Adding Expositions to Our Writing Personal Narrative Unit

What is an Exposition? Definition: Exposition is a literary device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters etc. to the audience or readers. The word comes from the Latin language and its literal meaning is “a showing forth.” Exposition is crucial to any story, for without it nothing makes sense.

Where Do We Place Expositions? After “In Medias Res” Moment: Example from Divergent by Veronica Roth. Page 1. “So today is the day,” my mother says. “Yes,” I reply. “Are you nervous?” I stare into my own eyes for a moment. Today is the day of the aptitude test that will show me which of the five factions I belong in. And tomorrow, at the Choosing Ceremony, I will decide on a faction; I will decide the rest of my life; I will decide to stay with my family or abandon them. “No,” I say. “The test don’t have to change our choices.” “Right.” She smiles. “Let’s go get breakfast.”

Where Do We Place Expositions? 2. When we introduce a new character, setting, or an unfamiliar topic that is ESSENTIAL to the storyline. Example from Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Page 104. They were told that August had what seemed to be a “previously unknown type of mandibulofacial dysostosis caused by an autosomal recessive mutation in the TCOF1 gene.” Sometimes these mutations occur during pregnancy. Sometimes they’re inherited from one parent carrying the dominant gene. Sometimes they’re caused by the interaction of many genes, possibly a combination with environment factors. In August’s case, the doctors were able to identify one of the mutations that made war on his face. Exposition!

So what does this mean for writers? It is YOUR job to fill in the holes and help the reader understand what you’re writing about. Where would writers be confused? What background information do you have to give in order to orient the readers?

Let’s practice While we read “The Day I went Down Sand Hill”, think about some possible places where we may need to add an exposition.

The Day I went Down Sand Hill Oh no, oh no, oh no! my mind screamed as I went down the hill that changed my life forever. I tried to put on the brakes but it was too late. It all started about 8:00 AM. It was summer, and like most summers it was stifling humid. It was hot enough to fry bacon on the sidewalk, not to mention my brain, so I went to ask my mother if I could go down Church Lake. She didn’t see any reason not to go, so she said it was all right. I asked Anthony if he wanted to come with me, and he did. Both of us, in a fit of excitement, raced for our new Diamondbacks in anticipation of the cool slap of water against our bodies. We had no idea that something really bad was going to happen, so we raced ahead to see who would get there first. He was in the lead, ahead of me about three feet when I noticed that the big hill was approaching. We stopped at the top of Sand Hill and looked down at the curving surface of the road. Excitedly we both took off down the hill, our bodies still with adrenaline, and the pure glory of going 40 miles per hour on our bikes. The wind hit our faces with soothing coolness as we raced down the hill, but then I noticed that I was about to crash into a corner.

In a fit of panic, I slammed on the brakes, in hopes of escaping the fate of crashing, but the tire locked up, and I started to skid out of control. I fell off my bike and started using my bare leg to stop me from crashing into the ditch, but as most people know, skin, blood, and muscle don’t make good brakes. As I was tearing up my leg, my life seemed to flash before my eyes. Bits of memories crammed in between my screams of anguish and pain. When I approached the bottom I stopped sliding. I got up and took a look at my leg. There, where a perfectly good leg had been, was a bloody mess with pieces of road bonded in with muscle tissue. Staring with horror I screamed. A passerby heard me and saw my leg. All the while, Anthony just stared at me like the dolt that he is. The guy that saw me took us home. Now every time I approach a hill I am cautious.

Activity 7-minutes Go through “The Day I went Down Sand Hill” and place a star in areas where you need to place an exposition Once you find the areas, create your own exposition for the writer Example: We stopped at the top of Sand Hill*and looked down at the curving surface of the road. Word has it, Sand Hill is one of the most dangerous hills on the block. It’s steeped at almost an angle of 90 degrees and is filled with small rocks and gravel. Kids have tried to conquer this hill for years and I was just as excited to give it a try.