1. The “How and Why” of Writing
Expository Writing
The “How and Why” of Writing

2. What is Expository Writing?
Expository writing is defined as presenting reasons, explanations, or steps in a process
Informational writing
An expository essay should follow a logical sequence and have three different main points
Logic and coherence is the main focus of an expository essay

3. How is it different ? Expository writing does not tell a story
Expository writing does not persuade a reader but only gives facts and reasons
Expository writing can also give the steps of a process

4. WHAT IS AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY?
An EXPOSITORY essay is a multi-paragraph essay with a specific structure.
It explains a position or opinion that you have regarding a topic or text.
It provides adequate textual evidence to support that opinion.
AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY IS NOT …
It is not a summary of the book.
It is not a book review or a book report.
It is not ONLY your opinion. You must base your ideas on events from the text.

5. Organization
When you organize an essay it needs to follow a logical sequence.
Novel: beginning of the book, middle of the book, end of the book.
2/3/1: 2nd best idea, 3rd best idea, best idea.
Directions:
1st step, 2nd step, 3rd step.

6. FORMAT OF AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY
An EXPOSITORY essay contains ____ paragraphs.
All paragraphs have a name:
1st Paragraph(s) : Introductory Paragraph(s)
Paragraph #2, 3, 4 etc.: Body Paragraphs
Final Paragraph(s): Concluding Paragraph(s)

7. Introductory Paragraph
Body Paragraphs = Subtopics
Concluding Paragraph

8. Definition of Terms Thesis Statement: The main idea of the whole essay
Transition words: Words such as first, second, as a result, which make transitions easy in the essay.
Main Ideas: Each paragraph should have a main point or idea
Supporting Details: Details support the main ideas

9. An essay without a thesis statement is like a car without a driver
Thesis Statements
An essay without a thesis statement is like a car without a driver
Heart of the Paper
Give direction

10. What is a thesis statement?
A thesis statement is a sentence used in an essay that serves as the guide for the essay and directly answers the question or task asked of you.

11. Characteristics of a Thesis Statement
Addresses the prompt clearly
Makes a claim or presents an argument
Is arguable (an opinion)
In first and last paragraph of an essay
Does not use “You” or “We”

12. What is the difference between a thesis and a topic?
The topic is the general idea of what the paper is about.
A thesis is a complete sentence that clearly states what your writing will prove.
Topic: Walt Disney
Thesis: Walt Disney’s animated characters provide more than entertainment; they introduce children to significant social and personal values.

13. 1. Early on in life, people develop an admiration for heroes
1. Early on in life, people develop an admiration for heroes. In a well-developed essay, discuss a person you admire and why you chose this person.
Option A
One person I admire is Babe Ruth, who played baseball from 1914 until 1935.
Option B
One person I admire is Babe Ruth, the greatest baseball player of all time.

14. Incorrect
Option A
One person I admire is Babe Ruth, who played baseball from 1914 until 1935.
Although this does address the writing prompt, this is a factual statement. A thesis statement should be something you can argue for or against.

15. Correct! Great Job! Option B
One person I admire is Babe Ruth, the greatest baseball player of all time.
This statement addresses the prompt, and presents and opinion that can be argued.

16. 2. Research indicates that our society has become more violent
2. Research indicates that our society has become more violent.  Crime is on the rise in both urban and rural areas.  Many adults are convinced that popular movies and video games encourage young people to become violent. Do you agree or disagree with the opinion that modern movies and/or video games have contributed to the rise of violent crime in the United States?
Option A
Violent crime is not caused by movies and video games because it is the parents’ fault.
Option B
Young people are influenced more by their parents, environments, and friends than they are influenced by violent video games and movies.

17. Incorrect
Option A
Violent crime is not caused by movies and video games because it is the parents’ fault.
This thesis does present an opinion, but it doesn’t address the entire prompt. It doesn’t specify teen violence. How could all violent crime be the parents’ fault?

