Key characteristics of hortatory exposition include:
- Persuasive Intent: The primary purpose is to convince or influence the reader by presenting a well-reasoned argument.
- Clear Purpose: Hortatory exposition has a distinct and unambiguous goal, which is to persuade the reader to accept a certain viewpoint or take a recommended action.
- Use of Evidence: Authors provide supporting evidence, such as statistics, anecdotes, expert opinions, or personal experiences, to bolster their arguments and make them more compelling.
- Logical Structure: Similar to other expository texts, hortatory exposition has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Each section contributes to the overall persuasive message.
- Ethical or Moral Appeal: This type of writing often appeals to the reader's sense of right or wrong, morality, fairness, or principles. It aims to show that the recommended action aligns with ethical considerations.
- Call to Action: The conclusion typically includes a clear call to action, urging the reader to embrace or act on the proposed ideas, beliefs, or behaviors.
Hortatory exposition is commonly found in various forms of writing, such as editorials, opinion pieces, persuasive essays, sermons, speeches, advertisements, public service announcements, and motivational articles. Its purpose is to influence the reader's thinking and motivate them to take a desired course of action.