Expository Writing
The “How and Why” of Writing
What is Expository Writing?
• Expository writing is defined as presenting
reasons, explanations, or steps in a
process
• Giving information
• An expository essay should follow a logical
sequence and have at least two different
main reasons.
• Logic and coherence is the main focus of
an expository essay
How is it different ?
• Expository writing does not tell a story
• Expository writing does not persuade a
reader but only gives facts and reasons
• Expository writing can also give the steps
of a process
Expository Writing
• Introduction of an expository should
include the main idea and what the essay
is about
• Two main reasons supporting this main
idea should also be included in the
introduction.
• Paragraph two should introduce the first reason
and give details to support the first reason
• Paragraph three should introduce the second
reason and give details to support the second
reason
• The conclusion should re-state all the reasons
Definition of Terms
• Thesis Statement: The main idea of the whole
essay
• Transition words: Words such as first, second,
as a result, which make transitions easy in the
essay.
• Main Ideas: Each paragraph should have a
main point or idea
• Supporting Details: Details support the main
ideas
Re-Cap:
Expository writing needs:
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One topic
Reasons supporting that topic
Details supporting the reasons
A conclusion re-stating the reasons
Transition words
Clear, concise, logical and informative
language
Topic: How I Would Change the
World
• Brainstorm
• Two ways in which you would like to
change the world
• Put these two reasons on your organizer.
Graphic Organizer
• Draw a square
• In the center box
write a sentence to
convey your 2
reasons.
• In the top two boxes
write details and
examples for reason
1.
• In the bottom two
boxes write details
and examples for
reason 2.
reason 1
reason 2
Details
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Can be descriptive
Can be factual
Can be from personal experience
Can be anecdotes
Paragraph One
• Hook
• Background information on your topic
• Thesis statement
Paragraph 2
• Put main idea for paragraph 2 on the
organizer.
• Add your details
• Personal experiences
• Descriptive details-describe experience
• Facts about the topic• Short anecdotes
Paragraph 3
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Put your main idea on the organizer
Add your details
Personal experiences
Descriptive details
Examples of the topic
Conclusion
• Re-state your reasons in your conclusion.
• Leave the reader with a final thought,
something dynamic.
Use Transition Words
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Add your transition words:
First,
Second,
Next,
For example,
In addition,
Finally,
Thesis Statement
• The thesis statement should be the last
sentence in the paragraph or implied
throughout the paragraph.
Introduction
• Now let’s write the introduction together,
now that we know what we are writing
about.
• Hook: The world today is definitely not a
paradise.
• Background information on your topic:
Hunger, abuse, poverty, pollution and
other dangers are all too common. The
world will probably never be perfect, but
that is no excuse to not try to make it a
better place to live.
Thesis Statement (containing your two
reasons:
Volunteering and recycling are two very
important activities that can help change
the world.
Introduction Paragraph
The world today is definitely not a
paradise. Hunger, abuse, poverty, pollution
and other dangers are all too common.
The world will probably never be perfect,
but people everywhere can try to make it a
better place to live. Volunteering and
recycling are two very important activities
that can help change the world.
Notice the two reasons you will be
discussing in your essay:
• Reason 1= volunteering
• Reason 2 = recycling
Paragraph 2
First, volunteering is not just about
working in a soup kitchen or visiting an
old folks’ home. Giving money to
charities can be a form of volunteering.
The best charities are those which help
people to help themselves like World
Vision and One Laptop Per Child. Today
anyone can volunteer to do anything!
Paragraph 3
Next, when people recycle, they are helping to
protect and to preserve their planet. Anything can be
recycled—from newspapers and plastic, to
computers and old cell phones. Many cities and
communities have recycle plants where people can
drop off their items. Recycling batteries keeps
hazardous metals out of landfills. Many stores, like
RadioShack and Office Depot, accept reusable ones.
In addition, old crayons can be sent to the National
Crayon Recycle Program, which melts them down
and reforms them into new ones.
Conclusion
Although volunteering and recycling
are just two of the ways to help change the
world, everyone can begin somewhere. A
person can study ways to change the
world, but doing something to help is the
best way to understand the process.
The world today is definitely not a paradise. Hunger, abuse,
poverty, pollution and other dangers are all too common. The world will
probably never be perfect, but people everywhere can try to make it a
better place to live. Volunteering and recycling are two very important
activities that can help change the world.
First, volunteering is not just about working in a soup kitchen or
visiting an old folks’ home. Giving money to charities can be a form of
volunteering. The best charities are those which help people to help
themselves like World Vision and One Laptop Per Child. Today anyone can
volunteer to do anything!
Next, when people recycle, they are helping to protect and to
preserve their planet. Anything can be recycled—from newspapers and
plastic, to computers and old cell phones. Many cities and communities
have recycle plants where people can drop off their items. Recycling
batteries keeps hazardous metals out of landfills. Many stores, like
RadioShack and Office Depot, accept reusable ones. In addition, old
crayons can be sent to the National Crayon Recycle Program, which melts
them down and reforms them into new ones.
Although volunteering and recycling are just two of the ways to
help change the world, everyone can begin somewhere. A person can study
ways to change the world, but doing something to help is the best way to
understand the process.
Editing your essay
• Check that you have all the elements of an
expository essay:
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Hook
Thesis with 2 Reasons
Details
Transition words
Conclusion that re-states your topic
Thoughtful ending
Organization
Grammar
Coherence, logic and clearly written