Expository T-Chart
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What is expository writing?
 Collaborate
with your group & list everything you can
think of that is expository writing.
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What is NOT expository writing?
 Collaborate
with your group & list everything would not
be expository writing.
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As we learn about expository writing, add to your
T-Chart what is & is not expository writing.
What is expository writing?
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Conveys information and explains ideas
Contains a main idea (AKA thesis statement)
Supporting details
Facts & statistics
Needs a hook in introduction
Lacks a story plot
Non-Fiction
Has a beginning, middle, and an end
What is not expository writing?
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Fiction
Contains a plot line
Contain a thesis
Folktales
Fantasy
Dr. Seuss
Sci/fi
EXPOSITORY DEFINITION:
“SERVING TO EXPOUND, SET FORTH, OR
EXPLAIN”
If this is the definition of expository, what do you think the
definition of expository writing will be?
Expository Writing: writing with a purpose to explain a topic or idea
Expository Structures
1. Compare/Contrast
Definition: explain how 2+
more things are alike/different
Example: Explain the types
of changes a student may undergo
from middle school to high school.
As a writer you would have to
explain what the student was like
before (in middle school) and what
student was like after (in high
school).
Expository Structures
2. Cause/Effect
Definition: identifies one or
more causes and the resulting
effects
Example: Explain the
importance of being
involved in your community.
As a writer you would have to explain
what are different things that would
cause you to become involved in the
community and what the effects of your
involvement would be (could be for
yourself or for the community as a whole)
Expository Structures
3. Definition
Definition: describes
characteristics or features
of something
Example: Explain what it
means to be an American.
As a writer you would have to
explain what are the characteristics
that make a person American.
Expository Structures
4. Explanatory
Definition: explains a writer’s
position on a topic
Example: Explain whether second
chances are important.
As a writer you would need to choose a position to explain.
Example: Explain why it’s
necessary to give someone a
second chance.
As a writer you are given the position to explain.
HOW TO WRITE AN
EXPOSITORY ESSAY
How to Write an Expository Essay
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Introduction:
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1st paragraph
Announces the topic
Should include a strong lead to catch the reader’s attention
Should let your reader know the topic and purpose of your essay
Should include a CLEARLY stated thesis statement
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Last sentence of your introduction paragraph
Thesis should be developed with relevant details
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Details may include: facts, examples, quotations, cautions, or anecdotes
Supporting paragraphs
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Details must be organized & presented in different paragraphs
Should be a logical progression of ideas
Should be appropriate to the purpose & audience of your essay
Should use transitions
Each supporting paragraph should begin with a clearly stated topic
sentence.
How to Write an Expository Essay
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Supporting paragraphs (cont’d)
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Should make connections between ideas and paragraphs using
transitional words and phrases (for example, furthermore,
secondly, in contrast, however, in addition, then, likewise, etc.)
Transitions improve the flow and clarity of your writing
Vary sentence structure – Use a mixture of long and short
sentences. Use both simple and complex sentences.
Sentence variety makes your writing more interesting to the
reader.
Use rhetorical devices, such as figurative language, deliberate
repetition, emotional appeals (pathos), irony, and humor.
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Rhetorical devices make your writing more colorful and draw
attention to the points your want to emphasize
Inferences – should be valid, or well grounded.
How to Write an Expository Essay
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Conclusions
Last paragraph of essay
 Effectively draw an insightful reflection in the last few
sentences
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Concrete reflection: uses the object placement strategy – An object
(person, place, thing, song, book title, or phrase) is mentioned
toward the beginning of the expository essay. It is again
mentioned in the conclusion to bring the piece together
 Example:
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Prompt – Write an essay about a good teacher you have had. Be
sure to include why you think he/she is a good teacher.
Introduction: I put an apple on my teacher’s desk because she is the
best teacher I have ever had.
Conclusion: If more teachers were like my favorite teacher, they
would have a stack of apples on their desks.
