Transcript Expository Writing - Valley View High School

Bellwork:
 Describe a time when you have explained something
very well ( in a class/ to a friend/to a family member/
in a video game/ etc). What was the situation? What
were you explaining and to whom? What was the
result of your explanation?
 7-10 Sentences!
What is Expository Writing?
 expository essay – an essay that gives information or
explains something real.
 Comes form the word meaning:
 “explain” (to make plain; define), which comes
from:
 the prefix ex- (meaning outside)
 plus the base word for the Latin verb (to make clear).
Elements of Expository Writing
 It’s purpose is to share information with the reader.
 It often includes facts about real people and events.
 The information is usually presented in a
straightforward way.
 It may be organized by topics and sometimes includes
headers.
Elements cont.
 It may include diagrams, photographs, maps, graphs or
illustrations to hope the reader understand the subject
better.
 The factual information can be checked by referring to
other sources.
 ITS PURPOSE IS TO EXPLAIN SOMETHING.
How to write an expository essay:
The Steps
 1. you will be given a topic to write about. This will be your
main topic for the essay.
 2. You investigate the topic. ( We will be reading an article
together in just a minute).
 3. You decide what sub-topics ( remember back to thesis
statements…) are important to include as an explanation of
your topic. These will become the basis for your body
paragraphs.
 4. You write your essay explaining the main topic.
Your Topic choices:
 1. How has “The Crucible” had an impact on different
individuals in different decades and societies of the
World? (sequential approach)
 2. What were Arthur Miller’s reasons for writing “The
Crucible?” (cause and effect)
 3. What is “The Crucible” and what impact has it had?
(description approach)
The Cause-Effect Essay
A cause is the condition, situation, or event that makes something occur.
The result of that cause is called its effect. A cause-effect essay explores
the link between one or more causes and the effect(s).
The Cause-Effect Chain
Cause A
Burned infant did not respond to treatment.
Effect A and Cause B
Social workers were called in
Effect B and Cause C
Hospital creates new plan of treatment
Final Effect
Infant responded to treatment
The other choices:
 Descriptive:
 A descriptive essay explains based on sub-topics
 Think of three sub-topics and explain each one
 Sequential essay:
 Explains the topic in chronological order
 You would focus on explaining the impact of the
Crucible based on the order of events in history
Let’s investigate:
 As we read, I want you to:
 Highlight Key things you learn about the Crucible and
why it was written.
 You will be using this as a source in your essay, so be sure
to annotate it as we read.
Homework:
 Decide which question you want to answer for your
expository essay.
 Then:
1. Using the article we read today, make a list of quotes from the
article that answer your question.
Bellwork November
th
5 :
 Today, we will be doing another quick write. The goal of a
quick write is to write without stopping for the time
allotted to you. Do not worry about grammar or ‘being
perfect’ in your writing. Simply, do not take your
pen/pencil off of the paper until I say to do so.
 You may write about anything that comes to mind for the
phrase:
 It was the moment I had dreaded for two weeks. The moment
when….
 Take out your homework and put it on the corner of your desk
for me to check as you write.
More on the Expo Essay:
 Take out your homework and a sheet of paper
 Let’s review your Gist statements ( ask any questions
you have about the article at this time).
Prewrite 1:
 Put the question you are answering in the middle of a
bubble map.
 Bubble the answers that you came up with from the
article on the outside of the bubble.
 Be ready to talk about your answers.
The Expository Introduction:
 Start with a hook/attention getter
 Use options from the list I gave you for the last essay (
interesting statement/ interesting quotation/ anecdote/
rhetorical question)
 Be sure to relate it to the question you will be answering
in your expo essay
Example:
 Rhetorical Question: Readers across generations have
been captivated by the robust and relatable themes
within the Crucible; but this begs the question, what
inspired Arthur Miller to write such an account of the
Salem Witch Trials of the 1700’s?
 Statement: Literature has the power to influence its
readers in a powerful way.
Give Needed Context:
 Provide the information the reader will need to
understand the topic
 You should give background on:
 If you are writing about the impact of the play:

The plot/ themes of the Crucible
 If you are writing about why he wrote the play:

The Cold War ( the 1950’s history)
 Limit your Context to 5-7 sentences or less.
Example One: ( Why he wrote)
 Readers across generations have been captivated by
the robust and relatable themes within the Crucible;
but this begs the question, what inspired Arthur Miller
to write such an account of the Salem Witch Trials of
the 1700’s? The political climate that surrounded the
writing of the Crucible was unique in that it was a time
dominated by fear. The fear of communist loyalists
within America was enhanced by the rise of
Communist leaders in the global landscape after
World War II and the threat of the atomic bomb. This
epedemic fear led to the creation of the play.
Example Two: ( Impact)
 Literature has the power to influence its readers in a
powerful way. The Crucible is a story capable of such
influence that spans beyond its own context and
generation. It is a story of the power of fear that can
grip societies and a warning about the consequences of
acting on such irrational fear. It is a story of love and
lust and moral righteousness in such situations. It is a
story that touches readers due to these themes based
in the roots of all humanity.
Thesis Statement
 State your arguable position on the topic that you will
support with evidence in your body paragraphs.
 Remember, the thesis needs to include two main
things:
 You general position ( in this case, the answer to the
question)
 Your subtopics ( the three answers to your question)
Example:
 Arthur Miller wrote the critically acclaimed play, The
Crucible, as a safe way to speak out against the
McCarthy Trials of the 1950’s, an attempt to warn
about the effects of irrational fear within society, and
as an opportunity to use and update language from the
1700’s.
Example Two:
 Since the critically acclaimed play, The Crucible, was
written it has had a monumental impact on people
who have read or watched it such as the people of the
1950’s who could not speak out against the McCarthy
Trials, the residents in Latin America where unfair
regimes dominate politics, the Chinese citizens who
suffered during the revolution, and has the ability to
impact future generations of people as well.
Intro Review
 Hook
 Context
 Thesis Statement
 Begin writing your rough draft intro now. Typed intro
due tomorrow.
Bellwork November
th
6 :
Body Paragraphs:
 Get out your notes on Intros and add this to it.
Topic Sentence
 Provide the main idea of the paragraph
 It should be utterly clear what the paragraph is going
to be about
 Ex: The first reason that Arthur Miller wrote the
Crucible was to speak out against the leaders of the
McCarthy Trials of the 1950’s.
Supporting Evidence
 Include specific textual evidence:
 cited quotes from the article
 paraphrases or summary of the article
 Be sure to cite page numbers of the information you use.
 Do not simply start a sentence with quotes