18. Correct!!!!
Option B
Young people are influenced more by their parents, environments, and friends than they are influenced by violent video games and movies.
This is correct because it addresses the all aspects of the prompt and presents a clear opinion. This thesis lets the reader know exactly how the rest of the paper will be laid out.

19. If a student can pass all of his classes, he should still graduate.
3. State law requires high school students to pass exit tests before they graduate from high school. Consider carefully the advantages and disadvantages of passing required exit tests.  Do you agree or disagree with making high-stakes exit tests, such as the Graduation Test, a requirement for high school graduation?
Option A
Exit exams are a good idea because they can help determine if students are ready for college or work and help judge if teachers are doing their jobs.
Option B
If a student can pass all of his classes, he should still graduate.

20. Correct! You are getting this!
Option A
Exit exams are a good idea because they can help determine if students are ready for college or work and help judge if teachers are doing their jobs.
This statement gives an argument, it presents the details asked for in the prompt, and makes reference to reasons to support the prompt.

21. Almost! But not quite. Option B
If a student can pass all of his classes, he should still graduate.
The reason it is not a good thesis is because it does not address the whole prompt. Also it only presents one point. This would work better as part of a body paragraph.

22. Working Thesis SAMPLE:
Your essay, like any research paper, will be built upon a thesis statement. This statement, which will be in your introduction, will highlight the main points of your essay. Typically, research papers focus on at least three main points.
SAMPLE:
Even though it is often regarded with scorn ballet still holds its place in society by providing entertainment, culture, and history to its citizens.
What are the three main points this paper will focus on? 1. 2. 3.

23. NOW YOU TRY:
To assist you in this process, follow the appropriate “formula” that has been started for you below: I am most interested in pursuing a career in/as a ______________ because I like _____________, ________________, and ___________________. Example: I am most interested in pursuing a career as a middle school English teacher because I like working with teenagers, enjoy literature and know that the career has great benefits. I selected three out of the 5 points that will be discussed in my paper (work environment, education, benefits) Now it is your turn to write your own thesis statement-

24. Introduction
Includes the Hook
Thesis Statement
Transition Sentence

25. A well-written hook catches the reader’s attention, making them want to read more. It also makes the writer want to write more.

26. What is an expository lead?
An expository lead is the beginning of an informational piece of writing.

27. Different Types of Expository Leads
Snapshot Lead
Observation Lead
Question Lead
Personal Connection Lead
Set-up/Interesting Fact Lead

28. Snapshot Lead Create a picture of the setting or event
in the reader’s mind.

29. Start with a Snapshot. When you paint a picture, you draw the reader in . Notice the difference between these two leads to a report about ice-skating.
Boring Ice-skating is my favorite sport.
Better It's ten degrees below zero and the river is frozen a foot thick. It makes snapping sounds like the limbs of trees cracking. A long figure glides along the black ice, moving toward the city. The only sound is the scraping of each blade as it bites into the river. That's me doing my favorite sport, ice-skating.

30. Draw your reader in with an important observation.
Observation Lead
Draw your reader in with an important observation.

31. Start with an important observation. Don't start in the general
Start with an important observation. Don't start in the general. Put your most surprising or important observation into you opening.
General The human brain is a complex and amazing organ.
Better Seeing stars, it dreams of eternity. Hearing birds, it makes music. Smelling flowers, it is enraptured. Touching tools, it transforms the earth. But deprived of these sensory experiences, the human brain withers and dies. (Inside the Brain --- Ronald Kotulak)

32. Draw your reader in with a question.
Question Lead
Draw your reader in with a question.

33. Start with a strongly stated question your readers might have
Start with a strongly stated question your readers might have. In some ways all writing is about trying to answer our best questions. A strong question is one we all want to know the answer to.
Weakly-stated In this paper I will attempt to answer the question why history is important.
Better What's the point of studying history? Who cares what happened long ago? After all, aren't the people in history books dead?

