Expository Writing
How to do something!

What is expository writing?
When you explain anything, from directions to rules, you are imparting knowledge. This type of writing is crucial in our informationdriven world. What you write will be used, mailed, published, produced, read, received, followed, printed, presented, or sung!

Turn to your partner directly across from you and take turns explaining how you comb your hair.

Did you notice that explaining things in the correct order, one step at a time, is the best way to make a process clear.

Rewrite the following steps in the order you would use to heat soup.

Making Soup
Choose the most effective transition word to introduce each step in the process, then number each step.
First Then Finally After that Next
- Remove the top from the can, and pour the soup into the pan.
Stir the soup over medium heat until it’s hot and ready to eat.
- Gather together a can of soup, a pan, and a can opener.
- Attach the can opener to the lid of the can and turn it slowly until the top of the can comes off.
- Put the pan on the stove, and turn on the burner to medium.

Your expository writing project …
How to do something!
You will use the step-by-step process to write directions for how to do something that you will demonstrate in class. Your written paper will be based on these steps, but expanded to be a wonderful piece to turn in. Your project can be preparing something to eat or drink, or how to create, do, or operate something.

How will we do this expository writing project?
In steps!

1st step in the “How to” Formula
A catchy title to “tease” the reader.
Hint : Do not use “How to” in the title; that’s too obvious!
Examples :
The Best Sandwich this Side of Birmingham
Want to Win at Video Games?
Be the Poker Champion of your School
Flying in your Backyard
Juggling with the Stars

Now … your turn.
Take the following ideas and turn them into catchy titles :
1. How to train a puppy
2. How to milk a cow
3. How to ride a skateboard
4. How to water ski
5. How to play football
6. How to get to my house
7. How to do the Cupid Shuffle
8. How to make pancakes
9. How to make popcorn

2nd step in the “How to” Formula
Create a clever “grabber” as your first sentence. You want to capture the readers attention . Here are some tips and examples:
1. Use a rhetorical question: Are you tired of the same old afterschool snack?
2. Use dialogue: “Score! That’s a 20-pound catfish if I’ve ever seen one!” or “Bubba shot his finger off!”
3. Use a mystery statement: When I came home from school, there was a very odd looking box on the front porch.
4. Use a shocking statement: The best way to make a perfect score on your next test is to sleep.
5. Use a humorous statement: Making cookies with my sister is like teaching a monkey to bake!
6. Use onomatopoeia: Crash! Kaboom! That’s the sound that came from our basement the first time we built a rocket.

Now it is your turn.
Take the following ideas and write a “grabber” first line:
(Copy them down, skip a line, and we’ll go back to the previous slide.)
1. How to start a dirtbike
2. How to arm wrestle
3. How to wrap a present
4. How to build a fort
5. How to make chocolate pudding
6. How to bait a fishhook
7. How to braid hair
8. How to play Uno

3rd step in the “How to” Formula
Writing a topic sentence

The main idea is what your passage is mostly about. To write a topic sentence, expand the main idea into an interesting sentence that lets your reader know right away what your paragraph is going to be about.

Examples:
Main idea: Traveling across Europe.
Topic sentence: One of my favorite experiences was my visit to Stonehenge.
Main idea: Cleaning the house.
Topic sentence: I usually begin by dusting the furniture.
Main idea: Learning to cook for yourself.
Topic sentence: The first thing I learned to make was Kraft
Macaroni and Cheese.
Main idea: Building a tree house.
Topic sentence: After you have your plans, you’ll need to secure your materials.
Main idea: Flying on an airplane for the first time.
Topic sentence: One way to pass the time is by watching the in-flight movie.

Now it is your turn …
Read the following main idea statements and create a great topic sentence for one of the paragraphs that would be in that expository passage:

1. Main idea: Making your own kite is a fun thing to do in the spring.
Topic sentence:
2. Main idea: Taking care of a pet is a big responsibility.
Topic sentence:
3. Main idea: There is a lot of interesting information on the Internet.
Topic sentence:
4. Main idea: There are several ways to learn a foreign language.
Topic sentence:

4th step in the “How to” Formula
Including details

Authors look at a scene with a critical eye. They notice details and then write descriptively. A good descriptive passage appeals to the reader’s sense of smell, sight, hearing, touch, and taste.

For instance, a story about a baseball game at a baseball park might include details with the following words:
Crowds
Shouts
Ball players
Uniforms Grass mowed
Diamond Bases Little kids
Hot dog seller
Sunny
Announcer
“thwack”
“Safe!” Peanuts Organ music
Umpires The “wave” “Strike one!”
The press Stomping feet
Scoreboard
Autographs
Families
Victory
Cheering “You’re out!” Home plate
Stomping feet
Dugout
Pitching
Bats and balls
National anthem
Jeering
Baseball cards fear
“Strike two!”
Buttery popcorn glove
Frozen
Cokes sweating singing “homerun!”

