Explanatory Writing Describes a process How to do something (e.g. baking a cake) How some things work (e.g. an engine) How something develops (e.g. a scientific process) The process normally has steps. The steps normally have a necessary/natural order. The organization is in time (chronological). There is a specific result or goal.

Other Features Use of time transitions (or flags) Imperative mood of the verb (Correct Writing, p. 10) Second person “you” (normally discouraged in academic writing)

Sample Paragraph (p. 13) Identify: The topic sentence, noting its style Adverbial clauses and phrases Transitional words and phrases The concluding sentence, noting its style

Using Phrases (p. 14) In this exercise, we’ll make phrases and combine sentences. Do not make complex sentences. You will need to use these kinds of phrases in the writing assignment.

Example Sentence 1: Jump out of the airplane. Sentence 2: Make sure you are wearing your parachute. (before) Solution: Before jumping out of the airplane, make sure you are wearing your parachute.

Exercise (1) Sentence 1:The villain paused briefly to release an evil laugh. Sentence 2: The villain tied his victim to the railway tracks. (before)

Exercise (2) Sentence 1: Look to see whether there are any police waiting around the corner. Sentence 2: Make an illegal right turn on red. (after)

Exercise (3) Sentence 1: Carefully hide your cheating materials. Sentence 2: Arrive at the examination. (when)

Exercise (4) Sentence 1: The sheriff gunned down the outlaw. Sentence 2: The sheriff fired a warning shot. (after)

Solutions 1. Before tying his victim to the railway tracks, the villain paused briefly to release an evil laugh. 2. After looking to see whether there are any police waiting around the corner, make your illegal right turn on red. 3. When arriving at the examination, carefully hide your cheating materials. 4. After firing a warning shot, the sheriff gunned down the outlaw.

Demonstration I’ll demonstrate the process with a model based on pictures to give you a basic idea of how to construct an explanatory paragraph. The first paper shares some similarities with this demonstration.

Ingredients

Utensils

The Process 01

The Process 02

Notes on the Sample 1. Important words in titles are capitalized. What kinds of words are not capitalized? 2. The paragraph is indented five spaces. 3. There is a topic sentence which suggests that the paragraph is about a process. 4. Indefinite articles are used with things when they are first mentioned; subsequently, definite articles can be used.

Notes on the Sample 5. Many food ingredients are uncountable nouns—you must use measure words to make them countable; otherwise, you must be careful about usage. 6. The imperative mood is used, and therefore it is permissible to use the second person “you.” This is normally not a good idea. 7. Transition words are used throughout. 8. The paragraph concludes with a mention of what can now be done.

Explanatory Paragraph Video Worksheet (pp. 21-22) Your friend wants to use your deluxe bread machine; unfortunately, you have lost the instruction book. Therefore, you’ll need to explain how to use it in your own words.

I. The Machine (exterior)

I. The Machine (interior)

Ingredients (alphabetical) powdered milk salt shortening sugar water white flour yeast

III. Equipment

IV. Assumptions 1. You are in the United States. 2. You have all the correct and necessary ingredients in your kitchen. 3. The baking pan has been taken out of the machine, and the mixing paddle is already on the rotating shaft. 4. You are making a basic 2 lb. loaf of white bread.

Control Panel

IV. Assumptions 5. The control panel is set to “Regular” and “Basic Bread”, so you do not need to explain how to use the bread type or crust color functions. 6. Do not explain how to use the timer or clock functions. 7. At the end of the steps, all your friend will have to do is to press the start button.

Things That Might Go Wrong

Video I will play the important parts of the video three times. You are responsible for getting the ingredients in the right order and amounts. If you want to consult with each other about this, that is your privilege. I will not answer questions about the order or amounts; don’t ask me.

WARNING Sometimes words appear on screen in the video. I do not want to see these copied into your paper. I do not want to read exactly copied phrases and sentences from the presenter. If you do this in your paper, you will receive no more than 50 on this paper.

Homework Assignment #1 The first homework assignment helps you to plan out the process. Fill out the form in class and type it out at home before you send it to me.

HA#1: Details (p. 23) I. Topic sentence 1 II. First paragraph Think about what general process you are describing. Express this process and its purpose in a sentence. II. First paragraph The first paragraph should include at least six steps. Write out six ideas that can be developed into six steps. Note that I regard the ingredients as one step. III. Topic sentence 2 Think about the subject of the second paragraph. Express this more specific problem in a sentence.

HA#1: Details IV. Second paragraph V. Conclusion A. What is something that you should pay close attention to in the process? B. Write down two problems and their causes or solutions. V. Conclusion What is the goal of this process? What can you do now that the process is complete? Express this in a sentence.

For Next Time Worksheet #2, pp. 15-23 Discussion of plagiarism (Worksheet #3)