Expository Writing By: Ms. McGrady

Expository Writing Quick Write: What do you think of when you hear Expository Writing?

What are the Two Types Exposing or Uncovering a Topic Process Essay: “How To” Essay

3 Important Questions Why? (Explains the statement) How? (Gives examples to answer the why?) What difference does it make? (Consequences or results of the how?)

How The Questions Help Organize your thoughts Develop the body paragraphs Can be used in either type of essay

Bake the Cake Organizing the Body Paragraphs

Top Layer: Statement or Reason 1-2 sentences Key Questions=Why? Beginning of the Paragraph

Middle Layer: Examples/Descriptions/Details Several Sentences/Thickest layer Key Question=How? (Related to the why?) Middle of the Paragraph

Bottom Layer- Conclusion or Wrap it Up 1-2 Sentences Key Question=What difference does it make? (consequences of the how?) End of the Paragraph

Other Information A Cake=1 Body Paragraph In 1 Essay you have 5 Paragraphs You bake 3 cakes because you have 3 body paragraphs

These Are the Body Paragraphs Each cake is a Paragraph

You gotta have a PLAN!

Plan for Expository Essays –Choose 1 Subject –List 3 Reasons –Bake 3 Cakes (1 for each reason) –Use subject and reasons to write the introduction and the conclusion paragraphs

Introduction Visual: big to small Discuss subject Preview 3 Reasons

Conclusion –Restate Subject –Restate/Review 3 Reasons

What I don’t Want: the Block –5-10 sentences –Run-on sentences or paragraphs with no topic –Topic wanders –Built around weak verbs –Large subject with no specific point (unrelated information)