Expository Writing - Outline form

Expository Writing

Definition: Expository Writing

• The purpose of expository writing is to explain a topic in a logical and straightforward manner based on upon real world facts.

Essay Layout

• Introduction (3-5 sentences)

• Body Paragraph #1 (5-7 sentences)

• Body Paragraph #2 (5-7 sentences)

• Conclusion (3-5 sentences)

Introduction:

I

• This is an introductory paragraph that contains the presentation of the topic and thesis statement.

Example Introduction

• Hook

  °The attention-getter

  °Relates your topic to life in general

  Background information/ context

  °In one to two sentences, introduce the author, the name of the text, and a very short summary of the events.

  Thesis

  The roadmap for your essay

What flavor ice cream is the best?

• Hook

  Background information and context

  Thesis

• There are many traditions that are considered truly American. (Hook, it makes your readers think what the traditions are.) While football and apple pie are ranking high on that list, ice cream is another popular American treat. (background information) Even though there are hundreds of ice cream flavors, strawberry is the best flavor of ice cream because it uses real fruit, combines many flavors, and has the most vibrant color. (Thesis)

Body Paragraph #1 and #2

• This is the body of the essay.

• Begin with a topic sentence that supporlts the thesis statement.

• Continue with 3-6 sentences giving details and evidence

• Include text evidence

• Use high level vocabulary

• Use transitions

Body Paragraph Example

Strawberry ice cream is the best flavor because of its use of real fruit. (Topic Sentence) Chunks of strawberries can often be found in a scoop of strawberry ice cream. This is an expected added health benefit to ice cream consumers, for many other ice cream flavors do not use real fruit. These strawberry chunks can be freeze-dried or fresh. This allows strawberry ice cream to have different variations in consistency, catering to customer's specific likes and dislikes. In addition to the fresh fruit found in strawberry ice cream, the combination of multiple flavors also adds to its appeal.

Conclusion

• This paragraph restates the thesis statement and ties together the major points of the essay

Conclusion

• 1. Re-state your thesis using different words.

• 2. Summarize your main points

• 3. Concluding sentence 

  ---What idea do you want to leave your reader with?

Conclusion Example

• Re-state your thesis using different words

  Summarize your main points

  Concluding sentence

• Strawberry continues to be most popular flavor for a multitude of reasons. Fresh fruit appeals to the health-conscious consumer, the mixture of flavors adds to the complexity of its flavor profile, and the vibrant pink color is an exciting color for all to see. Strawberry ice cream is and will continue to be a popular American treat for all ages to enjoy. 

Tips and Tricks

• 1. Do not write as if you are speaking. Write using more formal language. 

• 2. Avoid contractions --Example: "won't" --> will not

• 3. Avoid slang: y'all, git, gonna

• 4. Use proper capitalization and punctuation. 

• 5. Usually, you would avoid writing in the first person (I, me we, us), but it depends on the prompt

Multiple Choice

What genre of writing is written with the intent to teach or educate about a topic to a reader using FACTS and DETAILS? (examples: text books, encyclopedias, academic essays)

• Narrative writing

• stories

• Argumentative writing

• Expository writing

Explanation Slide...

The purpose of expository writing is to inform, educate, and expos facts.

Multiple Choice

What is used to signal the start of a new paragraph?

• Space

• Indent

• Period

Multiple Choice

_________ vocabulary refers to words that are given to a specific topic. Using these words makes the writer sound like an expert on a topic.

• informational

• opinionated

• technical

• techy

Explanation Slide...

Technical vocabulary refers to words that are given to a specific topic. Using these words makes the writer sound like an expert on a topic.An example of a technical word (if you were writing about school) would using the word educate instead of teach.

Multiple Choice

In an expository essay, the __________ tells the reader what they can expect to learn about in the essay. It should contain at least three sentences including a hook, a topic sentence, and an introduction to the three big ideas that will be used to support the main topic.

• introduction

• first body paragraph

• conclusion

• opinion statement

Explanation Slide...

In an expository essay, the introduction tells the reader what they can expect to learn about in the essay. It should contain at least three sentences including a hook, a topic sentence, and an introduction to the three big ideas that will be used to support the main topic.

Multiple Choice

Body Paragraph Structure for a body paragraph:

1 - Transition phrase

2- Opening/topic Sentence

3- ________________

4 - Concluding/closing sentence

• hook

• big idea

• transitional phrase

• supporting sentences filled with details from the texts

Explanation Slide...

Body Paragraph Structure for a body paragraph:1 - Transition phrase2- Opening/topic Sentence 3- Facts and details from the articles/sources4 - Concluding/closing sentence

Multiple Select

Which word or words are proper nouns and need to be capitalized?

• State names:

  Florida

• Important dates:

  Second Seminole War

• Names of flowers:

  Roses

• Types of mammals:

  Dolphins

• Months and Days

Explanation Slide...

In an expository essay, I should include a hook, the counterclaim, my claim, and a brief explanation of my 3 big ideas that will support my claim.

Multiple Choice

When planning my essay I should write a complete rough draft of my essay.

• True

• False

Explanation Slide...

You should NOT pre-write your essay when you are planning. You plan should just provide you a method for focusing your writing as you write. It should be brief but contain the main topic, sub topic ideas (and where you can find the most information to support it).

Drag and Drop

To write a strong ​

Placeholder

the writer should have a ​

Placeholder

phrase, restate the ​

Placeholder

and the ​

Placeholder

supporting big ideas/reasons that were in the introduction.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

conclusion

transition

topic

three

Explanation Slide...

To write a strong conclusion the writer should have a transition phrase, restate the topic and the three supporting big ideas/reasons that were in the introduction.

Multiple Select

I should read the writing prompt (aka the DIRECTIONS) ______ times.

• Once is good! I can remember things well!

• At least twice (once before, and once after I have read the articles).

• 4-5 times

• what prompt?

Multiple Select

What should I do to help ensure that I have done my best work on an essay?

• Reread my own essay

• Reread the directions/texts to ensure my essay is really on topic.

• Check to make sure I have enough sentences to complete a paragraph.

• Double check to make sure I have punctuation and capitals letters where they need to be.

Match

Match the following transition words to where they could be used in an essay.

• Transition for first body paragraph

• Transition for middle body paragraph

• Transition for last BODY paragraph

• Transition for text evidence

• Transition for conclusions

The first reason why......

The next reason why......

The final reason why.......

According to the text

As you can see.....

• The first reason why......

• The next reason why......

• The final reason why.......

• According to the text

• As you can see.....

Reorder

What order should you write an expository introduction in?

• hook

• main topic sentence

• 3 big ideas

1

2

3

• 1
• 2
• 3

Explanation Slide...

The hook always goes first. After that, you can certainly write the other parts in a variety of orders but it's ideal to state the topic sentence, and then the three supporting big ideas for your topic.For example:Have you ever seen someone walking with a dog in a store and wondered why they get to have their animal? You might have been looking at a therapy dog! I am going to tell you how therapy dogs are very important! This is because they could bring emotional comfort to their owner, alert someone who is about to have a medical emergency, or guide a person who has a vision impairment.