Post on 09-Mar-2018
The Writing
Academy
From How to WOW!
10 Days of Expository Writing
Written and Presented by: Randi Whitney Copyright 2013 www.twa.net 281-538-3241
2
2
Successful Compositions
Progression
How the composition advances
Personality
How the composition expresses uniqueness
Pitfalls
Anything that occurs which causes
progression or personality to be negatively affected
6
6
Types of Expository Writing Styles
Informative
Giving the gift of information
Informative and Why
Giving information and explaining WHY
Procedural
Telling someone how to do something—order matters-measurable product
Masked
Telling someone how to do something—no order-goal at the end
Classificatory
Telling two different sides about ONE subject or idea
Compare and Contrast
Telling how TWO subjects or ideas are similar and different
7
7
Types of Expository Prompts
Informative
Write all about your favorite activity.
Informative and Why
Write all about an activity that you enjoy.
Be sure to explain why you enjoy the activity.
Procedural
Write about how to ride a bike.
Masked
Write about how to be successful doing your favorite activity.
Classificatory
Write about the good and bad sides of your favorite activity.
Compare and Contrast
Compare and contrast your favorite activity to one of your friend’s favorite
activities.
8
8
Expository Prompt
Think: Think about an activity that impacts your life.
Write: Write all about an activity that you enjoy. Be sure to
explain why you enjoy the activity.
Read: Sports are important to many people. From the athlete,
to the parents, to the people who make money at the ball fields;
sports can change lives.
9
9 Linear Writing –vs– Starred Writing
Example:
Order?
Connections?
Example:
Order?
Connections?
My favorite activity is
playing baseball. I wear
safety gear. There are nine
players. There is an umpire.
Baseball is thrilling.
My favorite activity is
playing baseball. I wear
safety gear. I am a catcher.
One time I forgot to wear my
mask, and I got hit in the
mouth. We went to the
emergency room. The
doctors said I need a dentist!
10
10 Progression
safety gear thrilling umpire nine players
Favorite
activity is
baseball
catcher
forgot my
mask
went
to
doctor
It’s NOT about th
e numbers!
1
4
5
3
2
had to go to
dentist
11
11
5 Pitfalls of Expository Writing
(Many others exist, but these are the biggies!)
Missing the Prompt (whole or partial)
Changing Positions
Repeating Words/Ideas
Going Narrative (matching structure)
Lacking Splashes
most common
13
13
Expository Prompt
Think: Think about an activity that impacts your life.
Write: Write all about an activity that you enjoy. Be sure to
explain why you enjoy the activity.
Read: Sports are important to many people. From the athlete,
to the parents, to the people who make money at the ball fields;
sports can change lives.
14
14
Think: Think about an activity that impacts your life.
Write: Write all about an activity that you enjoy. Be sure to
explain why you enjoy the activity.
Read: Sports are important to many people. From the athlete,
to the parents, to the people who make money at the ball fields;
sports can change lives.
Action?
15
15
A
A
Write: Write all about an activity that you enjoy.
Be sure to explain why it is so important to you.
Whole or Part?
Write: Write all about an activity that you enjoy.
Be sure to explain why it is so important to you.
B
Write: Write all about an activity that you enjoy.
Be sure to explain why you enjoy the activity.
Add...
Add...
16
16
Baseball
Baseball is a great activity. I love it. Baseball is the most
thrilling sport I know. It is a team sport. Each player also
has to work hard. Baseball also means that I will get to
eat concession stand food. Umpires are always there.
Umpires have to be there. They are required at every game.
The umpire is important. Every team has to have a lot of
coaches. Sometimes baseball is not fun because your team
loses. I like to play baseball. I love playing baseball.
Playing first base is fun to most kids, but I don’t like first
base at all. I get to play Little League in the Spring. We
sing that national song. Baseball players have to practice a
lot. Football player don’t have to practice much. Pitchers
have to practice the most. My dad was a pitcher and he
practiced five hours everyday when I was a little kid. He was
really great at pitching. He threw a ton of strikes. He even
led his team in strike outs. His favorite pitch was a knuckle
ball. It really confused the batters. They would swing and
strike out over and over. I am very proud of my dad. He
was great baseball player. He is a great dad too. He has
taught me a lot. I love my dad. I hope you love your dad
too.
