Organization

Organization There is a strong introduction to the piece of writing that tells a little bit about the piece-like the previews to a movie. The writing comes to a conclusion. There is a conclusion paragraph which wraps up the essay and briefly touches back on the main points. The conclusion somehow links back to the introduction There is an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph. Transitions are used to move ideas along logically Paragraphs are written with purpose

Expository Essay Subjects range from everyday things to great puzzles of nature to political issues. Expository essays: letters to friends, reports for newsletters, answers to essay tests, etc. Purpose of expository essay: To explain or inform.

Writing to Explain The Birth of an Island Millions of years ago, a volcano built a mountain on the floor of the Atlantic. In eruption after eruption it pushed up a great pole of volcanic rock, until it had accumulated a mass a hundred miles across at its base. Finally its cone emerged as an island with an area of about 200 square miles. Thousands of years passed, and thousands of thousands. Eventually the waves of the Atlantic reduced the cone to a shoal-all of it, that is, but a small fragment which remained above the water. This fragment we know as Bermuda.

Writing to Inform Food for Thought Dr. Koeler did a great many experiments with chimps in which he found that they were able to solve very difficult problems. In one experiement he hung some bananas from the ceiling of the cage. He then placed some boxes around the cage. The chimps stacked the boxes like blocks and got their bananas. Next he placed the bananas outside the cage and gave the chimps two sticks together and got their bananas. One animal, who could not reach a banana hanging from the ceiling of his cage, took the scientist by the hand, placed him just under the banana and climbed up on his shoulders. Apparently the animal was quite capable of reasoning a solution. I

Choosing a Topic Choose a subject that interests you Choose a subject that will also interest your audience Choose a subject you know well enough to explain accurately or can learn enough about. Your expository essay will take the form of an informative brochure. Your writing will consist of at least two paragraphs on this brochure. You need to include at least two graphics.

Developing Supporting Details Without strong supporting details, the main idea of your paragraph will not be clear to your audience. To support your main idea in an expository paragraph, use one of the following types of supporting details or a combination of them: Facts: Spartans valued harsh discipline in many ways Examples and Characteristics: The Greeks made long lasting contributions to architecture with the acropolis, the Olympic stadium, the many temple dedicated to the gods and goddesses, the famous theatres, and Delphi to name a few. Reasons and incidents: The Persians attacked the Spartans along with the rest of Europe because Xerxes thought that there should be one world and one ruler. Causes and Effects: Because of political reforms in 594 B.C., Athens became a democracy. Steps or stages in a process: Voting in ancient Athens was a simple process. Compare/Contrast: Athens and Sparta were both found by Greek tribes but developed different ways of life as Athens was more civilized and Sparta was barbaric. Analogy and comparisons (like similes): The presentation of Greek plays was like the competition of athletes in the ancient Olympics.

Facts as supporting details Subject: The Heart Focus: How the heart works Facts: pumps a little more than 5 quarts of blood a minute beats b/w 60-80 times per minute In an average lifetime, beats 3 million times

Examples as supporting details Subject: Whale spouts Focus: Different spouts of great whales Examples: Blue whale-high and narrow Gray whale-low and bushy Right whale-V shaped

Brochure Writing You are now going to work on writing your own expository brochure. You will choose a topic to write about, gather information together through a brainstorming graphic organizer. I have attached one on the wiki or you can use Smart Art. I have also attached a sample brochure. You need to have five paragraphs. The introduction and conclusion. Then you need 4 body paragraphs. This is a brochure, so the paragraphs don’t necessarily NEED to be 5 sentences long. The brochure format is less formal than an essay paper, so keep this in mind. You need to follow the rubric. You will be graded on this.