Expository Writing

1. Expository Writing How is it different from narrative writing?

2. Goal of Expository Writing • Expository writing is different from narrative writing in that it is factual and requires careful organization and thought. • Expository writing seeks to inform, explain, clarify, define or instruct.

3. Places you find expository writing • Expository writing appears in letters, newsletters, definitions, instructions, guidebooks, catalogues, newspaper articles, magazine articles, manuals, pamphlets, reports and research papers. • Can you think of anywhere else?

4. Types of Expository Writing • Description • Explanation • Compare/Contrast • Problem/Solution

5. 1. Descriptive Writing • Descriptive Writing is writing that vividly describes a person, place, or thing in such detail that the reader can visualize the topic.

6. Descriptive Writing Example • The Big Teacher • By: Andria T.Afghanistan, Age 12 • I peek into a classroom. There’s a teacher sitting a a desk. He’s large, with yellowy white skin. His big hands are wrinkly, like crumpled paper. His voice is deep, and booming, like a big base drum. He’s wearing a sky blue shirt, with a faded brown necktie. He’s bald, and the light reflects off his shiny head. There’s tufts of hair sprouting out of his pointy ears. His eyes are stormy grey, and his glasses sit on the very end of his long, pointy nose. His nose looked like it would break any second. His mouth was twisted in a frown as he bent over his work.

7. Possible Descriptive Topics • Think of a teacher that stands out in your memory. Write a description of that teacher. • Describe the perfect classroom. • Describe your favorite place in the world. If you do not have a favorite place, please write what it would be like.

8. More Descriptive Writing Topics • Describe your favorite room in your house. • Imagine you have just been given the name and address of a penpal. Describe yourself to that person. • Describe your favorite park or playground.

9. 2. Explanation Writing Explanation Writing tells why or how something works the way it does.

10. Explanation Writing Example • How to Make a Simple Birthday Cake

11. Possible Explanation Topics • How to stay in bed as late as possible but still get to school on time • How to make the best TV snack (or meal) • How to make________ • *How to get along with ________ (all will do this last one)

12. Possible Explanation Topics • Think of something you know how to do really well. Explain how to do it in an essay. (how to) • In an essay, explain how disappointments can have a good side. • Write an essay explaining why someone you care about is important to you.

13. 3. Compare/Contrast Writing • Compare/Contrast Writing is writing that gives the similarities and differences between two things • http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/compcontrast/

14. Examples of Compare/Contrast Writing • http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/media/hh/pdfs/samplepapers/comparecontrast_sample.pdf

15. Possible Compare/Contrast Topics • The person you are and the person you would like to be • Two sports or two seasons • A movie and the book it was based on

16. 4. Problem/Solution Writing • Problem/Solution writing is writing that describes a problem and explains ways to solve the problem.

17. Examples of Problem/Solution Writing http://eolit.hrw.com/hlla/writersmodel/makepdf.jsp?id=1420&WebLogicSession=Rv5x4rnYlw3voleYCkv53Va01zMUVjNgLRwjOAJN3O4FO9MKZzAA%7C-3634363151707033454/167838193/6/6000/6000/7002/7002/6000/-1

18. Possible Topics for Problem/Solution Writing • Problem: Bullying • Bullying has become a problem in your school. It happens in the bathroom, hallways and the gym. Think about what this person is like and what he has done to bother and perhaps frighten others. Think about what you can do to solve the problem to keep the bully from bothering people. Write an essay for your teacher about how the problem of bullying is affecting your class. First, you will need to explain what the bully does to frighten and annoy others. Then explain what needs to be done to stop the bullying of your classmates. Include details and descriptions of what to do and explain why your ideas are good ones.

19. Problem: New students feeling unwelcome • New students who enroll in your school often feel left out because they do not have any friends and it is not easy for them to make new friends. Think of some ways to solve this problem for new students to make them feel better about their new school. Write a letter to the editor of the school newspaper describing ways you cold make a new student feel welcome at your school. First, describe the problem of being a new student, and then explain what you would do to help solve the problem. Tell why your solution would work and why it is a good idea.