17
17
Missing the Prompt
Baseball is a great activity. I love it. Baseball is the most
thrilling sport I know. It is a team sport. Each player also
has to work hard. Baseball also means that I will get to
eat concession stand food. Umpires are always there.
Umpires have to be there. They are required at every game.
The umpire is important. Every team has to have a lot of
coaches. Sometimes baseball is not fun because your team
loses. I like to play baseball. I love playing baseball.
Playing first base is fun to most kids, but I don’t like first
base at all. I get to play Little League in the Spring. We
sing that national song. Baseball players have to practice a
lot. Football player don’t have to practice much. Pitchers
have to practice the most. My dad was a pitcher and he
practiced five hours everyday when I was a little kid. He was
really great at pitching. He threw a ton of strikes. He even
led his team in strike outs. His favorite pitch was a knuckle
ball. It really confused the batters. They would swing and
strike out over and over. I am very proud of my dad. He
was great baseball player. He is a great dad too. He has
taught me a lot. I love my dad. I hope you love your dad
too.
….NEVER ADDRESSED THE SECOND PART OF THE PROMPT!!!!!
18
18
Play Ball!
“Take me out to the ball game!” Nothing can remind me
of my favorite activity like those few words!
Baseball is the most thrilling sport I know. The games
can even be played during the day or at night. It is a team
sport, yet it demands individual effort. If one player messes up,
the whole team suffers. Our centerfielder missed a popfly a
while back and we actually lost that game-just because of
that one play. Umpires are always there. That’s good
because they keep the peace, because batters and pitchers can
never agree exactly where a strike should be called.
One of the many reasons why I love baseball so much
is because I get to wear special equipment. As the catcher,
I get to wear a helmet and really thick leg guards for
protection. I have to make sure and wear all of it to keep
safe. Baseball will always be my favorite activity because of
how close the players are to the stands. I will never forget
my mom screaming for me when I hit my very first homerun.
I could hear her even as I rounded second base. The cracking
sound in her voice showed me how proud she was of me.
Hearing fans yell for a great play, like my mom yelled
for me that day, makes goose bumps rise on my arms every
time. Whenever I am not playing baseball, all I can think
is, “Take me out to the ballgame!”
19
19
team sport fun
day or night thrilling
lots of practice players close to fans
special equipment exciting
umpire at the games
individual effort
soccer is cool
Brainstorming
A B
21
21
team sport fun
day or night thrilling
lots of practice players close to fans
special equipment exciting
umpire at the games
individual effort
soccer is cool
O...C...T...O... Surgery
A B
22
22
team sport fun
day or night thrilling
lots of practice players close to fans
special equipment exciting
umpire at the games
individual effort
soccer is cool
O...C...T...O... Surgery
A B
23
23
thrilling 1
team sport fun
day or night
lots of practice players close to fans 2
exciting
umpire at the games 3 special equipment 1
individual effort
soccer is cool
O...C...T...O... Surgery
A B
2
24
24
Baseball is so thrilling!
It is a team sport, yet it
demands individual
effort.
There is an umpire at
every game.
One reason I love
baseball so much is
because we get to wear
special equipment.
It is my favorite sport
because the players are
close enough to the
stands to hear the fans.
From Keywords to Sentences
A B
25
25
A A
Write: Write all about someone you admire. Be sure to
explain why you admire that person so much.
Whole or Part?
Write: Write all about a healthy food and explain why it is
so healthy.
Write: Write all about how to make a friend and explain
why it is so important to have a good friend.
A B B B
27
27
Flip-Flopping!
Cut out the flip flops.
Read the Expository paper on the following page.
It addresses the prompt from Pitfall #1.
As you are reading, you will discover some shifts
where the composition changes position.
Place a pair of flip flops by the position changes
you find.