Now it is your turn . . .
Read the following passage.
I love it when my friend comes over to spend the night on Friday nights. We stay up late and do many things. We have a blast together. We fix snacks and do fun things.
Sometimes we go places. I always look forward to the good times we have.
It doesn’t create much of a picture in your head, does it? So make a list of words that refer to
DETAILS you might include! Use your five senses to create your list. Put the words into five columns.

Friday Nights at the Funny Farm
Hear See Smell Feel taste
Laughs Moonlight Popcorn popping
Soft pillows
Cinnamon rolls

Now for a little fun, read “Detail
Court,” a play where Judge Trudy expects more from a young writer.
Listen for details and be careful not to break your funny bone!

5th step in the “How to” Formula
Conclude with re-stating the most important message of your writing

Restating means to say the same thing in different words.
Authors restate a point to keep it fresh in the reader’s mind. This is especially true when you are writing a conclusion.
Read the following sentences along with a restated version.

Cycling is a great way to stay in shape and have fun, too.
Give cycling a chance and I think you’ll like it as much as I do.
Raising earthworms to sell for bait is an interesting and profitable hobby.
I never thought I’d enjoy raising earthworms, but I think the worms and I are going to be friends for a long, long time.
My sister Ellen and I can’t wait for winter to come so we can build a snowman.
Stop by this winter so you can see the world’s most beautiful snowman!

Your Turn!!
You will be divided into 4 groups and given a topic sentence. Your group will use the topic sentence to write a good conclusion sentence.

Now it is YOUR turn …
Read the following topic sentences then write a restatement for a strong, memorable conclusion.
1. After school, kids should eat healthy snacks instead of junk food.
2. Having a garage sale is a lot of work but a great way to make some money.
3. A scarecrow is a good way to keep birds from eating your garden.
4. The best way to spend a beautiful spring Saturday is on a hike in the North Alabama mountains.

We are going to make a class poster to help us remember how to write a good “How To” expository paper. The same groups that wrote conclusion sentences will write two reminders. The reminders will be placed together on a poster and hung in the room.

Reminders
• Use correct spelling and punctuation
• Use correct paragraph form
Group
1
• Use strong verbs
• Use adjectives and adverbs
Group
2
• Use figures of speech
• Use transition, or sequence words
Group
3
• Be creative; make it interesting
• You’ll be presenting this, so choose something you can do in class
Group
4

Your rubric for your paper looks like this:
____ 0-10 catchy title
____ 010 “grabber” first sentence
____ 0-10 clear topic sentence
____ 0-10 spelling & grammar, including paragraph form (At least
3 paragraphs)
____ 0-10 at least 5 ordered steps
____ 0-10 transition (sequence) words
____ 0-10 clear, descriptive details
____ 0-10 use of at least 5 uses of adjectives, adverbs, or figures of speech
____ 0-10 restatement of topic sentence as a conclusion
____ 0-10 this rubric is included with your paper
= 100 possible points possible

Your rubric for your presentation looks like this:
____ 0-20 speaking clearly with appropriate volume
____ 0-20 eye contact with audience
____ 0-20 expression
____ 0-20 all materials ready
____ 0-20 present steps in process
= 100 possible points

Example of an Expository Writing/Presentation Project
Whistling ‘til the Cows Come Home
Is it your nightly job to call everyone to dinner when it is time to eat? I’ve discovered a great way to successfully get everyone to come to the table at the same time and hopefully, while the food is still piping hot. That’s my job at our house and most times it’s like herding cats! I’ve finally hit upon the solution. Just whistle! That’s right, a whistle can be the signal for everyone to come to the dinner table immediately. If you don’t know how to whistle, I’ll teach you. It’s as easy as pie, as they say. Hey, maybe if this works, the apple pie for dessert will still be warm from the oven.
You can learn to whistle in just five easy steps.

First, wet your whistle! That’s not just an expression, it is really necessary. Gulp a swallow of water before you get going, so you have plenty of moisture in your mouth. Next, straighten your two pointer fingers and hold them toward your mouth. Then, place them firmly on the tip of your tongue. Now, you must push your tongue forward and hold the tip against your two straight fingers. Finally, while keeping your fingers straight, blow HARD between your teeth.
Remember that everything worth doing requires practice, so I suggest you go outside where no one can hear your screeches and repeat the steps until you have a smooth, shrill, loud, long, lovely, lingering lullaby for the lips.

Now you can start relaxing about calling everyone to dinner. Your job just became a lot easier because your family will never miss the signal again. Whistling for dinner will get everyone running to the table while the gettin’ is good!