Expository Writing

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Expository Writing

• Writing that attempts to explain or clarify by
  assigning meanings or making interpretations. The
  purpose is to explain how or why, clarify a
  process, define a concept or instruct.
  Transitional devices help guide the reader
  through the explanation.

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Terms

• Defining
• Explanation
• Clarification
• Examples

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Methods

• Defining
• Illustrating
• Informing
• Classifying

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Planning

• Ask the following questions
• What is the topic?
• Will this writing explain how or why?
• Who will be reading this piece?

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Planning continued

• Gather information
• Facts or examples which explain how or why
• Put the information in order
• Opening paragraph
• Paragraphs with extensions
• Conclusion that briefly restates your
  explanations

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Expository WritingModels

• Student Examples

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Prompt Most people have a game that is, or was,
their favorite. Before you write, think about a
game that is, or was, your favorite. Now write to
explain why that game is, or was, your favorite.

• Nothing has ever gotten my adrenaline pumping
  stronger than a temperamental neighbor flying out
  of her house at one in the morning threatening to
  call the cops on my neighborhood crew and I. This
  is the product of my favorite game, Manhunt. It
  is an age old concept with a cool name. Basically
  group hide-and-go-seek, it takes place in the
  dead of night, youre trying to slip around as if
  your just another moonlight shadow, and it takes
  a whole day of preparation and concoction of a
  strategy.

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Prompt Most people have a game that is, or was,
their favorite. Before you write, think about a
game that is, or was, your favorite. Now write to
explain why that game is, or was, your favorite.

• Ms. Scarlet, in the ballroom, with the rope.
  Ill give you three guesses to tell me what the
  game is. If you did not figure it out, it is
  Clue, which happens to be my favorite game. The
  mystery of who did it is the best part. The game
  is intriguing, makes you think, and you have to
  race the opponents to find the answer first.

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Prompt Think of all the inventions you use
everyday. Think about which invention you think
is the most important. Now write to explain why
you think that invention is the most important.

• Huddled around the samll box in the middle of the
  room the Jones family eagerly waits to see if its
  safe to go outside. Suddenly, the newscenter
  announces that the planes have left and the
  family gives a great sigh of relief. If I had to
  pick one invention out of all created, I would
  choose the radio. Its small and efficient, gives
  you the latest news and it provides entertainment.

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Prompt Think of all the inventions you use
everyday. Think about which invention you think
is the most important. Now write to explain why
you think that invention is the most important.

• From the dawn of mankind, men have handcrafted
  tools and gadgets of great variety. We have even
  used these tools to craft more tools. History has
  proved mans intelligence through inventions.
  However, one of the most spectacular and life
  changing inventions wasnt constructed until the
  late 1700s to the mid 1800s. The creation I
  speak of is none other than that of the cotton
  gin. It ended the need for slavery, began an
  industrial revolution, and influenced other
  inventors ideas and speculation toward machinery.

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Prompt Think of all the inventions you use
everyday. Think about which invention you think
is the most important. Now write to explain why
you think that invention is the most important.

• A young scientist tinkers with a filament in a
  glass bulb, working endlessly to find a way to
  contain light. Thus the greatest invention is
  made the light bulb. Thomas Edison made a genius
  discovery that day which is used nonstop in the
  present. The light bulb makes doing work simple,
  it gives us entertainment, and it is used by
  billions every minute.

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Prompt Many people have a favorite holiday.
Think about the holiday you enjoy most. Now write
to explain why you like the holiday you chose as
your favorite.

• The sky is an electric blue, not a cloud to be
  seen. The trees are alight with the vivid hues of
  orange, yellow, and red leaves just beginning to
  turn. The air is slightly cool with a crisp,
  clean smell and the faint scent of smoke drifting
  on the autumn breeze. It is soon to be
  Thanksgiving and I cant wait! Thanksgiving is my
  all-time favorite holiday. All the relatives come
  to stay for four whole days, the ones you would
  not see except for this holiday. Even the houses
  with the least cheer come alive with the overly
  dramatic hustle and bustle of the holiday cheer.
  The kitchen is busy with ladies roasting turkey
  and theres always plenty of food. Even with all
  the busyness, it seems everyone has time to
  linger over a cup of cider and talk.