Hortatory

Exposition
A. Social Function
To persuade the reader or listener that something should or should not be the case.

B. The GENERIC STRUCTURE (Text Organisation)

 Thesis  announcement of issue concern.
 Argument  reasons for concern, leading to recommendation (the reasons or facts that support
your thesis).
 Recommendation  statement of what should or should not happen or be done based on the
given arguments.

C. Language Features
 Words that link arguments, such as : firstly, however, on the other hand, therefore
 Usually the present tense
 Compound sentences
 Complex sentences
 Modal adverbs : should, ought to
 Subjective opinion using pronoun : I and We
 Read the example of Hortatory Exposition below carefully and study the
structure.

Text : 1
A Campaign of the Importance of Reading
Reading habit is poor among Indonesians because most people haven’t realized the importance of reading.
Reading is important to transform knowledge and technology. By reading, one knows the world. He or she will understand what he
doesn’t see by himself or herself. The lines of the paragraphs in an article contain pieces of knowledge. The knowledge is needed to improve the
quality of human’s life. Technology transformation from other country can only be done by reading a lot various sources of literature. Valuable
books in libraries and bookstores mean nothing if they are not read.
Realizing the importance of reading will make someone motivated to read. When we know that something is very important because it
can give us valuable information, we will try to get or do the thing. For example, a businessman who always follows latest information or news,
will know what to do in his / her business. He will make a good decision to make a transaction. Most people in all developed countries have
realized the importance of reading and they have good reading habits. In bus and train stations, vehicles, waiting rooms, parks, people like
reading. They enjoy reading which gives them valuable knowledge and inspiration.
 A good understanding toward the importance of reading can be achieved by well organized and effective campaign. To plant an
understanding in a generation’s minds is not an easy job. It needs a hard work from all components of the nation, especially the government. A
serious campaign which is organized by the central and local government can help common people wake up and stand to face the real
competition. The campaign can be done through various kinds of mass media such as TV, radio, booklets, bulletins, newspapers, magazines. It
can also be conducted by teachers, parents and all people who care.
Therefore, a nation-wide effective campaign of the importance of reading by all components of the nation should be done, facilitated by
the government, to face the tighter competition. The world has forced globalization. Those people with little knowledge will be left behind. To
speed up the better change in this country, a good reading habit is really important.
Text : 2
Being on time is a beautiful social ethnic and one of great importance, as it creates efficiency in systems and implies respect
for one another. However, it is one of the many values that is not easy for our students to learn.
Inner discipline, one that comes from an understanding of the set rules and regulations, is the highest form of behaviour. Most
excellent schools try to instill this with a loving environment. Why, even adults arrive late to meetings, etc. Here, we do not agree that
late comers should be shut out. They can be given warnings, most of which are enough to make them try their best to reach the school
on time later. If this fails, invite their parents to school.
By closing the gates, the school is behaving cruelly, to which we prefer not to expose our children. Every school has a
responsibility to implant good educational principle, but it should be in appropriate ways. Good schools create competitive students
who can organize themselves effectively in society, so that everyone gets a quality life as a result of ethnics and values learned for as
long as 12 years.
Children are precious and dependent on the adults for guidance. Understanding them is the key, and to this end, both parents
and schools must work hand in hand without playing the blame game.
Text : 3
There are a lot of discussions as to whether children should be given homework or not.
Some people claim that children do enough in school already. They also argue that children have hobbies that they want to do
after school, such as sports or music. A further point they make is that a lot of homework is pointless and doesn’t help the child learn
at all.
However, there are also strong arguments against this point of view. Parents and teachers argue that it is important to find out
whether children can work on their own without the support from the teacher. They say that the evening is good time for children to
sit down and think about what they have learned in school.
Furthermore they claim that school day is too short to get anything done that needs doing and it makes sense to send home
task like independent reading or further writing tasks that don’t need teacher’s support.
On balance, I think that some homework is a good idea but that it should only be given at the weekend when children have
more time.
 Read the following text. Pay attention to the purpose of each paragraph.
Thesis : Pavements Are for Pedestrians, Not for Food Stalls The simple
Announcement of issue of present tense
concern Food stalls are fun and one of my favourite destinations during
my mealtime or when I’m hungry. Food stalls provide good
tasty food and they are cheaper than restaurants.
Arguments Word to link argument
However, food stalls on the pavements surely spoil the view
of the city. Moreover, their waste, such as the remains of the
food and the washing water, and used eating utensils are Complex sentences with
dumped into gutters. This will lead to blockage of the drain. noun clause or adjective
Another reason is that pedestrians have to walk along the clause
gutters, which are dangerous for them.
Recommendation It is time for the pavements to be reclaimed for walkers. Modals to express
Statement of what should or Pavements are for pedestrians. Food stalls should not stand on suggestion or
should not happen the pavements. The city authorities should impose a regulation recommendation
against the use of sidewalks for food stalls. I think it is not an
acceptable thing to take advantage of pavements for business
purposes.
 Do You Know?
Sentence Connectors to Link Arguments
Sentence connectors to link arguments :
One important effect ….
In addition ….
Furthermore ….
Firstly, ….
Secondly, ….
Thirdly, ….
Finally, ….
Unfortunately, ….
Phrases for making recommendation :
 It’s high time ….
 I think the government should ….
 There must be an effective way to do it.
 … should ….
 … should be ….
 It would be best to ….
 SUMMARY
The purpose of hortatory expositions :
To persuade the reader or the listener that something should or should not be the case

Text organisation :
• Thesis
• Arguments
• Recommendation

Language features :
• Emotive words, such as alarmed, worried
• Words that qualify statements, such as usual, probably
• Words that link arguments, such as firstly, however, on the other hand, therefore
• Usually use the present tense
• Compound and complex sentences
• Modals : can, may, should
• Pronouns : I and we for subjective opinions

Types :
• Letters to the editor
• Plea in a trial case
• Speeches
 Do You Know?
 The Language Feature of Hortatory Exposition
1. General nouns (book, office, car, etc.)
2. Abstract nouns (honesty, intelligence, democracy)
3. Technical verbs (are used in the technical process : to load, to download, to increase, to generate)
4. Relating verbs (to connect 2 (two) things : be, have, consist of, constitute, mean, compromise, equal)
5. Action verbs (do, work, make)
6. Thinking verbs (believe, think, feel, dream, guess, imagine, remember, forgive, know, realise)
7. Modal verbs (can, must, will, ought to, may)
8. Adverbs (fast, quickly, intelligently)
9. Connectives : and, so, when, because, while, but
10. Passive sentences (It is said that students are not willing to read books)
11. Simple present tense (People tends to disobey many rules)
THANK YOU