An introductory paragraph written to capture the reader's interest may be a descriptive narrative. An example used to support an idea may be a descriptive narrative too. Description is present in all strong writing because it provides the significant details which explain ideas. Action verbs, sharp adjectives and adverbs, and precise nouns create powerful details. Exemplification is the use of examples to explain or elaborate an idea.
Paragraphs are often developed examples which illustrate a point.
Strong writers use examples in all rhetorical situations and within all other rhetorical strategies regardless whether the purpose is to express, inform, or persuade. Examples can help explain definitions, comparisons, processes, classification groupings, and causal relationships. One common use of example is as a vivid and exciting introductory attention-getter. Transitional devices which signal exemplification include for instance, in fact, specifically, to illustrate, such as, for example. Definitions are necessary to clarify abstractions, explain unfamiliar terms, or distinguish one idea from another similar idea.