Transcript Expository Writing - Mr. Lamar`s English Wiki

Expository Writing
Mr. Lamar
Give it to me straight
Expository writing is used to:
 Inform and explain
 State factual information
 Show cause and effect
 Analyze a process
 Classify information
 Compare and contrast
How do you know that you will be
writing an expository essay?

Things to look for in your prompts:
Example 1: Write an essay discussing the relative strengths and weaknesses of one particular
source for news. Provide examples to illustrate your claims. Develop your ideas so vividly that a
reader will have a clear understanding of the benefits and shortcomings of a particular source of
news.
Example 2: Throughout your years in school, you have studied about many different people.
Think about one of these people you have studied during your time at school. What makes this
person special enough to study?
Write an essay in which you discuss a person you have studied in school. Explain what it is about
this person that is special. Use details and examples to support your ideas.
Example 3: In the story, “The Hiking Trip,” the reader learns about the main character, Jeff. Jeffﾕ
s personality and emotions are revealed through the actions and dialogue presented in the story.
Write an essay in which you describe the personality and emotions of Jeff, the main character.
How do his personal characteristics add to the events in the story? How does the author reveal
this information about Jeff in the story? Use details and examples from the story to support your
ideas.
Organizational Patterns

Description - The author describes a topic
by listing characteristics, features, and
examples

Cue Words - for example, characteristics are
characteristic
feature
example
feature
SUBJECT
example
characteristic
Organizational Patterns

Description Example:
The Olympic symbol consists of five interlocking
rings. The rings represent the five continents Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South
America - from which athletes come to compete in
the games. The rings are colored black blue,
green, red, and yellow. At least one of these
colors is found in the flag of every country sending
athletes to compete in the Olympic games.
Organizational Patterns


Sequence - The author lists items or
events in numerical or chronological order.
Cue words - first, second, third; next; then;
finally
First:
Next:
Finally:
Organizational Patterns

Sequence Example:
The Olympic games began as athletic festivals to honor the Greek
gods. The most important festival was held in the valley of Olympia
to honor Zeus, the king of the gods. It was this festival that became
the Olympic games in 776 B.C. These games were ended in A.D.
394 by the Roman Emperor who ruled Greece. No Olympic games
were held for more than 1,500 years. Then the modern Olympics
began in 1896. Almost 300 male athletes competed in the first
modern Olympics In the games held in 1900, female athletes were
allowed to compete. The games have continued every four years
since 1896 except during World War II, and they will most likely
continue for many years to come.
Organizational Patterns


Compare/Contrast - The author explains
how two or more things are alike and/or
how they are different.
Cue words: different; in contrast; alike;
same as; on the other hand
Organizational Patterns
Basic Structure
Details, Examples, Characteristics
Point #1
Point #2
Point #3
Similarities
Details, Examples, Characteristics
Point #1
Point #1
Subject 1
Point #2
Point #3
Subject 2
Point #2
Point #3
Organizational Patterns



When organizing a compare/contrast essay, first
identify what subjects are being compared.
Typically there are two to three subjects.
Then determine the specific characteristic(s) that
will be discussed regarding those subjects.
Next, decide the order of importance for the
characteristic(s) being discussed.
Organizational Patterns


Using a Thinking Map, how would you
organize a compare/contrast essay that is
comparing two stories and there is one
characteristic being discussed?
You have two possible options.
Organizational Patterns


Option 1: You can write
one body paragraph
discussing all the
elements or examples of
the characteristic found in
the first story and then a
second paragraph doing
the same thing for the
second story.
Block Method
Story 1
Body Paragraph
#1
Example/Element 1 and
commentary
Example/Element 2 and
commentary
Example/Element 3 and
commentary
Story 2
Body Paragraph
#2
Example/Element 1 and
commentary
Example/Element 2 and
commentary
Example/Element 3 and
commentary
Organizational Patterns


Option 2: You can
identify two or three
elements of the
characteristic being
discussed and make
each element the
focus of the body
paragraphs.
Point-by-Point Method
Element 1
Body Paragraph 1
Example from Story 1
And commentary
Example from Story 2
And commentary
Element 2
Body Paragraph 2
Example from Story 1
And commentary
Example from Story 2
And commentary
Element 3
Body Paragraph 3
Example from Story 1
And commentary
Example from Story 2
And commentary
Organizational Patterns

Compare/Contrast Example:
The modern Olympics is very unlike the ancient Olympic games.
Individual events are different. While there were no swimming races
in the ancient games, for example, there were chariot races. There
were no female contestants and all athletes competed in the nude.
Of course, the ancient and modern Olympics are also alike in many
ways. Some events, such as the javelin and discus throws, are the
same. Some people say that cheating, professionalism, and
nationalism in the modern games are a disgrace to the Olympic
tradition, but according to the ancient Greek writers, there were
many cases of cheating, nationalism, and professionalism in their
Olympics too.
Organizational Patterns


Cause and Effect - The author lists one or
more causes and the resulting effect or
effects.
Cue words: reasons why; if...then; as a
result; therefore; because
Effect #1
Cause
Effect #2
Effect #3
Organizational Patterns

Cause and Effect Example:
There are several reasons why so many people attend the Olympic
games or watch them on television. One reason is tradition. The
name Olympics and the torch and flame remind people of the
ancient games. People can escape the ordinariness of daily life by
attending or watching the Olympics. They like to identify with
someone else's individual sacrifice and accomplishment. National
pride is another reason, and an athlete's or a team's hard earned
victory becomes a nation's victory. There are national medal counts
and people keep track of how many medals their country's athletes
have won.
Organizational Patterns


Problem and Solution - The author states a
problem and lists one or more solutions for the
problem. A variation of this pattern is the questionand-answer format in which the author poses a
question and then answers it. The author is simply
providing possible solutions, not recommending
the best solution (that would be persuasive
writing).
Cue words: problem is; dilemma is; puzzle is
solved; question... answer
Organizational Patterns
Solution #1
Problem
Solution #2
Solution #3
Organizational Patterns

Problem and Solution Example:
One problem with the modern Olympics is that it has become very
big and expensive to operate. The city or country that hosts the
games often loses a lot of money. A stadium, pools, and playing
fields must be built for the athletic events and housing is needed for
the athletes who come from around the world. And all of these
facilities are used for only 2 weeks! In 1984, Los Angeles solved
these problems by charging a fee for companies who wanted to be
official sponsors of the games. Companies like McDonald's paid a
lot of money to be part of the Olympics. Many buildings that were
already built in the Los Angeles area were also used. The Coliseum
where the 1932 games were held was used again and many
colleges and universities in the area became playing and living
sites.
Format

Introduction

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
Hook: catch the audience’s attention by making a
statement or comment that they can relate to. These are
generally broad statements or interesting observations
that introduce the subject of the essay.
Topics: Briefly introduce the topics that will be discussed
in your essay without getting into detail.
Thesis: The main idea being discussed. It must be defined
and narrow enough to be supported within the essay.
Format

Body:


The format of your body paragraphs will be
different depending on the type of expository
essay you will be writing and the ideas that you
wish to highlight.
You can either use the Block Method or the
Point-by-Point Method.
Format

Conclusion:


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Originally restate the thesis and the main
supporting ideas
Finish with the a statement that reinforces your
position in a meaningful and memorable way.
Never introduce new material in the conclusion.
Prompt

Now that you have read “Catch the Moon”
and “The Bass, the River, and Sheila
Mant,” you can compare the themes of the
two stories in a comparison/contrast essay.
Be sure to elaborate on every general
statement you make, using details,
examples, and quotations from the stories.