STAAR Expository Essay
REVIEW
Writing the Expository Essay
 Expository
= Explain
 Expository
writing explains what you think (and why
you think that way) in a clear and complete way.
 You
are not telling a story or trying to persuade
your reader.
 Your
essay will be read by two test readers who will
grade it with a number between 1 and 4.
Understanding the Prompt
Let’s look at an example prompt from a real STAAR-EOC test:
STAAR-EOC English 1 Expository Prompt
READ the information in the box below.
In 1955 medical researcher Jonas Salk introduced an effective polio vaccine. At the time polio
was considered the biggest threat to public health, yet Salk refused to profit by patenting the
vaccine because he was more concerned with preventing disease than with personal gain.
Although many people work to benefit themselves, some people choose to put others first. Think
carefully about this statement.
Write an essay explaining whether people should be more concerned about others than about
themselves.
Be sure to—
 clearly state your thesis
 organize and develop your ideas effectively
 choose your words carefully
 edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and sentences
Understanding the Prompt
 The
prompt is presented with a “Read” part first, a
“Think” part second, and a “Write” part third.
 Read
the “Write” portion of the prompt first.
 Don’t
forget to read the other parts, but it might
help you understand more if you start with the
“Write” part and focus on the assignment.
 Use
a dictionary to help you understand any
confusing or unknown words.
Scoring STAAR Essays
Example Essay A:
Thinking about others before you is a nice thing to think of, but if you
think of yourself first it makes you feel isolated. Caring about others
before you isn’t a bad thing, but thinking about yourself isn’t bad
either. To me I think of others before me. Some people have the
good life, others don’t. I’ll rather put myself in danger than others
being in danger as well. I’m only one person but risking myself could
save more than one life. When your in a room where there seems to
be a fire some people will think of themselves while others think of
the rest. The doctor could risk himself of getting polio but he could
save hundreds of lifes that currently have polio. To me people that
think of themselves before others are selfish and maybe greedy, but
others that think of others are kind people.
(Handwritten version 25 lines.)
What would you score this essay? Remember, you can give it a 1, 2, 3 or 4.
Scoring STAAR Essays
That
one got a 2!!! Do you agree?
Scoring STAAR Essays
Example Essay B:
Humanity has a funny way of contradicting itself sometimes. All children
are taught to share and put others’ needs before our own. Somewhere
down the line we realize that the very people who preach these things to
us don’t follow their own rules. It is very important in society today to
remember the bigger picture, which often includes doing things to help
others with no benefit to yourself. People use each other for personal gain
all the time. A glorified outlook on this way of life is all around us. In media
people are more concerned with which Hollywood star is going out with
which millionaire rather than the thousands of people dying of hunger in
third world countries. As consumers we see this life and wish to be like that.
Doing something for monitary gain is just like money itself: easily
expendable and transient. But doing something to help others leads to
emotional or moral gain. The memmories and feelings you get from
helping others won’t ever go away. It’s worth something to you. Worth
more than money ever could be.
Handwritten version 22 lines.
What would you score this essay? Remember, you can give it a 1, 2, 3 or 4.
Scoring STAAR Essays
That
one got a 4!!! Do you agree?
Expository Essay Writing

You are going to write your essay a lot like your CECs…you will have a
claim (introduction), evidence (body), and commentary (conclusion).

INTRODUCTION: In a STAAR essay, your introduction may be only one
sentence. In most essays, an introduction would have more information,
but STAAR limits your space and your time, so you need to get to your
point quickly.

BODY: With a CEC, you use a piece of literature to find your evidence.
With an expository essay, you can use examples from real life. You can
also make comparisons and contrasts—that means explain situations
that are the same or are different.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions end the essay by giving a sense of
importance and completeness to the idea.
What About Spelling & Grammar?

While your overall message is most important, your word
usage, spelling, and grammar can affect your score.

If you make errors that do not take away from the overall
message you are communicating, you can still receive a high
rating.

Use a dictionary!

Write a rough draft…it’s only one page!

Read your essay, set it aside to work on another part of the
test, and then come back to it again to give it a final review.

Organize your essay with a purpose…don’t just ramble.
Understanding the Prompt
Let’s look at another example prompt from a real STAAR-EOC test:
STAAR-EOC English 1 Expository Prompt
READ the information in the box below.
Jane Austen (1775-1817) and Franz Kafka (1883-1924) are considered great writers. Their books
continue to sell, and they are widely read and studied in schools everywhere. Neither of them,
however, received much recognition while they were alive.
Should people do things only to be recognized? Think carefully about this question.
Write an essay explaining whether a person must always be acknowledged in order to have
accomplished something.
Be sure to—
 clearly state your thesis
 organize and develop your ideas effectively
 choose your words carefully
 edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and sentences
Understanding the Prompt
Let’s look at another example prompt from a real STAAR-EOC test:
STAAR-EOC English 1 Expository Prompt
READ the information in the box below.
For centuries scientists have used animals to test medical procedures and medicines that they
hope might be used to help people fight disease. Now many companies also test their
cosmetic and household cleaning products on animals to study the effects of the products.
Though humans now have many health and household products because of testing on animals,
many animals suffered and died because of this testing. Think carefully about this statement.
Write an essay explaining whether human benefit should overrule any damage or destruction to
animals.
Be sure to—
 clearly state your thesis
 organize and develop your ideas effectively
 choose your words carefully
 edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and sentences
More Review
I
have put these review PowerPoints on
my webpage.
You will also find a couple of the
PowerPoints and notes we used when I
introduced expository writing and CECs
first semester.