Purpose of Expository Writing

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Purpose of Expository Writing

• Explains
• Describes
• Illustrates
• Defines
• Informs

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Expository Essay Structure

• Introductory Paragraph
• Body Paragraphs (2 or more)
• Concluding Paragraph

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(No Transcript)
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Introductory Paragraph

• Attention Grabber / Hook
• Background Information about the Central Idea
• Thesis

General Specific
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Introduction Attention Grabber / Hook

• Whats Its Purpose?
• Hooks readers attention
• 1st sentence(s) of intro. paragraph
• General/broad concept related to some aspect of
  prompt

• What it is NOT
• Unrelated to prompt
• Not a sentence or question with you in it
• Not too specific
• Not a sentence with title/author in it (literary)

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Introduction Background Information

• Whats Its Purpose?
• Provides context for reader (historical)
• Provides link between grabber and specifics of
  prompt
• LITERARY TAGG statement (title, author, genre,
  gist of the story)

• What it is NOT
• Not too specific to prompt yet
• Not analysis
• Not a sentence with subtopics in it
• Not a quote from text
• Not extensive plot summary

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Introduction Central/Controlling Idea

• What it is NOT
• Not plot detail
• Not a basic fact
• Not something that cannot be proven or already is
  proven
• Not a quote from text
• Not unrelated to prompt

• Function/Purpose
• Connected directly to analysis part of prompt and
  commentary
• Provides analysis writer is asserting/ can be
  proven
• If about literature, usually about theme,
  purpose, impact on reader, tone, etc.
• Can be combined with the thesis

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Introduction Thesis

• Function/Purpose
• Provides content and organization of paper
• Includes subtopics that will be used to prove
  central idea (subtopics will be topics of body
  paragraphs)
• Belongs in last sentence of introduction

• What it is NOT
• Not a plot detail
• Not a basic fact
• Not a quote from text

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Body Paragraph

• Topic Sentence
• Support A (Major)
• Evidence (Minor)
• Evidence
• Commentary
• Support B
• Evidence
• Evidence
• Commentary
• Concluding Sentence

Your assertion the paragraph will prove with
evidence.
This is your analysis.
Restates / reaffirms your topic sentence.
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Body Paragraph Topic Sentence

• What it is NOT
• Not a plot detail
• Not a basic fact
• Not a quote from text
• Not a sentence that cannot be or already is
  proven (ie, Scout is one of the main characters
  in the novel.) Bad!

• Function/Purpose
• States main idea AND assertion for each body
  paragraph
• Tied directly to thesis
• First sentence of body paragraph
• Should be able to read T.S. and ask, How so?

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Body Paragraph Support

• What it is NOT
• Not too specific
• Not a quote
• Not analysis

• Function/Purpose
• At least two per paragraph
• Ways in which the assertion given in topic
  sentence can be proven
• Answers, How so? from topic sentence

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Body Paragraph Evidence

• What it is NOT
• Not a question
• Not analysis
• Not irrelevant examples or details

• Function/Purpose
• Specific quotes, concrete details, anecdotes,
  etc. to illustrate each support
• 2 pieces of evidence for each support in
  HSPE/MSP-style essay
• 1 quote in literary analysis minimum for each
  support

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Body Paragraph Commentary

• Function/Purpose
• Writers analysis connecting evidence to the
  topic sentence/claim
• If about literature, usually about theme,
  purpose, impact on reader, tone, etc.
• A This shows that statement

• What it is NOT
• Not plot summary or detail
• Not restatement of majors/minors/quotes
• Not unrelated to prompt
• No critique of book or advice to the reader

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Tips for Commentary

• When writing commentary, ask yourself
• Why did I choose this evidence?
• Why is it significant to prove my topic/claim?
• How does this evidence prove my topic/claim?
• What effect does this evidence have on my
  reader?

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Body Paragraph Concluding Sentence

• Function/Purpose
• Provides closure for body paragraphs
• Last sentence of body paragraphs
• Restates topic sentence
• May be optional in shorter essays

• What it is NOT
• No quote from text
• No introduction of new idea
• Not exact wording as topic sentence

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Topic Statement
Major Topic A
Major Topic B
Minor Topic 1
Minor Topic 1
Minor Topic 2
Minor Topic 1
Minor Topic 2
Another Useful Organizer for an Expository Body
Paragraph
Comm
Comm
Concluding Statement
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Concluding Paragraph
Specific General

• Restate Thesis
• Summarize main ideas
• Conclude with final
• thought-provoking, memorable insight

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Concluding Paragraph

• What it is NOT
• Does not start with In conclusion
• Not word-for-word restatement of thesis/ central
  idea
• No new information introduced
• Do not end on a question
• Do not include lesson for your readers

• Function/Purpose
• Provides closure for essay
• Restatement of thesis/ central idea using
  different wording
• Brief summary of main ideas presented in essay
  (esp. in longer essay)
• Final thought-provoking/ memorable (relevant)
  insight

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Things to AVOID in your essay

• First person pronouns (I, me, etc.)
• Second person pronouns (you, your, etc.)
• Contractions (Its, Theyre, etc.)
• Slang