1. Expository Writing Project
Assignment Choices:
Essay, Brochure, or Blurb

2. Think About Your Purpose and Audience
Purpose: What are you going to explain?
Audience: Other than your teacher, who do you intend to read this piece?

3. Getting Ready to Write
Are there any vocabulary words that your reader will need explained in order to make sense of your piece?
Remember, you are writing about something on which you are the expert.

4. Follow the Steps of the Writing Process
Prewrite (brainstorm)
Compose (rough draft)
Evaluate (look for errors)
Revise (make structural changes)
Edit (make grammar corrections)
Publish (final draft)

5. Choice #1 Write a Process Essay
A typical paragraph report explaining how to do something
Usually would not have illustrations, etc.

6. Essay Tips Begin with an attention-grabbing introduction.
Write the instructions in a logical order, one step at a time.
Use transition words such as first, next, then, when, after, and finally to indicate order.
Be sure to include all the steps, and explain each one clearly so the reader will be able to picture it.
Remember to end with an interesting conclusion.

7. Choice #2 Brochure
Describes a product, place, or situation using factual information
Usually folded in thirds
Contains 2-3 descriptive paragraphs plus pictures, illustrations, maps, etc.

8. Brochure Tips
Use eye-catching graphics that enhance the meaning of the writing
Write 2 or 3 descriptive paragraphs that fully describe the place, product or situation

9. Choice #3 Blurb
Summarizes the contents of a novel in 3-4 carefully planned paragraphs
Designed to appear on a book jacket to help sell the book

10. Blurb Tips Choose a novel that you have read in its entirety
Focus on the first few chapters, the conflict it sets up
Analyze the central character and how
they enter the plot
Plan to leave the audience hanging —do not give away the resolution!
Write 3-4 paragraphs—no graphics needed

11. Choosing Your Expository Project:
Essay: several well-written paragraphs that explain step-by-step how to do something
Brochure: explains a product, place or situation using paragraphs and pictures, illustrations, etc.
(multiple descriptive paragraphs)

12. Choosing Your Expository Project:
Essay: several well-written paragraphs that explain step-by-step how to do something
Blurb: several well-written paragraphs that tell a summary of a book—found on book jackets
Brochure: explains a product, place or situation using paragraphs and pictures, illustrations, etc.
All 3: multiple descriptive paragraphs

13. Timeline Thanksgiving Holidays — no school Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
November 14
November 15
November 16
November 17
November 18
November 28: Take notes and choose a project.
November 29: Planning and Prewriting day
November 30: Work on projects in 7th grade computer lab
December 1:
Work on projects in 7th grade computer lab
December 2:
Work on projects in the classroom
December 5
December 6
December 7
December 8
December 9:
Expository Projects Due
Thanksgiving Holidays — no school