HOW TO DEVELOP IDEAS AND WRITE AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY
Expository Writing is educated, thought provoking writing in response to:
• Quotes-famous quotations by historians, authors, politicians…
• Adages-short, memorable sayings with meaning attached.
• Universally Accessible Topic-Food for thought that is not attached to curriculum or studies, but rather an idea from the experience.
SAMPLE EXPOSITORY WRITING TASK
“A person does not simply “receive” his or her identity. Identity is much more than the name or features one is born with. True identity is something people must create for themselves by making choices that are significant and that require a courageous commitment in the face of challenges. Identity means having ideas and values that one lives by.”—Thomas Merton, Contemplation in a World of Action.
Using examples from literature, history, science, film, or your own experiences, write an essay in which you develop your point of view as to whether identity is something people are born with or given, or is identity something people create for themselves.
STEP 1: READING CAREFULLY
Before you write a single word, you must make sure that you will specifically address only the topic you have been asked to address. Here’s how:
• First, read the prompt carefully.
• Then, read the prompt again to clarify your writing task.
• Finally, identify key words and ideas in the prompt as you read it a third time.
My Writing task: Decide whether one’s identity is something people are born with or whether people create their own identifies throughout their lives.
Key words: Identity: People born with or given; something people create for themselves.
STEP 2: NARROW YOUR FOCUS (PREWRITING)
You need to narrow your focus by thinking of two or more examples/supporting details from literature, history, science, film, or your own experiences to support your point of view on the topic.
Your Point of View: Identity is something people create for themselves.
Examples: Literature: Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island
Literature: Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
STEP 3: CHOOSE A THESIS STATEMENT
• A thesis statement not only lets a reader know your viewpoint; it also helps you to
focus on that viewpoint as you write.
• Your thesis statement, which should emerge from your prewriting, should present your position as if it were a fact.
• So, write it clearly and firmly.
• Make every effort to make plain for readers what your essay will deliver.
Thesis Statement: Identity is an earned characteristic of a human being, whether the identity, and the actions which merit that identity, are good or bad.
STEP 4: THE INTRODUCTION: OPENING STRONG
• A strong opening to an essay will capture a reader’s attention.
• In contrast, a dull or confusing opening can put off a reader by creating a negative first impression.
• A strong introduction should…
1. Begin with a grabbing lead which “hooks the reader”.
2. State/integrate the quote, adage, or topic.
3. Include background information to introduce the question.
4. End with a thesis statement expressing the main idea of the essay.
Introduction: The identity of a person is defined by what he or she creates for himself or herself. “Creating a name” for oneself comes from the actions and decisions that one person makes. It is entirely up to that one person to work towards creating a positive identity. Even with a distinguished background, a powerful ancestor, or a number of other factors, one must use these factors to one’s own advantage solely in creating an identity of one’s own. Identity is an earned characteristic of a human being, whether the identity and the actions which merit that identity are good or bad.
STEP 5: ELABORATE IN THE BODY
Consider using the following elaborating strategies:
Example(s) from literature, history, science, or film:
• You can actually study for this part, because themes are UNIVERSAL.
• Think about some major novels that you have read thus far and/or some historical figures. Figure out what they stand for, what themes they exemplify, and be ready to work that into whatever prompt presents itself.
Example(s) from your own experience or observation:
• You will write this as an explanation, not a narration
• Do not be tempted to relive the story; speak with an academic voice.
Each paragraph in the body of your essay should:
• Begin with a topic sentence.
• Focus on only one idea (one idea/paragraph)
• Include an example from literature, history, science, film, or your own experience or observation to explain the quote.
• Relate to the thesis statement.
• Be written as an explanation, not narration, and speak with an academic voice.
Example of a Body Paragraph: Finding one’s true identity within themselves is a huge responsibility, and a challenging task. In Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, the young protagonist, Jim Hawkins, desires an escape from the fruitless and banal existence he leads working in a tavern. When he sets sail on a quest for lost treasure with a newly acquired map, he must undergo a series of challenges including skirmishes with pirates
and the making of decisions which will change the fate of the crew. Jim thwarts the evil pirates’ attempts and saves his shipmates, proving his worth and creating his own identity as a hero. He works against adversity to gain his true identity.