You must always use a transition to lead in a quote
 Ex:
 For example,
Arthur Miller says,
 In addition,
He says,
Example
 The first reason that Arthur Miller wrote the Crucible
was to speak out against the leaders of the McCarthy
Trials of the 1950’s. Arthur Miller sates that writing the
Crucible was “an act of desperation” ( 1). He goes on to
say, “ nobody but a fanatic, it seemed, could say all that
he believed” ( 1).
Analysis
 Explain to the reader the significance of the evidence
you have provided. Think about why you chose to
include it.
 How does the piece of evidence support your thesis
and answer the question?
Example:
 The first reason that Arthur Miller wrote the Crucible
was to speak out against the leaders of the McCarthy
Trials of the 1950’s. Arthur Miller sates that writing the
Crucible was “an act of desperation” ( 1). He goes on to
say, “ nobody but a fanatic, it seemed, could say all that
he believed” ( 1). He expresses in these quotes the
feeling of helplessness that surrounded the time
period in which he was living. The Crucible was his
attempt to move forward and say what he believed
about the McCarthy Trials that were being held at the
time in a way that would be somewhat more socially
acceptable.
Add more evidence and analysis:
 Each body paragraph should have at least two quotes/
paraphrases from the article as support.
 Each quote/paraphrase should be analyzed in your
own words.
Example:
 The first reason that Arthur Miller wrote the Crucible was to speak out
against the leaders of the McCarthy Trials of the 1950’s. Arthur Miller
sates that writing the Crucible was “an act of desperation” ( 1). He goes
on to say, “ nobody but a fanatic, it seemed, could say all that he
believed” ( 1). He expresses in these quotes the feeling of helplessness
that surrounded the time period in which he was living. The Crucible
was his attempt to move forward and say what he believed about the
McCarthy Trials that were being held at the time in a way that would be
somewhat more socially acceptable and less condemning. In addition,
Miller says, “ In those years, our thought processes were becoming so
magical, so paranoid, that to imagine writing a play about this
environment was like trying to pick one’s teeth with a ball of wool; I
lacked the tools, yet I kept being drawn back to it” ( 2). He goes on to
state in regard to the Salem Witch trials, “ … I knew that I had to write
about the period” ( 2). The Salem trials offered Miller a safe way to
speak out about the issues of his time. He was able to express his
dissatisfaction with the courts without being labeled a “fanatic” (1).
Transition Sentence
 End with a transition sentence to the next subtopic.
 Connect each paragraph with a sentence or two that
demonstrate show each idea leads into the next, and
how they work together to support your position.
 The first reason that Arthur Miller wrote the Crucible was to speak out against
the leaders of the McCarthy Trials of the 1950’s. Arthur Miller sates that writing
the Crucible was “an act of desperation” ( 1). He goes on to say, “ nobody but a
fanatic, it seemed, could say all that he believed” ( 1). He expresses in these
quotes the feeling of helplessness that surrounded the time period in which he
was living. The Crucible was his attempt to move forward and say what he
believed about the McCarthy Trials that were being held at the time in a way
that would be somewhat more socially acceptable and less condemning. In
addition, Miller says, “ In those years, our thought processes were becoming so
magical, so paranoid, that to imagine writing a play about this environment
was like trying to pick one’s teeth with a ball of wool; I lacked the tools, yet I
kept being drawn back to it” ( 2). He goes on to state in regard to the Salem
Witch trials, “ … I knew that I had to write about the period” ( 2). The Salem
trials offered Miller a safe way to speak out about the issues of his time. He was
able to express his dissatisfaction with the courts without being labeled a
“fanatic” (1). Miller wrote the Crucible in direct opposition the the McCarthy
Trials of his time, but also as a response to his own failing marriage.
Summary of Body Paragraphs:
 Topic Sentence
 Evidence ( quote/paraphrase)
 Analysis ( explain the quote)
 Evidence ( quote/paraphrase)
 Analysis ( explain the quote)
 Transition sentence to next idea
Conclusion
 Restate the thesis in different words
 End with a “wow”
 Bring the ideas more general ( how literature is
important/ why it is written)
 discuss future impacts the Crucible might have on
readers and the world
Example:
 Arthur Miller wrote a play entitled The Crucible as a
response to the political atmosphere of fear in the 1950’s, as
a response to his guilt about his own failing marriage, and
as a chance to use language from the 1700’s in a modern
way. The Crucible responded to all of these issues with
amazing power and still has the power to impact future
generations in powerful ways. Miller himself says, “ the
film, by reaching the broad American audience as no play
ever can, may well unearth other connections to those
buried public terrors that Salem first announced on this
continent” ( 4). Future generations will continue to
connect to this powerful work of American Literature.