Expository Writing
(Real World Writing)
A Writing Workshop
Expository Writing Workshop
Why?
Writing Next Executive Summary:
A Writing Proficiency Crisis
Writing well is not just an option for young
people – it is a necessity. Along with reading
comprehension, writing skill is a predictor of
academic success and a basic requirement for
participation in civic life and in the global
economy. Yet every year in the United States
large numbers of adolescents graduate from
high school unable to write at the basic levels
required by colleges or employers.
In addition, every school day 7,000 young
people drop out of high school (Alliance for
Excellent Education, 2006), many of them
because they lack the basic literacy skills to
meet the growing demands of the high school
curriculum (Kamil, 2003; Snow &
Biancarosa, 2003). Because the definition of
literacy includes both reading and writing
skills, poor writing proficiency should be
recognized as an intrinsic part of this national
literacy crisis.
Definitions of Expository Writing
“Expository writing is a genre characterized by
information, ideas, opinions, directions,
explanations, and arguments all supported by
substantive details.”
-Marcia Freeman in Building a
Community of Writers
Definitions of Expository Writing
A type of informational text
that clarifies or explains
something.
-TEA Glossary
Definitions of Expository Writing
A pedagogical term for any form of writing
that conveys information and explains
ideas. May include elements of narration,
description, and argumentation.
Unlike creative or persuasive writing,
however, its primary goal is to deliver
information about an issue, subject,
method or idea.
-Richard Nordquist
Definitions of Expository Writing
Expository writing informs, explains
why or tells how. It is a genre
characterized by information,
ideas, opinions, directions,
explanations, and argument all
supported by substantive details.
- NCTE
Expository Writing does…
• Express information or ideas
• Inform, Explain why or tell how
• Supported details
Definitions of Expository Writing
An effective expository essay has these
characteristics:
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Specific topic
Effective introduction and conclusion
Clearly stated thesis or controlling idea
Clear, logical organization
A variety of transitions
A variety of sentence structures and rhetorical devices
Facts, quotations, and other details
No extraneous or inconsistent information
Accurately synthesized ideas.
Expository Writing
Organizational Formats
*Explanation
*Cause and Effect
*Problem/Solution
*Classification
*Pros and Cons
* Compare and Contrast
Outline for Success pg 156
• I. Introduction
– Attention-grabbing opening
– Controlling idea or thesis
• II. Body
– Causes and/or effects that support thesis
– Logical organization of facts and details
• III. Conclusion
– Restatement of controlling idea or thesis
– Memorable ending
Writing Strategies
ABCD for on demand writing
A=Attack the prompt
-Circle or highlight important verbs in the
prompt. Draw a line from the verb to what it
refers to.
-Rewrite the prompt in your own words
B=Brainstorm ideas
-Create a graphic organizer to generate ideas.
-Use one for each part of the prompt if
necessary.
ABCD’s continued…
C=Choose an organizational format
-Think about the best way to organize your ideas.
-Number your ideas in the order you will write
them. Cross out ideas you will not be using.
D=Detect errors
-Carefully reread your writing.
-Make sure that your response makes sense and is
complete
-Look for spelling, punctuation, and grammar
errors.
Real-World Writing Purposes
Purpose
Explanation
Express and Reflect
The writer . . .
. . . expresses or reflects on his or her own life and experiences.
. . . often looks backward in order to look forward.
Inform and Explain
The writer . . .
. . . states a main point and purpose.
. . . tries to present the information in a surprising way.
Evaluate and Judge
The writer . . .
. . . focuses on the worth of person, object, idea, or other phenomenon.
. . . usually specifies the criteria to the object being seen as “good” or “bad.”
Inquire and Explore
The writer . . .
. . . wrestles with a question or problem.
. . . hooks with the problem and lets the reader watch them wrestle with it.
Analyze and Interpret
Take a Stand/Propose a
Solution
The writer . . .
. . . seeks to analyze and interpret phenomena that are difficult to understand
or explain.
The writer . . .
. . . seeks to persuade audiences to accept a particular position on a
controversial issue.
. . . describes the problem, proposes a solution, and provides justification.
Adopted from Bean, Chappell, and Gillam (2003).
Thesis
A thesis concisely states the central point of the
essay. It is often called the controlling or main
idea because every subsequent part should
support it. The thesis usually appears in an
essay’s opening paragraphs so that the reader
will know exactly what point the essay will
discuss. Often professional writers state their
topic and direction in the introduction but
reveal the full thesis as the essay progresses.
Creating an effective Thesis vignette
(scaffolding approach taken from Foundation lesson in Laying the Foundation)
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Alyssa – mom can you help me with my thesis statement for my research paper?
Me – what is it about?
Alyssa – airport security scans
Me – what about them?
Alyssa – how they are bad for your health and violate people’s privacy
Me – so you arguing in agreement that they’re bad?
Alyssa – Yes, and all the articles I have so far are about how they’re bad
Me – so let’s go thru a thinking process. Answer this question in a complete
sentence: “What do the American citizens or authors of the articles think about
airport security scans?”
Alyssa – The authors think that the new airport security scans are bad for people’s
health and are a violation of their privacy.
Me – tell me Why? and How?
Alyssa – because they stress people out and might be harmful to their bodies and
they show very graphic details about their bodies.
Me – so rewrite your sentence and included those details – after you write that,
then drop the “authors think” part
Alyssa – “Airport security as a governmental protection service is a violation of
privacy to all citizens due to the body-exposing scans, harmful technology, and
emotional and mental distress.”
Revising vs Editing
• Revising – it is literally re-vision. Looking at
your ideas in a new way: changing your focus or
approach, rearranging, adding, deleting,
changing…
• Editing – dealing with the minor details of your
writing. Correcting grammatical and stylistic
problems: word choice, spelling, grammar,
sentence structure, and punctuation.
RADAR
Review On-line Video
 Replace: words that are not specific or overused,
unclear sentences
 Add: new information, descriptive adjectives and
adverbs, rhetorical devices
 Delete: unrelated ideas, unclear sentences,
repeated words/phrases, extraneous
details
and
 Reorder: most important points last, better flow,
details support main ideas
Clutter Removal Work
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Stop thinking that more is always better.
Delete unneeded repetition
Cut meaningless qualifiers
Sever sentences that don’t belong
Combine sentences to clean up clutter
Writing Prompt Format
Read the following quote/statement:
“……………………”
Think carefully about the quote/statement.
(Truism)
Write an essay explaining___________________.
Be Sure to:
• clearly state your thesis
• organize and develop ideas effectively
• choose your words carefully
• edit for grammar, mechanics, and spelling