28
28
Changing Positions
Baseball is a great activity. I love it. Baseball is the most
thrilling sport I know. It is a team sport. Each player also
has to work hard. Baseball also means that I will get to
eat concession stand food. Umpires are always there.
Umpires have to be there. They are required at every game.
The umpire is important. Every team has to have a lot of
coaches. Sometimes baseball is not fun because your team
loses. I like to play baseball. I love playing baseball.
Playing first base is fun to most kids, but I don’t like first
base at all. I get to play Little League in the Spring. We
sing that national song. Baseball players have to practice a
lot. Pitchers have to practice the most. My dad was a
pitcher and he practiced five hours everyday when I was a
little kid. He was really great at pitching. He threw a ton
of strikes. He even led his team in strike outs. His favorite
pitch was a knuckle ball. It really confused the batters.
They would swing and strike out over and over. I am very
proud of my dad. He was great baseball player. He is a
great dad too. He has taught me a lot. I love my dad. I
hope you love your dad too.
29
29
Changing Positions
Baseball is a great activity. I love it. Baseball is the most
thrilling sport I know. It is a team sport. Each player also
has to work hard. Baseball also means that I will get to
eat concession stand food. Umpires are always there.
Umpires have to be there. They are required at every game.
The umpire is important. Every team has to have a lot of
coaches. Sometimes baseball is not fun because your team
loses. I like to play baseball. I love playing baseball.
Playing first base is fun to most kids, but I don’t like first
base at all. I get to play Little League in the Spring. We
sing that national song. Baseball players have to practice a
lot. Football player don’t have to practice much. Pitchers
have to practice the most. My dad was a pitcher and he
practiced five hours everyday when I was a little kid. He was
really great at pitching. He threw a ton of strikes. He even
led his team in strike outs. His favorite pitch was a knuckle
ball. It really confused the batters. They would swing and
strike out over and over. I am very proud of my dad. He
was great baseball player. He is a great dad too. He has
taught me a lot. I love my dad. I hope you love your dad
too.
31
31
Repeating
Baseball is a great activity. I love it. Baseball is the most
thrilling sport I know. It is a team sport. Each player also
has to work hard. Baseball also means that I will get to
eat concession stand food. Umpires are always there.
Umpires have to be there. They are required at every game.
The umpire is important. Every team has to have a lot of
coaches. Sometimes baseball is not fun because your team
loses. I like to play baseball. I love playing baseball.
Playing first base is fun to most kids, but I don’t like first
base at all. I get to play Little League in the Spring. We
sing that national song. Baseball players have to practice a
lot. Pitchers have to practice the most. My dad was a
pitcher and he practiced five hours everyday when I was a
little kid. He was really great at pitching. He threw a ton
of strikes. He even led his team in strike outs. His favorite
pitch was a knuckle ball. It really confused the batters.
They would swing and strike out over and over. I am very
proud of my dad. He was great baseball player. He is a
great dad too. He has taught me a lot. I love my dad. I
hope you love your dad too.
32
32
Cut it Out!
Using scissors, cut out the sentences that are repeats.
Glue the ones that are left on another piece of paper to see what remains.
Baseball is a great activity. I love
it. Baseball is the most thrilling
sport I know. It is a team sport.
Each player also has to work hard.
Baseball also means that I will get to
eat concession stand food. Umpires
are always there. Umpires have to be
there. They are required at every
game. The umpire is important. Every
team has to have a lot of coaches.
Sometimes baseball is not fun because
your team loses. I like to play
baseball. I love playing baseball.
34
34
Don’t Fall into a
STORY!
Stay EXPOSITORY!
Use the books below to mark where you believe the author of the following
composition told a STORY, instead of staying EXPOSITORY!
35
35
Baseball
Baseball is a great activity. I love it. Baseball is the most
thrilling sport I know. It is a team sport. Each player also
has to work hard. Baseball also means that I will get to
eat concession stand food. Umpires are always there.
Umpires have to be there. They are required at every game.
The umpire is important. Every team has to have a lot of
coaches. Sometimes baseball is not fun because your team
loses. I like to play baseball. I love playing baseball.