STEP 6: THE CONCLUSION—FINISH MEMORABLY
Some ways to end your essay memorably:
• Generate final remarks without introducing brand new examples.
• Unify and summarize your ideas.
• Remind the audience of your main point/thesis.
• Use a satisfactory closing sentence/clincher (could tie back into introduction)
Example of a Concluding Paragraph: All human beings have the power to create names for themselves. To delve into the identity of a person is to witness the character of a person, as well as the actions that person has performed. As seen in literature as well as in history, a person has the power to gain his own identity by working against adversity or by challenging society’s bonds and labels to gain a knowledge of oneself. In the end, we can see the identities of people in the good or bad they do.
STEP 7: PROOFREADING AND REVISION
• Be sure that all sentences are complete. Avoid sentence fragments (lack subjects, verbs, or both).
• Fix run-on sentences (two or more sentences that are masquerading as a single sentence because of incorrect punctuation).
• Vary sentence types (i.e. declarative, imperative, exclamatory, and interrogative)
• Vary sentence structures and lengths (i.e. simple sentence, compound sentence, complex sentence, and compound-complex sentence).
• Vary sentence beginnings (i.e. start with an adverb, prepositional phrase, participial phrase, subordinate clause, or predicate).
• Avoid clichés and slang (i.e. clichés are expressions or idioms that have become trite from overuse; slang, which is composed of newly made-up terms, or new meanings attached to existing terms).
• Avoid wordy and empty sentences (i.e. when you write, aim for brevity. Avoid wordy sentences. Choose your words carefully and economically).
• Avoid choppy sentences (i.e. eliminate a series of short, choppy sentences by combining sentences using coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and relative pronouns).
• Use the active voice (i.e. the subject performs the action named by the verb).
• Use commas, semicolons, and colons (i.e. commas signal pauses; semicolons signal a longer pause than a comma, but a shorter pause than a period; colons serve as a signal to pay close attention to what follows. Use one before an extended quotation, an explanation, an example, or a series).
Explanatory Writing Prompt Revising & Proofreading Checklist
INTRODUCTION
Did I remember to …
□ begin with a grabbing lead which “hooks” the reader?
□ state/integrate the quote, adage, or topic?
□ include background information to introduce the question?
□ end the paragraph with a thesis statement expressing the main idea of my
essay?
BODY
Did I remember to …
□ begin each paragraph with a topic sentence?
□ focus each body paragraph on one idea (one idea, one paragraph)?
□ include an example(s) from literature, history, science, film, or your own
experience or observation to explain/support the quote?
□ make sure each body paragraph relates to the thesis statement?
□ make sure each body paragraph is written as an explanation, not narration
and speaks with an academic voice.
CONCLUSION
Did I remember to …
□ generate final remarks without introducing brand new examples?
□ remind the audience of the main idea/thesis of my essay?
□ unify and summarize/restate some of the key points I made about this main
idea?
□ use a satisfactory close / clincher (could tie back into intro)?
Expository Essay Prewriting Worksheet
Step 1: Read carefully to clarify your task and to analyze the key words in the prompt.
My Writing Task: _______________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________Key Words in the Prompt: ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Step 2: Narrow your focus.
My Point of View: ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Examples/Supporting details:______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Step 3: Choose a Thesis Statement.
Thesis Statement: ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Things to Consider When Writing the Expository Essay
1. 30 Minute Time Table Breakdown:
Prewriting (Including the Expository Essay Prewriting Worksheet) 10 minutes
Writing Time (Actual time to draft the story) 15 minutes
Editing Time (Find and correct grammar and mechanical errors) 5 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
2. Your essay should be a minimum of 4 paragraphs long. Paragraph breakdown:
Paragraph One: Introduction
Paragraph 2, 3 or 4 Supporting idea paragraphs
Final Paragraph Conclusion
3. The introduction should consist of 4 to 6 sentences.
Body paragraphs should consist of 5 to 8 sentences.
The conclusion should have 2 to 4 sentences.
4. Supporting ideas: