It doesn’t have to be difficult! Expository Writing:

What is expository writing?  Used to explain, describe, give information, or inform a reader  “ex-” Latin prefix meaning “ out ”  “pos” Latin root meaning “ place or put ”  Literally, to put information “out” to a reader

What are the main organization styles of expository writing?  Description  Sequence  Comparison  Cause and effect  Problem and solution

 If you choose the best organizational pattern for your topic, your paper will be much easier to write  Each organizational pattern has its own style, its own set of “cue words” that you will use in writing  Each organizational pattern also has a graphic organizer that works best, to help you gather your ideas

Description pattern  As a writer using this pattern, you would describe your topic by listing characteristics and features of it, as well as giving examples  Cue words:  For example  Characteristics are

Sequence pattern  As a writer using this pattern, you would list items in numerical or chronological order  Cue words:  First  Second  Next  Then  Finally

Comparison pattern  As a writer using this pattern, you would explain how two or more things are alike and/or different  Cue words:  Different  Alike  In contrast  Same as  On the other hand

Cause and Effect pattern  As a writer using this pattern, you would explain one or more causes and then show the resulting effect(s)  Cue words:  Reasons why  If…then  As a result  Therefore  Because

Problem and Solution pattern (sometimes called Question and Answer )  As a writer using this pattern, you would describe a problem and list one or more solutions (or ask a question and then provide one or more answers )  Cue words:  Problem is  Puzzle is solved  Question…answer

Quick quiz! Let’s see who’s taking good notes!  Get your clicker ready  Read the description on each page, then choose the expository pattern that is most appropriate

Which pattern style would describe why something happened? 1. Description 2. Sequence 3. Comparison 4. Cause and Effect 5. Problem and Solution

Which organizational pattern could explain the steps to follow to do something? 1. Description 2. Sequence 3. Comparison 4. Cause and Effect 5. Problem and Solution

Which pattern would be seen in a paper explaining the colors of the Olympic Rings? 1. Description 2. Sequence 3. Comparison 4. Cause and Effect 5. Problem and Solution

Which pattern would be seen in a paper discussing who is cuter: Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom? 1. Description 2. Sequence 3. Comparison 4. Cause and Effect 5. Problem and Solution

Which pattern would be seen in a paper discussing what to do for an organization that needs to raise money? 1. Description 2. Sequence 3. Comparison 4. Cause and Effect 5. Problem and Solution

Planning the Expository Essay  Prewriting is critical to this type of paper  If your information is not organized logically, your reader will not be able to understand your point  Graphic organizers are a huge help here  Five or ten minutes completing a graphic organizer results in an average of a letter grade higher on your final score!!

Topic Detail Web/Cluster organizer  List your topic in the middle  On lines radiating out from the topic, list characteristics, details, and examples of your central topic  You can add additional lines coming out from your initial details

Topic Detail Web/Cluster organizer  This graphic organizer works best with description-style papers  It could also work with sequence-style papers if you then numbered your details  It could also work with problem/solution-style papers if you have more than one solution

List organizer  List your topic at the top of the page  On each line below that, list a step in the process  If a step has sub-steps, you could indent and start a second list Topic Step one Step two Step three Sub-step one Sub-step two

List organizer  This graphic organizer works best with sequence-style papers  It could also work with description papers, cause and effect papers, and problem/solution papers Topic Step one Step two Step three Sub-step one Sub-step two

Venn diagram organizer  Draw two interlocking circles (or more, depending on the number of items you are comparing)  Make the circles big enough for lots of writing  In the overlapping section included in both circles, list elements that the two topics have in common  In the separate sections of each circle, list elements that the two topics do not share Element one Element two

Venn diagram organizer  This graphic organizer works best with comparison-style papers Element one Element two

Hierarchy organizer  List your problem at the top of the page  Draw a line down from your problem, then branch it off into the number of solutions you have Problem Solution one Solution two Solution three

Hierarchy organizer  This graphic organizer works best with problem/solution- style papers  It could also work with cause/effect-style papers that have more than one effect  It could also work with description-style papers  It could also work with a comparison paper, if you only had two second-level boxes and listed details below that ElementsAlikeexampleDifferentexample

I’m feeling another quick quiz coming on!  Get your clicker ready  Read the description on each page, then choose the graphic organizer that is most appropriate

Which kind of organizer would be best for a paper telling how to do laundry? 1. Cluster 2. List 3. Venn 4. Hierarchy of 5

Which kind of organizer would be best for a paper explaining what rides are at Kings Island? 1. Cluster 2. List 3. Venn 4. Hierarchy of 5

Which kind of organizer would be best for a paper showing how middle school and high school are alike and different? 1. Cluster 2. List 3. Venn 4. Hierarchy of 5

Which kind of organizer would be best for a paper describing options for keeping track of your homework? 1. Cluster 2. List 3. Venn 4. Hierarchy of 5

All right, let’s practice.  In your notes, you’re going to practice completing each type of graphic organizer.  You’ll have three minutes to try each type. You may not finish; do your best.  I will give you a topic for each type.  When time is up, we’ll share several examples.

Ready, set, go!  Create a web/cluster diagram to describe this classroom

Ready, set, go!  Create a list diagram to explain how to do the dishes

Ready, set, go!  Create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast McDonald’s versus Subway

Ready, set, go!  Create a hierarchy diagram to show ways you could earn money to buy something you want

So to review…  Expository writing is used to give factual information to the reader  It follows one of five main organizational patterns: description, sequence, comparison, cause and effect, and problem and solution  Each pattern has its own best cue words and graphic organizer  Prewriting with a graphic organizer can add up to a letter grade to your final paper score—use it!