1. Chapter 9 – Reading and Writing Expository Texts
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2. Learning Outcomes
By the time you finish reading and studying this chapter, you should be able to:
LO1 Understand expository texts.
LO2 Read and respond to expository texts.
LO3 Plan an expository narrative.
LO4 Write the first draft.
LO5 Revise the writing.
LO6 Edit the writing.
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

3. Understanding Expository Texts
Expository writing provides information.
It is common in trade magazines and textbooks.
Whenever you learn something new, expository writing is probably involved.
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
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4. Understanding Expository Texts
It is important to understand the forms of expository texts so that you can choose the best one for your purpose.
Explains or clarifies a main idea with specific reasons, facts, and details
Illustration
Explores the meaning of an important word or concept
Definition
Gives step-by-step instructions for completing a task or shows how something works
Process
Breaks a subject into categories, explaining each and relating them to the larger whole
Classification
Identifies reasons an event occurred and explores what resulted from it
Cause-Effect
Explains how two or more subjects are alike and different
Comparison-Contrast
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

5. Reading and Responding to Narrative Texts
Reading and Responding to Expository Texts
Reading and Responding to Narrative Texts
A gathering grid is a note-taking strategy that helps you keep track of important details in lengthy texts.
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

6. Reading and Responding to Narrative Texts
Reading and Responding to Expository Texts
Reading and Responding to Narrative Texts
As you read expository texts, look for signal words that help distinguish which form you are reading.
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

7. Planning Expository Writing
When writing an expository essay, it is important to select a focused topic.
Start by identifying a general subject that interests you; then select a specific topic to write on.
General Subject
Specific Topic
music
the influence of music lyrics on teenagers’ perceptions of sex
relationships
differences in communication styles between men and women
laws and ethics
capital punishment for mentally deficient criminals
sports
compensation for college athletes
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

8. Planning Expository Writing
After selecting a topic, you need to select sources and gather details. Consider both primary and secondary sources.
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Events of experiences
Interviews
Museum exhibits
Surveys/questionnaires
Letters/diaries/journals
Textbooks
Magazine/journal articles
News reports
Websites
Books
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

9. Planning Expository Writing
Form a thesis that identifies your topic and provides a focus for your essay.
specific topic + thought or feeling about it = thesis statement
Arrange your details into one of the following organizational patterns:
Classification
Explain each category of a larger group.
Cause-Effect
Trace the causes and effects of a phenomenon.
Comparison
Show how two subjects are alike and different.
Logic
Build a case based upon claims and support.
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

10. Writing the First Draft
To develop an opening paragraph:
In the middle paragraphs:
Try to include at least 2 types of details per paragraph
Set the scene
Make a shocking statement
Provide enough information to make each point clear
Start with an interesting story
Follow the organizational pattern you selected
Use transitions to help you move from one point to the next
To create the closing paragraph:
Provide a strong final quotation
Pose a thought-provoking question
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© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

11. Revising the Writing
Revising a draft involves adding, deleting, rearranging, and reworking parts of the writing.
Revision often includes:
Peer reviews
Adding clarifying details
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

12. Editing the Writing
Avoid fragments – any group of words that lacks a subject, verb, or does not express a complete thought.
Fragment: Maya expecting the judges to arrive any minute now.
Sentence: Maya is expecting the judges to arrive any minute now.
Fragment: Because I have been waiting all afternoon for you.
Sentence: I have been waiting all afternoon for you.
Fragment: Looked for new bedroom furniture at several different stores but couldn’t find anything they liked.
Sentence: The couple looked for new bedroom furniture at several different stores but couldn’t find anything they liked.
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

13. Editing the Writing Avoid run-ons and comma splices.
A run-on occurs when two sentences are joined without any punctuation.
A comma splice occurs when two sentences are joined with a comma only.
Run-on: Erin arrived at the store early it wasn’t open yet.
Correct: Erin arrived at the store early, but it wasn’t open yet.
Comma Splice: We saw the play, then we got something to eat.
Correct: We saw the play; then we got something to eat.
Comma Splice: You should hang that picture a little lower, it’s too high the way it is.
Correct: You should hang that picture a little lower because it’s too high the way it is.
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

14. Editing the Writing Use an editing checklist to look for errors.
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

15. Editing the Writing
Finish with these strategies for adding an attention- getting title:
Highlight the thesis.
Think creatively.
Make a dramatic pronouncement.
alphaspirit, 2014 / Use under license from Shutterstock.com
© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.