Name
Period
Notes: Writing Expository Essays
by arranging a recipe’s steps
Day One Objective: Today, we will be able to organize
in
order.
Warm Up #1: Adventures in Eating
Think about food and finish these sentences:
1. The most unusual food I ever ate was …
2. The best thing I ever ate was….
3. The worst thing I ever ate was…
4. It sounds gross, but I would like to make up a recipe for…
5. I think my classmates would enjoy eating..
6. My favorite kind of food is…
7. Make up a silly name for a made-up food: for example, Honey-Coated Bees’ Knees
In this unit, I will write an
to
something to eat by
The guidelines for writing my essay are as follows:
SUBJECT:
AUDIENCE:
PURPOSE:
FORM:
VOICE:
essay that teaches my classmates how
.
Name
Period
Notes: Writing Expository Essays
The skills I will practice are
PREWRITING:
◦
Collecting
◦
Learning about the parts of a “recipe” essay
WRITING:
◦
about a topic
your ideas
Writing an effective beginning,
, and ending.
REVISING: Improving your
◦
Using
◦
Peer Responding
cooking terms
EDITING: Checking for
◦
Using colorful
and Correctness
and abbreviations
Reacting to the reading. Good directions tell how to do something from beginning to end. Look at the
sample recipe on pages 5-6. Then, number the steps below in the right order. The first one has been done
for you.
6
Mash the potatoes.
Peel the potatoes.
Pour off all the water.
Cover the chunks with cold water.
Slice the potatoes into chunks.
Boil the potatoes until they are done.
Add the other ingredients and mix it all up.
Directions: The writer used 2 lists in his directions. Write the names of the lists on the lines below.
1.
2.
Do you think the writer wrote clear directions? What is your favorite part of the recipe? Write
your answers in the space below.
Name
Period
Notes: Writing Expository Essays
Day Two Objective: Today, we will be able to
information by brainstorming
and supporting details.
Warm Up #2: How to Make a PB&J
On the following lines, list the ingredients and other items you would need to make a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich. Then, describe how to make one.
Foods That Don’t Require Cooking
Foods That Do Require Cooking
The recipe I would like to share with my classmates is:
Ingredients
Things You Need
Name
Period
Notes: Writing Expository Essays
In your own words, write the steps for making this food from start to finish.
Day Three Objective: Today, we will be able to introduce a
clearly by creating
several
.
of an introductory
Warm Up #3: Transitions
Circle the transition words that indicate TIME, underline the transitions that ADD, and put a box around those
that show LOCATION.
along with
during
while
until
finally
after
first
on top of
next to
then
at
second
after that
also
as soon as
before
third
beside
when
around
Name
Period
Notes: Writing Expository Essays
Parts of a “Recipe” Essay
Like all kinds of
writing, your recipe will have three parts: a
a middle, and an
. Each part has a special

The BEGINNING gives

The

information to grab the reader’s
lists the
gives the
.
.
and other things needed. Then it
for following the recipe.
The ENDING includes some comments by
to bring everything together in an
way.
Writing the Beginning
The beginning should grab the reader’s
and share some interesting
.
Ways to start your essay:
◦
Tell why the recipe is different or unusual.
◦
Give some background information
◦
Be creative!
On a separate sheet of paper, write three different beginnings for your “recipe” essay. Choose the beginning
you like best and put a check mark next to it. Be sure to show your teacher before you move on to the next
step.
Day Four Objective: Today, we will be able to
a topic with relevant facts and
by creating body paragraphs.
Warm Up #4: If you could have your own personal chef for a day, what foods would you request and
why?
Name
Period
Notes: Writing Expository Essays
Writing the Middle
 The middle tells the
what to do – what
needed, and what
and other things are
to follow.
 The most important thing to remember about this part of the recipe is
This means using
Ingredients I will need:
!
Other things I will need:
On a separate sheet of paper, write the directions (the how-to steps) in order from first to last.
Go back and add transitions to help the reader keep track of the steps. Use your transitions “cheat
sheet” or the list from warm up #3 to help you.
Be sure you have included all steps from beginning to end.
Be sure you included exact measurements to that the recipe turns out right.
Tell how many serving the recipe makes.
Name
Period
Notes: Writing Expository Essays
Day Five Objective: Today, we will be able to provide a
section that follows
from the information presented.
Warm Up #5: What is your favorite restaurant and what do you like to order when you go
there?
Writing the Ending
The ending should
the essay and tie things
in an interesting
way. Some ideas for good endings include:
◦
Add some personal
◦
Tell why you like
◦
Leave your reader with some
this recipe
On a separate sheet of lined paper, write the ending of your “recipe” essay.
Day Six Objective: Today, we will be able to
our writing through
editing.
Warm Up #6: Revising in Action
Insert the transition words FIRST, NEXT, AFTER THAT, and FINALLY into the following paragraph.
Note: not every sentence requires a transition.
Pour the mixture into a greased and floured pan. Sprinkle it with the nuts. Put the cake into the oven.
Check how long the cake needs to bake and set a timer. When the time goes off, ,carefully take the
cake out of the oven. Allow the cake to cool. Cut the cake and serve it with ice cream.