EXPOSITORY ESSAY
Purpose: To Inform
Why is this important to me?
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You will be taking an End of Course Exam with
TWO expository essays.
You must write two passing essays on the EOC to
earn enough points to pass.
You must pass this exam to graduate. It is one of
your graduation requirements.
THE EOC IS TIMED: You have about 65 minutes to
plan and type your essay.
What is the purpose of expository
writing?
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There are many purposes for expository writing – to
inform or to persuade.
In ninth grade you will write two informative essays.
In tenth grade you will write two persuasive essays.
Where will I use expository writing after high school? In
college English, History, and Science classes. Most
careers rely on this too…
Paramedics, Doctors, Ambulance Drivers, Police, Car
Mechanics, Teachers, Writers, Actors, Vets., Managers of
Companies all use this on a daily basis.
THE EOC IS CHALLENGING
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When you write your essay for the EOC you are not
provided any texts or literary work you can pull
examples from.
The only resources you can use must come from your
own brain.
This means you have to pull examples from subject
material you learned in English, Science, Math, P.E.,
Electives or T.V., Books, Movies, Pop culture, or
Sports. If you do not provide examples to support
your topic sentences you will fail.
What does an expository essay do?
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An expository essay explains, or acquaints the
reader with knowledge about the topic.
Expository essays use facts and statistical
information, cause and effect relationships, or
examples.
You can not say, “I think” or “My
Opinion Is”
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Since expository essays are factual, they are
written without emotion and usually written in
the third person. That means that the use of the
pronoun "I" is not usually found within the
essay.
Expository Essays have a distinct
format
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Introduction: You have a hook (engaging sent.), background
information, and a thesis statement that tells the reader what
you will be informing about and includes your examples.
Body Paragraphs: Transitions that show the connection between
your ideas + Topic Sentence that tells the reader what the
paragraph will inform about + an example or scenario that
supports the topic sent. + concluding sent. that summarizes the
paragraph.
Conclusion: Summarizes the essay + explains the long or short
term consequences on the community, nation, or world.
Model Essay: Write about the
importance of friendship.
Have you ever had a best friend? A best friend is important to many people
in society because they provide emotional support. A friend can both positively and
negatively effect a person. A true friend can impact you by providing emotional
support and getting you to try new activities.
Throughout life, you face many struggles and tribulations that can be less
devastating with the support of a friend. When you have a best friend who you can
talk to over the phone or through texting, they often can talk to you about the situation.
Their advice can lift your mood from sadness to one of clarity. Often times your friend
is separated from the issue you are dealing with and they can give you advice or
persuade you to talk to your mom or dad about the problem. A friend can impact your
emotions and provide helpful advice to get you out of tough situations.
In addition to providing emotional support, a friend can also convince you to
try new activities. Many people struggle with trying something new and the anxiety of
doing it by yourself. When you try something with a friend you know that you are not
alone. This can give you the confidence you need to master a new sport or activity.
Friends are inspirational you often strive to emulate them and they guide you into trying
new things.
Overall, friends impact your daily decisions and help motivate you to expand
your horizons. Many times your best friends become the one person you trust and turn
to for advice. In some cases you spend more time with your friends than your immediate
family. Friendship is an important tool that impacts every person in the world and it can
be the driving force behind making positive decisions and trying out new hobbies.
Foldable: ON THE OUTSIDE
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Flap 1: What is the purpose of expository writing?
Flap 2: What does the introduction contain?
Flap 3: The Body Paragraphs include…
Flap 4: How many body paragraphs?
Flap 5: Where do I pull my examples from?
Flap 6: The conclusion includes:
Flap 7: Key words used in Expository Writing
Foldable: On the Inside
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Flap 1: To inform the reader about the topic/issue
NOT TO PERSUADE
Flap 2: Hook + Background information that
explain the hook in more detail + Thesis statement
Flap 3: Topic Sentence (connects to the thesis) +
Examples + supporting details+ so what (what is
the short term impact of this?)
Flap 4: At least 2 body paragraphs
Flaps Outside
Flap 5: I can pull examples from history, sports, t.v.,
movies, my own life, english, science.
 Flap 6: The conclusion includes a summary + so
what…what is the long term consequence of this on
my community, nation, or world.
 Flap 7: Key words defined:
Hook – engaging sent. can be a ?, quote, fact,
statistic, or thought that gets the readers attention.
Thesis statement – answers the prompt and tells the
reader the two things you will inform about.
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