Mastering Text Explanation and Structure

Expository Text Fundamentals

Purpose and Types

Expository Text: The purpose of these texts is to present and explain an issue with the intention of helping the recipient to learn. These texts can typically be found in textbooks, encyclopedias, and academic materials.

Textual Clarification Techniques

• Reformulation: Clarifies a segment of the text (e.g., using phrases like "in other words," "put another way," etc.).
• Definition: Defines concepts.
• Definition by Equivalence: Recognized through the verb "to be" and punctuation (:, -, (, ), /, _). For example: "A noun is a word that names a person, place, or thing."
• Definition by Description: Features defined by verbs like "be," "have," "establish," "shape," and "construction." Example: "This consists of forming..."
• Definition by Function: Indicates a purpose (using phrases like "used to," "serves," "serves as," etc.).
• Definition by Name: Naming something (using verbs like "call," "appoint," etc.).
• Exemplification: Used to give specific examples of something (e.g., "for example," "namely," using colons or brackets).
• Analogy: Uses expressions such as "as if," "that is the same as," etc.

Textual Elements and Devices

Paratextual and Graphic Elements

Paratextual elements are: title, subtitle, boxes, photos, etc.

Graphic elements are: italics, bolding, underlining, and the use of letters or numbers for emphasis.

Rhetorical and Explanatory Devices

• Rhetorical Questions: A resource used to draw attention to the issue being discussed.
• Paraphrase: An expanded explanation of a text, often adding supplementary information.
• Ellipsis: Occurs when words in a sentence that are not indispensable are omitted.

Connectors and Cohesion

Temporal Connectors (Time)

When, while, before, after, until, later, afterwards.

Logical Connectors

• Cause: Because, for this reason, since, as.
• Consequence: Thus, so, consequently, therefore, in effect.
• Opposition: But, although, in contrast, however, nevertheless, conversely, anyway, though, or.
• Exemplification: As, for example.
• Similarity: So, likewise, equally, in different ways, such as.
• Purpose (Order): In order, so for this, with a view to this end.
• Addition (Coupled): And, also, nor.
• Comparison: As, such that, more than, less than, such as.
• Clarification (Explicatives): Namely, that is, in other words, i.e. (id est).

Pronoun Categories

Personal Pronouns

I-me / You-you / He-him / We-us / You (plural)-you / They-them (Note: This list appears to mix English and Spanish forms; standardizing for clarity is recommended, but content is preserved).

Demonstrative Pronouns

This - That - That / These - Those - Those (Note: Again, mixing forms; preserved as written).

Relative Pronouns

Which, Who, Where, That / Whom, About which / The one that, That, Which.

Interrogative Pronouns

What, Who, Whom, How much, How many, What, Where.

Possessive Pronouns

My/Mine, Your/Yours, His/Hers/Its (Note: Preserving original structure: MI-TU-SU / MIS- TUS-SUS / MIAS-your-own / MIOS-YOURS-OWN / MIO-YOURS-YOURS / YOUR-OUR).

Indefinite Pronouns

Something, Someone, Anyone, Each / One, Every, Which, Any / Whoever, Nothing, No one, One, Other, Another / Enough, Plenty, Much, Little / More, Less, So much.