Explanatory Essay Timed Write

Explanatory Writing

(Timed writing edition)

Part 1: The Introduction

Part 2: The Body (2 paragraphs)

Part 3: the conclusion

Timed writing is different from processed writing. Processed writing is longer writing done over time that goes through multiple drafts. Timed writing is normally done for assessments. They are timed and because of this, they are shorter and only one draft is produced.

Most writers write certain essays for the following 3 reasons:

1. To entertain readers, they write a story (narrative, play, poetry, songs, etc.)

2. To persuade readers, they write an argument or persuasive essay. Speeches and advertisements also fall in this category.

3. To inform readers they write an informative (explanatory essay)

Multiple Choice

What are the 3 purposes for writing?

• To read, inform, and persuade

• To entertain, argue, and tell a story

• To entertain, persuade, and inform

• To compare and contrast, cite evidence, and persuade

You should write your explanatory essay in the following format:

A brief introduction paragraph
2 body paragraphs
A brief conclusion paragraph

Multiple Choice

What is the basic structure for an explanatory essay in a timed write setting?

• introduction, body, conclusion

• beginning, middle, and end

• introduction, body paragraph, counterargument, conclusion

• introduction, 2 body paragraphs, and a conclusion

In the introduction there are 3 things:

• Hook sentence

• Background information

• Thesis

Since this assignment is a timed write, it is okay for the introduction to be brief. Aim for around 4 sentences. More is okay, but less is probably too little.

Maintain a formal and academic tone

• No personal or second person pronouns

  • I think that...

• No addressing the reader explicitly

  • You should know...

• Do not talk about the writing itself

  • This essay will explore...

• Remain neutral and unbiased

Multiple Choice

If you were writing an essay, which sentence would be a better claim statement.

• School uniforms would not positively affect learning environment at school.

• I believe school uniforms infringe on students' rights to self-expression.

Multiple Choice

Pick the combination of words that are informal:

• due to and require

• assist and receive

• occupied and possess

• help and give

Multiple Choice

What would be the formal synonym for ask?

• receive

• ensure

• request

• commence

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that uses formal language:

• I don't care if you do it or not.

• Just yell if you have any problems.

• A loss of your name tag should be reported immediately.

• Lots of kids love that kind of music.

Multiple Choice

Which statement is more formal?

• The mail carrier was unable to deliver the mail on time due to the snow.

• The mail carrier couldn't deliver the mail on time because of the snow.

Multiple Choice

Which statement is more formal?

• That party was lit.

• The gathering was enjoyable.

The hook can be any of the following:

• A general statement about your topic. (Think large to small. If your topic is on air pollution, talk about pollution first and then get more narrow as you write by writing specifically about air pollution).

• An interesting fact

• An interesting quote

• A scenario or anecdote

• A definition that gives meaning to what you are writing about

Multiple Choice

What is an example of a hook?

• a 1 paragraph story

• introducing who you are

• A general statement about the topic

• giving your 3 reasons for why you are writing.

Background information is when:

• Introduce the information

• Set the stage for the topic

• Introduce the conflict or problem

• Should be around two sentences

The thesis statement

• The thesis statement is when you state at least 2 reasons for the topic you will write on

• Do not say "today I will write about..."

• This is normally the last sentence in the introduction paragraph

Multiple Choice

What are the 3 parts of an introduction in explanatory writing?

• introduction, body and conclusion

• hook, background info, thesis statement

• hook, thesis, 3 reasons

• hook, body, conclusion

Multiple Choice

Which one is NOT a part of the thesis statement?

• Lists points about your topic

• a broad statement that gives your reasons

• your concluding sentence

• the last sentence in the introduction paragraph

Let's Review

• Writers write for 3 reasons, to persuade, explain (inform), and entertain

• Informative writing, also known as explanatory writing, is where you combine the information of several articles into one essay

• To have an effective introduction: you need a solid hook sentence, background information sentences, and a thesis statement

Body of the Essay

Body Essay Format

1. Write your topic sentence (main reason)

2. Write a sentence that gives evidence from the text or movie that supports your reason.

3. Write 1-2 sentences explaining your evidence.

4. Sum up the paragraph with a closing sentence.

Multiple Choice

What is the first thing that you should have in your body paragraph?

