1 / 16

Expository Writing

Expository Writing. Writing that explains , describes , illustrates , defines , or informs . Introductory Paragraph Body Paragraphs (2+) Concluding Paragraph. Introductory Paragraph (#1). Attention Grabber Background Information Central/Controlling Idea Thesis.

raya-waters
Download Presentation

Expository Writing

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Expository Writing Writing that explains, describes, illustrates, defines, or informs. Introductory Paragraph Body Paragraphs (2+) Concluding Paragraph

  2. Introductory Paragraph (#1) • Attention Grabber • Background Information • Central/Controlling Idea • Thesis Into gets more and more specific

  3. Introduction: Attention Grabber • Function/Purpose • Hooks reader • 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

  4. 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 Introduction: Background Information • Function/Purpose • Provides context for reader (historical) • If about literature, provides title/author and brief plot summary • Provides link between grabber and specifics of prompt

  5. 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 Introduction: Central/Controlling Idea • 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

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

  7. Body Paragraph (#2-3) Least specific • Topic Sentence • Major A • Minor #1 • Commentary • Minor #2 • Commentary • Major B • Minor #1 • Commentary • Minor #2 • Commentary • Concluding Sentence Most specific Analysis

  8. 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! Body Paragraph: Topic Sentence • Function/Purpose • States main idea AND assertion for each body paragraph (kind of “mini thesis” for paragraph) • Tied directly to main thesis • First sentence of body paragraph • Should be able to read T.S. and ask, “How so?”

  9. What it is NOT Not too specific Not a quote Not analysis Body Paragraph: Major Supports • Function/Purpose • At least two per paragraph • Ways in which the assertion given in T.S. can be proven • In the writer’s own words, answers, “How so?” from T.S.

  10. What it is NOT Not a question Not analysis Not irrelevant examples or details Body Paragraph: Minor Supports • Function/Purpose • Specific quotes, concrete details, anecdotes, etc. to illustrate each major • 2 minors for each major in HSPE/MSP-style essay • 1 minor (quote) in literary analysis minimum for each major

  11. What it is NOT Not plot summary Not plot detail Not restatement of majors/minors/quotes Not unrelated to prompt No critique of book No advice to reader Body Paragraph: Commentary • Function/Purpose • Writer’s analysis • Connects back to analysis-part of prompt and to central idea • If about literature, usually about theme, purpose, impact on reader, tone, etc. • Honors: 2-part commentary—one sentence analyzing quote and one or more to present significance (universally) • “This shows that…”

  12. Tips for Commentary • SPIES • Significance - Why did I choose this/these particular quotes/details? Why are they significant? • Purpose - What is the author’s purpose in presenting the reader with these quotes? • Importance - How/why are these quotes/details good examples of my major? Why are they important? • Effect - What effect do these particular quotes/details have on the reader (and how does that relate to the point I am trying to make)? • Suggestion - What suggestion do these quotes/details make about a character or event?

  13. What it is NOT No quote from text No introduction of new idea Not exact wording as T.S. Body Paragraph: Concluding Sentence • Function/Purpose • Provides closure for body paragraphs—last sentence of body paragraphs • Restates T.S. • Optional in shorter essays • Can transition to next body paragraph

  14. 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 Concluding Paragraph • 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

  15. Things to AVOID in your essay • First person pronouns (“I,” “me,” etc.) • Can be used if the essay is about YOU personally • Can be used in quotes from literature • Second person pronouns (“you,” “your,” etc.) • Can ONLY be used in quotes from literature • Contractions (“It’s,” “They’re,” etc.) • ONLY in quotes • Slang

  16. Topic Statement Major Topic A Major Topic B Minor Topic 1 Minor Topic 1 Minor Topic 2 Minor Topic 1 Minor Topic 2 Useful Organizer for an Expository Body Paragraph Comm Comm Concluding Statement

More Related