What Does It Mean to Read an Expository Text (Setsumeibun)?
In your Japanese textbooks and illustrated encyclopedias, there are lots of texts that teach you about animal secrets, how vehicles are built, or how to make toys. Texts like these, which clearly explain real facts, how things work, and step-by-step methods, are called "expository texts" (setsumeibun).
When you read a story (narrative), you read along while imagining the characters' feelings. But with an expository text, it is important to accurately understand "what is written, and how it is explained."
*By the way, you will learn how to read stories in detail in another lesson: "Reading Stories (Lower Grades)."
It might seem tricky at first, but don't worry! Once you learn the "knots" (reading tips) and great "clue words," reading will become fun and smooth—just like solving a treasure hunt puzzle! Let's explore the basic steps together.
[Key Points] Big Goals When Reading Expository Texts
・Find out what the text is about (the topic).
・Grasp the structure of "Beginning, Middle, and End."
・Pay close attention to the "sequence / order" (junjo) of what is written.
・Spot important words and sentences, and be able to explain what you newly learned in your own words.
1. Find the "Beginning, Middle, and End" Sections
To make things clear and easy for the reader to understand, expository texts are almost always divided into three main parts.
① "Beginning" (Hajime): What is this about? (Question & Topic)
This is the very first room of the text. Here, it explains "what will be explained."
For example, you will often find questioning sentences posed to the reader, such as: "Why is it that...?" or "Let's take a look at the secret of...!"
② "Middle" (Naka): The Room That Explains in Detail (Explanation & Comparison)
This is the middle room of the text, and it is the longest part! Here, you will find lots of detailed explanations and easy-to-understand examples that answer the question from the "Beginning."
Things might be explained in the order of time or steps, or they might be paired with photographs and diagrams.
③ "End" (Owari): The Final Wrap-Up (Answer & Summary)
This is the final room of the text. It wraps up everything explained in the "Middle" with phrases like "Therefore, it is..." and clearly delivers the answer to the opening question. Sometimes, it also shares the author's thoughts or feelings.
[Fun Fact]
When you read a textbook, you might notice that sometimes a new line starts indented by one character space. Each of these chunks is called a "paragraph" (danraku). When looking for the "Beginning, Middle, and End" sections, pay attention to these paragraph blocks, and you will quickly see where the topic shifts!
2. Pay Attention to Sequence Words (Words Showing Order)
The best key to understanding expository texts clearly and accurately is "sequence" (junjo). Sequence can generally be divided into "chronological order" (order of time) and "order of events/items."
① Chronological Order (Sequence of Time)
These are expository texts written according to the passage of time, such as how a morning glory grows or a day in the life of an animal.
Can you find hidden words like these in the sentences?
・"First" (mazu)
・"Next" (tsugi ni)
・"Then / After that" (sorekara)
・"Finally / Lastly" (saigo ni)
・"Morning," "Noon," "Evening," "Night"
・"Spring," "Summer," "Autumn," "Winter"
When you spot these words, try pointing to them with your finger or circling them with your pencil! You will be able to see the order of events at a single glance.
② Order of Items (Listing and Explaining)
Sometimes, texts explain things by listing several features or types in order, like instructions for making a craft or different kinds of vehicles.
・"The first is..."
・"Another one is..."
・"Also, there is..."
Using these words as clues, you can read along while counting: "I wonder how many clever features there are in total?"
[Common Mistake]
If you skip over sequence words, you might get confused: "Wait, what comes first and what comes after?" It's just like reading an instruction manual for a craft project! Make sure not to miss words like "first" and "next"—pause and check them as you read along.
3. Search for Key Words and Sentences
You don't need to memorize the entire text word-for-word! Let's become masters at spotting the most important "keywords" and "key sentences."
Look for Words That Appear Again and Again
Are there words that appear over and over again in the text?
Words that appear many times show the main topic that the author really wants you to know about!
Find the "Question" and "Answer" as a Pair
If there is a question in the "Beginning" like "How does ... work?", look through the "Middle" and "End" to find where the answer is.
Answer sentences often include endings like:
・"Because..." (giving a reason)
・"It is because..."
・"It has become..."
If you read while mentally connecting the question sentence to the answer sentence like drawing a line between them, the essential framework of the text will stick firmly in your mind!
Pay Attention to the Subject (Shugo) and Predicate (Jutsugo)
When reading a sentence, check the link between "who/what" (subject) and "does what / is what" (predicate).
For example, in the sentence "Beavers chew trees and knock them down" (Bībā wa, ki o kajitte taoshimaus), "beavers" (bībā wa) is the subject, and "knock down" (taoshimaus) is the predicate. Paying attention to how words connect helps you accurately understand who is doing what.
[Key Points] 3 Antennas for Finding Important Words
1. Are there any words that appear repeatedly? (The main theme)
2. Where is the sentence that answers "...is it?" (The crucial answer)
3. Can you clearly tell "who/what" + "did what"? (Sentence connections)
4. Compare with Photos and Diagrams, and Connect with Your Own Experiences
In expository texts for lower grades, you will see big photographs, illustrations, and diagrams next to the text. These are not just decorative drawings! They are important helpers to help you understand the text thoroughly.
Compare Similarities (Commonalities) and Differences
Look at the photographs and diagrams while checking: "Ah, the 'slender beak' mentioned in the text is right here in this picture!" or "The wing shapes between this bird and that bird are completely different!" Compare the text and pictures side by side.
Seeing pictures and photos makes what you read in the text click: "Aha! That's what it means!"
Connect with Your Own Experiences
After reading an expository text, try connecting it to things you already know.
・"I've seen this bug in the grassy park before!"
・"That's the same clever trick used in a tool we have at home!"
By comparing what you read with your own experiences, your new discoveries will stick with you even more.
Share What You Learned with Everyone
After reading an expository text, try telling your friends or family about things you found awesome or mysterious!
Saying things aloud like, "I learned that...!" or "I was surprised to find this out for the first time!" turns the content you read into your very own knowledge and strength.
[Fun Fact]
When reading an expository text aloud (oral reading), take a breath at commas (、) and periods (。), and read rhythmically in word clusters. This helps the meaning flow smoothly into your head! Also, listen closely to the rhythm of polite sentence endings (such as "~desu" and "~masu").
5. Summary: The "4 Steps" to Reading Expository Texts
Whenever you read an expository text, remember these 4 steps:
Step 1: Read the Title and the "Beginning"
・What is this explanation about? (Grasp the topic)
・Find the opening question, such as "Why is it that...?"
Step 2: Spot the "Sequence" Words
・Pay attention to words like "First," "Next," "Then," and "Finally."
・Check what is written following the proper order.
Step 3: Read the "Middle" While Looking at Photos and Diagrams
・Compare the text with the pictures.
・Search for the "answer" sentence that matches the opening question.
Step 4: Read the "End" and Reflect
・Check the summary words.
・Share what you newly learned or how it connects to your own experiences with someone else.
Expository texts are "treasure boxes of wisdom" that broaden your world! By using sequence and key words as your clues, let's go discover lots of brand-new knowledge and exciting secrets!