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STAAR WRITING TEST:
THE EXPOSITORY ESSAY
What do you think? Why do you think it?
Expository Writing
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
The expository essay requires students
to clearly explain what they think about
something.

You are just explaining WHAT you think
about an issue and WHY you think it.

Your essay must be 27 lines or less in
length.
Here is a sample EXPOSITORY PROMPT
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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 spelling
Expository Prompt
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

Notice on the last slide how you were first asked to Read
some information, then you are asked to Think about
something, then you are asked to Write an essay.
The “Write” part is what your essay should be about. The
Read and Think parts are just to get you thinking about
the topic (in this case, the topics are recognition and
accomplishment)
Expository Writing – THE THESIS
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

The first thing you need is a THESIS. A thesis is your
“answer” to the prompt and says what you think about the
issue.
To write your thesis, identify the key ideas in the prompt
(they are red in the following examples) and make sure to
say what you think about those ideas in your thesis.
Expository Writing – THE THESIS
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Thesis Example:
Prompt: Write an essay explaining whether a
person must always be acknowledged in order to
have accomplished something.
Thesis: A person does not need to be
acknowledged in order to have accomplished
something.
Expository Writing – THE THESIS
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Thesis Example:
Prompt: Write an essay explaining what qualities
are needed to be a mentor to someone.
Thesis: Two qualities needed to be a mentor to
someone are understanding and determination.
Expository Writing
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Thesis Examples:
Prompt: Write an essay explaining the impact of
reading on an individual’s current and future life.
Thesis: Reading has impacted my life in the
present by giving me an open mind toward others,
and this open mind will help me work well with my
colleagues when I grow up and get a job.
Expository Writing
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
Your thesis should be located
AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR
ESSAY in your introduction.
Expository Writing
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
The rest of the paragraphs in your essay are
just explaining why you think that way.

You can use firsthand experiences,
anecdotes, allusions, or anything that helps
you support your thesis.
Expository Writing
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JUST REMEMBER:
Your entire essay
should support your
thesis.
Expository Writing
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Good luck!