• Evidence from the text

• A topic sentence that states your reason.

• An explanation that explains your evidence

• A quote from the article

Multiple Choice

Which would not be a topic sentence for an explanatory essay?

• The book was good.

• The movie was better than the book because the book wasn't as in depth.

• In the book and the movie, August still had a facial deformity.

• Most of the things in the movie were quite similar to the book.

Body Paragraph: After you write your topic sentence, include a sentence with evidence. For your sentence with evidence, be sure to include a lead in, the evidence in quotation marks, and a parenthetical citation with the author's last name and page number in parenthesis.

Ex. Students treat Auggie different due to his physical appearance. Julian asks Auggie "what happened to your face" (Palacio 3).

Multiple Choice

Putting a part of your source's information in your own words is called...

• plagiarism

• paraphrasing

• parachuting

• paralysis

Multiple Choice

If you paraphrase, you have to include a parenthetical citation.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A parenthetical citation needs to include

• author and page number (if available)

• author and title

• title and page number (if available)

• publisher and page number (if available)

Multiple Choice

If a source lists no author,

• you cannot use it

• make one up

• start your citation with the title

• start your citation with the date

Multiple Choice

What citation would I include for something written by Owen Martin on page 67?

• (Martin, O. 67).

• (Martin p.67).

• (Owen Martin, 67).

• (Martin 67).

Multiple Choice

As a wise man once said, "Oh, the thinks you can think!" _____

• (Seuss p.5).

• (Seuss.)

• (Seuss 5).

• (5).

After you have a topic sentence and evidence, explain or analyze the evidence.

• Write a sentence that explains how the evidence relates to the topic

Ex. Students treat Auggie different due to his physical appearance. Julian asks Auggie "what happened to your face" (Palacio 3). Because he looks different from the rest of his classmates, Auggie is constantly asked insensitive questions.

The Concluding Sentence in the body paragraph

The last sentence in the body paragraph needs to wrap up the whole paragraph.

Needs to state the importance of the main point/ topic sentence.

Ex. Students treat Auggie different due to his physical appearance. Julian asks Auggie "what happened to your face" (Palacio 3). Because he looks different from the rest of his classmates, Auggie is constantly asked insensitive questions. In all, there are not many classmates who treat him with much respect in the beginning of the novel.

Multiple Choice

What are the first 2 things you should do in a timed write body paragraph?

• Examples from the movie and explanation of the examples.

• A topic sentence and a sentence with evidence.

• Supporting details and a concluding sentence.

• A topic sentence and a broad example that you can recall.

Multiple Choice

What would be a good concluding sentence?

• This is why cats are similar to dogs.

• Cat are similar to dogs because both are animals

• This demonstrates how cats and dogs are similar, both are very smart and communicate with humans by using body language.

• This shows that cats are better than dogs because they clean themselves better and do not have to be trained.

Let's Review Body Paragraphs

• Have at least 2 body paragraphs in your essay

• The first sentence is the topic sentence

• The next sentence is evidence

• The following sentence explains the evidence

• The final sentence needs to conclude your explanation of how the examples relate to your topic and wrap up the paragraph.

Conclusion

• restate thesis

• summarize two body paragraphs

• explain real world relevance or importance

Like the introduction paragraph, during a timed write this paragraph is a bit shorter than normal. Aim for around 4 sentences. More is okay, but less is probably too little.

Multiple Choice

True or False: Conclusions should leave readers with a good impression of what they've just read.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: It's okay to write super long conclusions that overload the reader with information.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: It's a good idea to introduce new information in a conclusion paragraph.

• True

• False

To review:

• A timed write is very different from processed writing

• Timed essays are generally shorter, but that means that the writing must contain as few mistakes as possible

• The introduction and conclusion paragraph will be shorter than normal, but this is for timed writing specifically. This strategy should not be used for processed writing.

• Your body paragraphs should be the longest paragraphs. Instead of the usual 3 paragraphs, opt for 2 paragraphs instead.

• Use an academic and formal tone at all times