EXPOSITORY WRITING

ORGANIZATION MATTERS  Expository Writing Planner

SO WHERE DO YOU START?

START IN THE MIDDLE! Look at your EACH brainstorm. What was the strongest example? Explain your idea. What details does the reader need to understand your brain?

DEVELOPMENT

NOW WE CRAFT THE THESIS

A STRONG THESIS STATEMENT  Think of the thesis as a promise to the reader.  What do you plan to deliver by the end of the paper? ABCDs Remember the ABCDs of thesis writing. A- A- Assert Something (What do you think?) B- B- Be an expert (What do you know about?) C- C- Clear and Concise (How can you say it best?) D- D- Don’t bifurcate your thesis. (You only have space for one promise! )

THE NARROW THESIS  Think of it this way - A thesis is a promise to the reader.  If you make a promise too big, it is impossible to keep.  Would you promise your mom you would never do anything wrong for rest of your life? o Um, no. We all make mistakes sometimes!  Would you promise your mom that you will have a clean room forever? o Come on! Sometimes our rooms get messy! It happens!  Would you promise your mom that you will clean your room this weekend? o That is a promise you can keep! (Not saying it will be fun, but it is doable!)

THE THESIS- THE PROMISE TO THE READER Now that you know what to write about, you can craft a thesis statement. What do you promise to deliver by the end of the paper? Now- how will you hook your readers to the topic? Just a sentence- remember you only have 26 lines!

THE THESIS STATEMENT

THE CONCLUSION Almost there! Look back over what you wrote. How can you tie it all back to the thesis without just repeating it?

TO RECAP… THE ESSAY IN 5 LITTLE STEPS 1.Look for your best ideas, examples and reasons. 2.Explain your brain- why does this work for the prompt? 3.Make your promise to the reader. 4.Plan how you will hook your readers in. 5.Plan how you can tie it all in a nice bow.