34. Start with a personal reason why you would investigate this topic.
Personal Connection
Lead
Start with a personal reason why you would investigate this topic.

35. Put your connection with the subject in the lead
Put your connection with the subject in the lead. Why are you attracted to the subject? Do you have a personal reason for writing about this subject? What specific memories of the subject come to mind?
General The problem of longitude was one of the greatest scientific challenges of its day.
Better Once on a Wednesday excursion when I was a little girl, my father bought me a beaded wire ball that I loved. At a touch, I could collapse the toy into a flat coil between my palms, or pop it open to make a hollow sphere. Rounded out it resembled a tiny Earth, because its hinged wires traced the same pattern intersecting circles that I had seen on the globe in my school room -- the thin black lines of latitude and longitude. (Longitude --- Dava Sobel)

36. Set up the writing with a super-interesting hook.
Set-Up/ Interesting
Fact Lead
Set up the writing with a super-interesting hook.

37. Flaunt your favorite bit of research in the lead
Flaunt your favorite bit of research in the lead. Start with the facts that made you smile, laugh, go "ahaaa" or just plain grossed you out.
General Did you ever wonder why God created flies?
Better Though we've been killing them for years now, I have never tested the folklore that with a little cream and sugar, flies taste very much like black raspberries.

38. There are also many more types of leads:
Riddle
Definition
Challenging Statement
Announcement
Opinion
Famous or Not-so-famous quote

39. Purpose of Body Paragraphs:
To support your topic statement using direct quotations, specific textual detail, and strong explanations.
Elements of a Body Paragraph:
Topic Sentence
Textual Evidence
Explanation of Evidence
Concluding/ Transition Sentence

40. VOCABULARY OF BODY PARAGRAPHS
TOPIC SENTENCE
The first sentence in each body paragraph. It gives the reader specific information about what will be explained in the body paragraph. It is best to use words from the TOPIC STATEMENT in this sentence.
TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
Sentences in the body paragraph which use the AUTHOR’S EXACT WORDS to help support your topic statement.
EXPLANATION OF EVIDENCE
Sentences in the body paragraph which explain to the reader HOW YOUR TEXTUAL EVIDENCE SUPPORTS YOUR TOPIC STATEMENT.

41. Expository writing contd.
Paragraph two should introduce the first reason and give details to support the first reason
Paragraph three should introduce the second reason and give details to support the second reason
Paragraph four- six should introduce the reason and give details to support the those reason
The conclusion should re-state all the reasons

42. Body Paragraph Topic Sentence Textual Evidence Explanation of Evidence
(repeat for each piece of textual evidence)
Concluding Sentence

43. Evidence and Examples
Your evidence is the meat of the essay. You need to prove what you know.
Remember the Es:
-Examples
-Explanations
-Evidence
-Elaboration

44. Transitions
Like shifting from one gear to the next in a car, a transition shifts from one paragraph to the next. It is the glue of an essay.
Don’t forget to Add your transitions words
(first, second, third, finally or in conclusion)

45. Conclusion
Conclusions restate your thesis and subtopics, and remind your reader what you wrote about.
Do not include any new information in your conclusion.
Close with a clincher sentence.

46. The Conclusion Paragraph
The last paragraph in an essay that neatly wraps up the paper
Contains 3 main parts
Restate the thesis
Lead-out
Clincher

47. Concluding Paragraph
Restate Thesis
Lead out
Clincher Sentence

48. Restate the thesis Summarize the thesis without repeating yourself
The most specific part of the conclusion
Should include a transition to indicate that this is your concluding paragraph

49. The Lead-out A quick one to two sentence summary of body of the paper.
Smooths out the conclusion paragraph

50. The Clincher Last sentence of the last paragraph
Give the paper finality
Similar to an attention getter because it should make the reader think and leave an impression
Most general part of the conclusion paragraph

51. 3 types of clincher sentences
General Clincher Sentence
Clueing Clincher Sentence
Specific Clincher Sentence

52. General clincher Summarizes the main idea of the paragraph.
Makes the reader think more about the topic.
Examples:
In summary, these car models are my favorites.
To summarize, these are my favorite car models; what are yours?
In conclusion, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Thus, if a person has approval from others, he may be less happy than if he has his own approval.
To conclude, this woman had many qualities that people should imitate daily.

