Activity on Bukidnon Practices and Global Responsibility and Local Knowledge Systems
Directions: Write an expository essay on the following question. See the example of an expository
essay below.
1. Why is the mediator getting sick and bringing misfortune to the tribe for not complying with the
agreements and penalties of Sala according to the tradition of Bukidnon? Provide evidence from a
study.
2. Discuss the significance and effect of common sense to the Talaandig tribe as a link between
local knowledge and global science
WHAT IS AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY?
The expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to investigate an idea,
evaluate evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear
and concise manner. This can be accomplished through comparison and contrast, definition,
example, the analysis of cause and effect, etc.
Expository Essay Format
Introduction: Start with a “hook” to get your reader’s attention. In one or two sentences, transition
to a strong thesis statement to tell your reader what the essay will be about (but don’t start with “My
essay will be about….”).
Body: Each of body paragraphs typically start with a topic sentence that directly links to the thesis
statement. Discuss different information in each paragraph, leading up to your most compelling or
relevant point. Be sure to include quotes from credible sources along with insightful commentary.
End with transition sentences that introduce your next topic sentence.
Conclusion: Restate your thesis statement before making a broader statement about your topic. Do
not introduce new information here; if you didn’t cover a point in your body paragraphs, you may
not need it in the essay.
Example of Expository Essay
In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The
medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation.
Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to
be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted
circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes
Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the
press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the
reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and
disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in
the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following
decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other
things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.
The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its immediate cultural
and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact on politics and religion across
Europe. In the century following the invention of the printing press, the relatively stationary
intellectual atmosphere of the Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the Reformation
and the Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the total reshaping of the
continent.