Developing Expository Essays

Expository writing:

• explains, describes, defines, instructs and informs

• convinces, informs, tells a story

• tells a story, instructs, defines

What is NOT an example of Expository writing:

• Letters

• Romance Novel

• Police Report

• Instructions

Introductory Paragraph Formula:

• Hook + Thesis Statement + Transition Sentence

• Thesis Statement + Hook + Transition Sentence

• Hook + Transition Sentence +Thesis Statement

What is the 'Hook' of the Essay?

• Connects the ideas in the essay

• Captures the readers attention

• Connects the ideas in the paragraph

What is an anecdote?

• Type of hook that tells a short story

• Gives statistics and facts

• Ask a question ithat must be answered in the essay

A Body Paragraph:

• One paragraph that explains how to do something

• Connects points

• Supports your thesis statement

Select the correct format of a body paragraph outline:

• Topic sentence, support a, support B, Support C, Concluding Paragraph

• Topic Sentence, Support A, Expand A, Support B, Expand B, Suport C, Expand C, Concluding Sentence

• Topic Sentence, Transition sentence, Support A, Support B, Expand C, Concluding Pargraph

The function of a concluding paragraph is:

• Final body paragraph of the essay

• Calls the reader to action

• summarizes everything and highlights the larger significance of the essay

Choose what type of Expository writing is the following paragraph.

Mrs. Rogers was extremely tall and slim, and when she unwound her long frame from a sitting position and stood, her immense height was unnerving. I had never met any female who was 6 feet 5 inches tall, and her height together with her direct, penetrating stare and the wicked sneer that constantly played around the corners of her mouth always made me feel slightly uneasy in her company.

• How to make or do something

• Explanation of an Idea, theory, or Belief

• Character Portrayal

• Editorial

• Comparison or Contrast of Two Subjects

Choose what type of expository writing is the paragraph below:

Mr. Stevenson was a cantankerous, hateful old man who made known his dislike of everyone. He loathed his children, the grandson with whom he lived, his neighbours, everyone. Sitting on the porch of his grandson Terry's house, gripping his cane in one hand, he would spit insults at the people passing by.

• How to make or do something

• Character Portrayal

• Editorial

• Compare and Contrast

• Explanation of an Idea, Theory or Belief