It doesn’t have to be difficult!

Expository Writing: It doesn’t have to be difficult!

What is expository writing? • Used to explain, describe, give information, or inform a reader • “ex-” Latin prefix meaning “out” • “pos” Latin root meaning “place or put” • Literally, to put information “out” to a reader

What are the main organization styles of expository writing? • Description • Sequence • Comparison • Cause and effect • Problem and solution

If you choose the best organizational pattern for your topic, your paper will be much easier to write • Each organizational pattern has its own style, its own set of “cue words” that you will use in writing • Each organizational pattern also has a graphic organizer that works best, to help you gather your ideas

Description pattern • As a writer using this pattern, you would describe your topic by listing characteristics and features of it, as well as giving examples • Cue words: • For example • Characteristics are

Sequence pattern • As a writer using this pattern, you would list items in numerical or chronological order • Cue words: • First • Second • Next • Then • Finally

Comparison pattern • As a writer using this pattern, you would explain how two or more things are alike and/or different • Cue words: • Different • Alike • In contrast • Same as • On the other hand

Cause and Effect pattern • As a writer using this pattern, you would explain one or more causes and then show the resulting effect(s) • Cue words: • Reasons why • If…then • As a result • Therefore • Because

Problem and Solution pattern(sometimes called Question and Answer) • As a writer using this pattern, you would describe a problem and list one or more solutions (or ask a question and then provide one or more answers) • Cue words: • Problem is • Puzzle is solved • Question…answer

Quick quiz! Let’s see who’s taking good notes! • Get your clicker ready • Read the description on each page, then choose the expository pattern that is most appropriate

Which pattern style would describe why something happened? 10 • Description • Sequence • Comparison • Cause and Effect • Problem and Solution 0 of 5

Which organizational pattern could explain the steps to follow to do something? 10 • Description • Sequence • Comparison • Cause and Effect • Problem and Solution 0 of 5

Which pattern would be seen in a paper explaining the colors of the Olympic Rings? 10 • Description • Sequence • Comparison • Cause and Effect • Problem and Solution 0 of 5

Which pattern would be seen in a paper discussing who is cuter: Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom? 10 • Description • Sequence • Comparison • Cause and Effect • Problem and Solution 0 of 5

Which pattern would be seen in a paper discussing what to do for an organization that needs to raise money? 10 • Description • Sequence • Comparison • Cause and Effect • Problem and Solution 0 of 5

Planning the Expository Essay • Prewriting is critical to this type of paper • If your information is not organized logically, your reader will not be able to understand your point • Graphic organizers are a huge help here • Five or ten minutes completing a graphic organizer results in an average of a letter grade higher on your final score!!

Web/Cluster organizer • List your topic in the middle • On lines radiating out from the topic, list characteristics, details, and examples of your central topic • You can add additional lines coming out from your initial details

Web/Cluster organizer • This graphic organizer works best with description-style papers • It could also work with sequence-style papers if you then numbered your details • It could also work with problem/solution-style papers if you have more than one solution

List organizer • List your topic at the top of the page • On each line below that, list a step in the process • If a step has sub-steps, you could indent and start a second list

List organizer • This graphic organizer works best with sequence-style papers • It could also work with description papers, cause and effect papers, and problem/solution papers

Venn diagram organizer • Draw two interlocking circles (or more, depending on the number of items you are comparing) • Make the circles big enough for lots of writing • In the overlapping section included in both circles, list elements that the two topics have in common • In the separate sections of each circle, list elements that the two topics do not share

Venn diagram organizer • This graphic organizer works best with comparison-style papers

Hierarchy organizer • List your problem at the top of the page • Draw a line down from your problem, then branch it off into the number of solutions you have

Hierarchy organizer • This graphic organizer works best with problem/solution-style papers • It could also work with cause/effect-style papers that have more than one effect • It could also work with description-style papers • It could also work with a comparison paper, if you only had two second-level boxes and listed details below that

I’m feeling another quick quiz coming on! • Get your clicker ready • Read the description on each page, then choose the graphic organizer that is most appropriate

Which kind of organizer would be best for a paper telling how to do laundry? 10 • Cluster • List • Venn • Hierarchy 0 of 5

Which kind of organizer would be best for a paper explaining what rides are at Kings Island? 10 • Cluster • List • Venn • Hierarchy 0 of 5

Which kind of organizer would be best for a paper showing how middle school and high school are alike and different? 10 • Cluster • List • Venn • Hierarchy 0 of 5

Which kind of organizer would be best for a paper describing options for keeping track of your homework? 10 • Cluster • List • Venn • Hierarchy 0 of 5

All right, let’s practice. • In your notes, you’re going to practice completing each type of graphic organizer. • You’ll have three minutes to try each type. You may not finish; do your best. • I will give you a topic for each type. • When time is up, we’ll share several examples.

Ready, set, go! • Create a web/cluster diagram to describe this classroom

Ready, set, go! • Create a list diagram to explain how to do the dishes

Ready, set, go! • Create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast McDonald’s versus Subway

Ready, set, go! • Create a hierarchy diagram to show ways you could earn money to buy something you want

So to review… • Expository writing is used to give factual information to the reader • It follows one of five main organizational patterns: description, sequence, comparison, cause and effect, and problem and solution • Each pattern has its own best cue words and graphic organizer • Prewriting with a graphic organizer can add up to a letter grade to your final paper score—use it!

It doesn’t have to be difficult!