Exposition is a type of oral or written discourse that explains, describes or provides sufficient information pertaining to a particular subject/topic. It involves the author's explicit utilisations of words to portray the crux of the central issue to the reader. Exposition is one of the four intrinsic rhetoric modes (varieties) of literary writing that include argumentation, description and narration as well and serves to inform, analyse or define etc.
1. Fiction
Expository conveyance of information within fiction can possibly take the form of facts or opinions that aid immensely in the plot development, establishments of characters or settings and so on. Exposition does help to increase the overall effect of drama in the story/account itself; but an overloaded exposition would not bode well for the quality of the account as it gets 'bogged down in detail' and results in the reader being exasperated at the dry and heavy nature of the account.
Exposition is the fundamental foundation of the story that introduces the theme in the story and permits the reader to be cognizant of the essentials of the story (it "sets the stage for the work" ) The exposition "encompasses the beginning of the plot", but this does not imply that it must be found at the beginning of the story. For instance, in classic detective fiction, readers will have to use 'expository clues' in the middle and at the end to reconstruct the beginning. This is the beauty of exposition and how it can be flexibly manipulated in fiction.
2. Non-fiction
The various mediums of expositions include chronological/ sequential accounts, descriptions (where the provision of information effectively presents a vivid mental illustration or stark emotion to the reader) , the cause-and-effect writing where analysis of events or occurences are being carried out or classification where common themes binds objects/groups under an umbrella. They generally give information to the reader and enable him/her to comprehend the events better.
3. Our everday lives
In fact, exposition is ubiquitous. The vast variations of exposition has assimilated within our society today. The media is an epitome of exposition. (e.g. news reports, press releases), and the global internet where we gain access to information is a fitting web of exposition. Ideas, evidences and discussions are presented in the mode of exposition.
Exposition is everywhere!
Sources:
http://www.stanford.edu/~arnetha/expowrite/info.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposition_(literary_technique)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetorical_modes#Examples_of_exposition_writing
http://www.enotes.com/literary-terms/q-and-a/what-exposition-15121
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