What is expository writing? Writing Informational and Explanatory Texts

Standard and EQ: ELAGSE7W2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. EQ: How can I write an effective informative/explanatory text that clearly conveys ideas, concepts, and information?

By the end of this lesson, students will know: organizational strategies to convey ideas and concepts the difference between informational and explanatory texts both informational and explanatory texts are classified as expository texts

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: analyze relevant content to support a topic or idea demonstrate the proper structure of an informational text demonstrate the proper structure of an explanatory text demonstrate support of a topic through the selection, organization, and analysis of content

What is expository writing? Expository is another word for explaining. In an expository essay you may be asked to give information about something or you might be asked to explain something. Example: What is your favorite sport and why?

What key words show it is an expository prompt? Most people like some type of music. Think about your favorite type of music and explain why you like that particular type of music. Tell how to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Explain how two characters in a story are similar and different. Explain and tell how are key words.

Other Key Words in Expository Prompts Key words: explain, discuss, show, clarify, inform, describe, talk about, tell/write why, explain how, compare/contrast, show the causes/effects of

Narrative vs. Expository Tells a story Has action Author’s purpose: to entertain Has conflict & dialogue Has characters & theme Has a definite beginning, middle, and end Key words- Tell about a time, tell what happened next, and write a story Ex. Folktale, fable, myths, suspense-filled stories Provides information Explanations/ directions Author’s purpose: to inform or explain Has a central idea (thesis) Organized by: compare/contrast, cause & effect, chronological order, problem & solution, or question/answer Key words- Explain, tell how Ex. Internet, biography, dictionary, encyclopedia

Informative vs. Explanatory Designed to convey facts and data through chronological order, compare/contrast, definition, or cause and effect May include a person’s views on something such as an experience or an activity or explains how to do something without providing argument or criticism Both types are expository

Which type of prompt is each? Create a story set in the future with aliens as characters. _______________ There are many positive and challenging things about the seventh grade. Explain what these things are. ________________ Narrative or Expository? 1. Narrative 2. Expository How did you know?

Your expository essay needs. . . Introduction paragraph (HOOK & THESIS) Body paragraphs (SUPPORTING IDEAS & DETAILS) Concluding paragraph (RESTATE SUPPORTING IDEAS)= 4-5 PARAGRAPHS REMEMBER= 3-4 different TRANSITION WORDS

Introductions (Opening paragraph) Grab the reader’s attention by: Asking a question ???? Onomatopoeia (Bang!) Using some key words from the writing prompt. Include a thesis statement

NOW: Let’s practice 1.When you think of wars, which one was the worst? 2.Many people would describe the American Civil War as the most bitter war in US history. 3.The Civil War was the result of many factors. 4. One cause was the different economies of the North and South. 5. Another reason for the war was the dispute over states’ rights.6. Finally, one of the most well-known causes was the battle over slavery. Write on the graphic organizer: the hook, the thesis statement, and supporting ideas.

Sentence 1: Hook Sentence 3: Thesis statement Sentence 4: Supporting Idea Sentence 5: Supporting Idea Sentence 6: Supporting Idea

Assignment: After reading the extended text, write an essay in which you analyze how the theme is developed over the course of the text.

How do I write a comparison and contrast essay? Let’s think about it in relation to comparing and contrasting a book and a movie…

Compare and Contrast Essays

Compare and Contrast Essay Organize your essay using one of the following methods: Point by Point Method Block Method or Whole-to-Whole Similarities and Differences

Let’s think about it in relation to comparing and contrasting a book and a movie…

Point by Point Method In this structure, you explain one point of comparison before moving to the next point. For instance, you would write about the characters in the book and movie in one section; then you would write about the setting in the book and movie in the next section.

Point #1 (Characters in book and movie) Point by Point Method Introduction Point #1 (Characters in book and movie) Point #2 (Setting in book and movie) Conclusion

Block Method or Whole-to Whole In this structure, you say everything about one item then everything about the other. For instance, say everything about the characters, setting, and plot for the book then everything about the characters, setting, and plot for the movie. Whole-to-Whole comparison and contrast uses a separate section or paragraph for each item you're discussing.

Block Method or Whole-to Whole Introduction Book (Characters, Setting) Movie (Characters, Setting) Conclusion

Similarities-to-Differences Strategy In this structure, you explain all the similarities about the items being compared and then you explain all the differences. For instance, you might explain that the characters and plot were similar in both the book and movie in the one section. In the next section, you could explain that the settings were different. The book took place during the summer while the movie took place during the winter.

Similarities-to-Differences Strategy Introduction Similarities Differences Conclusion

Transitional Words and Phrases to Compare/Contrast although but even though however on the other hand unlike yet also and another in the same way likewise moreover similarly too