Evidence-Based Expository Intervention: A Tutorial for Speech-Language Pathologists

Abstract

Purpose: This tutorial guides speech-language pathologists (SLPs) through the research base for expository intervention and evidence-based decision making for clinical implementation. Method: In the first half of the tutorial, the nature and development of expository discourse is described, and then attention is turned to the research base that informs SLP expository intervention. The many educational domains in which relevant research can be found and the diverse terminology used are explained. From reading comprehension and compositional writing, two areas with strong research evidence that are suitable to SLP use—text structure and learning strategies—are identified. The second half of the tutorial focuses on crafting SLP interventions from the educational evidence. An expository intervention designed specifically for SLPs from this research base, called Sketch and Speak, is presented. In this intervention, visual and written note-taking strategies are combined with oral formulation and practice strategies and taught through individualized oral interactions around informational texts. SLPs are guided on how to adapt this and other expository treatments to their own priorities and service delivery situations while maintaining quality features or “active ingredients” of researched treatments. Conclusions: There is considerable educational research on expository intervention. From this literature, SLPs can strategically adopt and adapt to implement evidence-based interventions to help students understand, speak, and write in this important discourse form.