53. Clueing clincher Names the main idea.
Ties the details together with a clue word.
Examples:
In sum, these four events served as the spark that ignited the war.
To conclude, life can deal you many cards; it's how you play them that counts.
In other words, several issues need to be considered before a person accepts a job offer.
In conclusion, plenty of serious reasons exist for staying away from drugs; ignoring them can endanger one's health and life.

54. Specific clincher Names the main idea.
Names the specific details that were covered in the paragraph in order.
Examples:
To conclude, making a snowman involves rolling the parts of his body, stacking the .parts, and creating his face and clothes.
In effect, the people followed a clear course: they wrote a petition, held rallies, demanded a vote, and caused the law to be changed.
In summary, the environment is in danger because of our vehicles, our mountains of waste, and our lack of attention to nature's need to replenish itself.

55. Re-Cap: Expository writing needs:
One topic
Reasons supporting that topic
Details supporting the reasons
A conclusion re-stating the reasons
Transition words
Clear, concise, logical and informative language

56. Outlining an Expository Essay
Use an outline to organize your essay
Preplanning ensures you don’t forget anything.
Essay practically writes itself from the outline.

57. Outline for Expository
Title__________________________________________
I. Introduction:
A. Hook______________________________________________________
B. Background information______________________________________
C. THESIS STATEMENT________________________________________
II. First Reason__________________________________________________
A. Fact/ or example_________________________________________
B. Detail__________________________________________________
C. Fact/ example___________________________________________
D. Detail_________________________________________________
E. Fact/example____________________________________________
F. Detail__________________________________________________
G. Sum- up statement_______________________________________
III. Second Reason_______________________________________________
A. Fact/or example_________________________________________
C. Fact/example____________________________________________
D. Detail__________________________________________________
F. Detail___________________________________________________
IV. Third Reason_________________________________________________
A. Fact/example___________________________________________
C. Fact/example___________________________________________
D. Detail___________________________________________________
E. Fact/example___________________________________________
F. Detail
V. Conclusion:
Re- state all reasons in conclusion
Clincher sentence- gives a summation of the above and a “feeling” about the whole essay.
Use transition words, plan reasons in a logical order, make sure you re-state reasons in your conclusion.

58. Editing your essay
Check that you have all the elements of an expository essay:
Reasons
Details
Transition words
Conclusion that re-states your topic
Grammar
Coherence, logic and clearly written

59. Expository Essay:
Example:
Paragraph 1: Introductory Paragraph
A. Thesis sentence____________________________
B. Background info____________________________
C. Statistics- if relevant__________________________
Paragraph 2: Subtopic #1 Use a transition word
A. Example/detail #1______________________________
B. Example/detail #2______________________________
C. Example/detail#3_______________________________
Paragraph 3: Subtopic#2 Use a transition word
B. Example/detail#2_______________________________
C. Example/detail #3______________________________
Paragraph 4: Subtopic #3 Use a transition word
A. Example/detail #1_______________________________
B. Example/detail #2_______________________________
C. Example/detail#3________________________________
Paragraph 5: Subtopic #4 : Use a transition word
A. Example/detail #1_______________________________
C. Example/detail #3_______________________________
Paragraph 6: Subtopic #5 Use a transition word
B. Example/detail #2 ______________________________
C. Example/detail #3 _____________________________
Paragraph 5:Conclusion:
Take a reason from each paragraph and RE-STATE it in the conclusion. Add a clincher sentence.
Evaluation:
Do you have a clear logical topic?
Have you introduced your topic in the first paragraph?
Do you have one reason per paragraph?
Do you have three details to support each reason?
Have you used transition words at the beginning of each paragraph?