Organizing your Expository essay
Thesis Statements
A thesis statement is crucial to writing a strong essay.
Without a thesis your reader will not understand the
purpose of your writing.
 Definition:
a single sentence that expresses
what you want your readers to understand; the
controlling idea of your essay and road map
for your paper
 Last sentence of your introduction
Organizing your Expository essay
Thesis Statements
What does a thesis look like? (Basic organization of a thesis)
Main idea of paper + transition word + topics/reasons of paper.
Examples:
Prompt: Explain the types of changes a student may undergo from middle school to
high school.
Many students undergo changes from middle school to high
school such as becoming more responsible and feeling more
stress.
Prompt: Explain the importance of being involved in your community.
Being involved in the community is important because it
helps people stay connected and gives people pride in their
community.
Let’s Practice!
Prompt 1: Write an essay explaining
whether second chances are important.
Prompt 2: Write an essay explaining why it
is sometimes necessary to make sacrifices.
How do I prove my claims?
Evidence
Definition: a specific example used to justify/support your answer.
Just like a lawyer wouldn’t go to court without evidence, you can’t write a paper without
something to prove that your ideas are true!
Types of Evidence
1. Facts and Data:
- information that you would research and cite from reliable sources.
Ex: 80% of American households have internet access. (from
Face the Facts USA)
2. Historical or Literary examples:
- using well known examples from history and literature to prove a point
Ex: Rosa Parks demonstrates how one woman’s involvement in her
community impacted not only a single city but an entire country.
3. Personal examples:
- using your own life experiences to relate to your audience
Ex: Having to balance school work and basketball practice was one element of
my high school experience that caused an increased amount of stress for me.
Let’s Practice!
In the space provided in your expository notes,
brainstorm evidence examples for the prompts below:
Prompt 1: Write an essay explaining whether second
chances are important.
Prompt 2: Write an essay explaining why it is sometimes
necessary to make sacrifices.
How do I prove my claims?
Analysis
Your audience can’t read your mind. It is up to you to explain how your
evidence proves the point you are trying to make.
Definition: explaining to the audience how your evidence connects to your
thesis.
Using the middle school/high school changes prompt:
Good analysis: Many students experience similar juggling acts as I did, trying
to succeed both academically and with extra curricular activities. Many
students lack the time management skills needed to balance all these
activities, leading to an amount of stress that was not experienced in middle
school.
Weak analysis: Trying to keep up with all my stuff was just crazy. It was really
hard to stay focused on all the things I was supposed to do. I don’t remember
feeling that way in middle school.
Let’s Practice!
In the space provided in your expository notes, write
analysis for your evidence:
Prompt 1: Write an essay explaining whether second
chances are important.
Prompt 2: Write an essay explaining why it is sometimes
necessary to make sacrifices.
Body Paragraph Organization
Body paragraphs should follow this basic outline:
1.) Topic Sentence – shows the main idea of the paragraph
2.) Evidence– facts/data, quotes, examples
3.) Analysis– your analysis, explanation, or interpretation
of your evidence.
4.) Concluding/Transition Sentence – wraps up the main
idea of the paragraph, or leads the reader into the idea
of the next paragraph
Body Paragraph Organization
An example of an entire paragraph:
One negative change that many students experience from
middle school to high school is an increased amount of stress.
Having to balance school work and basketball practice was one
element of my high school experience that caused an increased
amount of stress for me. Many students experience similar
juggling acts as I did, trying to succeed both academically and
with extra curricular activities. Many students lack the time
management skills needed to balance all these activities, leading
to an amount of stress that was not experienced in middle
school. Even though the increased stress can be difficult,
learning those time management skills are a valuable life lesson
for students.
Strong Transitions
Purpose: Your reader needs to see how your ideas connect or
where your ideas are about to change.
Here is a toolbox of strong transition words to use in your writing
Therefore
Even though
However
Consequently
Furthermore
Thus, Hence