

opposition's best argument.

EXAMPLE People from Quebec want to secede from Canada to get their own currency. Don't they realize

money isn't everything?

Source:

Utah Valley State College Writing Center

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