Playing first base is fun to most kids, but I don’t like first
base at all. I get to play Little League in the Spring. We
sing that national song. Baseball players have to practice a
lot. Pitchers have to practice the most. My dad was a
pitcher and he practiced five hours everyday when I was a
little kid. He was really great at pitching. He threw a ton
of strikes. He even led his team in strike outs. His favorite
pitch was a knuckle ball. It really confused the batters.
They would swing and strike out over and over. I am very
proud of my dad. He was great baseball player. He is a
great dad too. He has taught me a lot. I love my dad. I
hope you love your dad too.
36
36
Going Narrative
Baseball is a great activity. I love it. Baseball is the most
thrilling sport I know. It is a team sport. Each player also
has to work hard. Baseball also means that I will get to
eat concession stand food. Umpires are always there.
Umpires have to be there. They are required at every game.
The umpire is important. Every team has to have a lot of
coaches. Sometimes baseball is not fun because your team
loses. I like to play baseball. I love playing baseball.
Playing first base is fun to most kids, but I don’t like first
base at all. I get to play Little League in the Spring. We
sing that national song. Baseball players have to practice a
lot. Pitchers have to practice the most. My dad was a
pitcher and he practiced five hours everyday when I was a
little kid. He was really great at pitching. He threw a ton
of strikes. He even led his team in strike outs. His favorite
pitch was a knuckle ball. It really confused the batters.
They would swing and strike out over and over. I am very
proud of my dad. He was great baseball player. He is a
great dad too. He has taught me a lot. I love my dad. I
hope you love your dad too.
38
38
So….what is left after we
remove all of the
pitfalls we just discussed?
Not much…. But
that is good
because we need
plenty of room
for SPLASHING!
39
39
Baseball
Baseball is a great activity. I love it. Baseball is the most
thrilling sport I know. It is a team sport. Each player also
has to work hard. Baseball also means that I will get to
eat concession stand food. Umpires are always there.
Umpires have to be there. They are required at every game.
The umpire is important. Every team has to have a lot of
coaches. Sometimes baseball is not fun because your team
loses. I like to play baseball. I love playing baseball.
Playing first base is fun to most kids, but I don’t like first
base at all. I get to play Little League in the Spring. We
sing that national song. Baseball players have to practice a
lot. Pitchers have to practice the most. My dad was a
pitcher and he practiced five hours everyday when I was a
little kid. He was really great at pitching. He threw a ton
of strikes. He even led his team in strike outs. His favorite
pitch was a knuckle ball. It really confused the batters.
They would swing and strike out over and over. I am very
proud of my dad. He was great baseball player. He is a
great dad too. He has taught me a lot. I love my dad. I
hope you love your dad too.
40
40
Lacking Splashes
Baseball is a great activity.
It is a team sport.
Each player also has to work hard.
Baseball means that I will get to eat concession stand food.
Umpires are always there.
Every team has to have a lot of coaches.
I like to play baseball.
Playing first base is fun to most kids.
I get to play Little League in the Spring.
We sing that national song.
Baseball players have to practice a lot.
41
41
Lacking Splashes
Baseball is a great activity.
It is a team sport.
Each player also has to work hard.
Baseball means that I will get to eat concession stand food.
Umpires are always there.
Every team has to have a lot of coaches.
I like to play baseball.
Playing first base is fun to most kids.
I get to play Little League in the Spring.
We sing that national song.
Baseball players have to practice a lot.
42
42
What is a Splash?
Splashing is a way to develop an idea (or step) within an expository paper. It
shows that a student understands what he/she is explaining. This is what takes
expository writing from knowledge/recall to application/synthesis!
What are the 6 types of Splashes?
How
How something is done
Why
Why something is done
Caution
A word of warning about doing something
Anecdote
A personal mini-story about when you did something
Fact
A fact about something...must sound realistic
Example
A mini-story about when someone else does something
43
43
Splash Here….Splash There….But NOT Everywhere!
Splash Here….Splash There….But NOT Everywhere!
Splash Here….Splash There….But NOT Everywhere!
Splash Here….Splash There….But NOT Everywhere!
44
44
Play Ball!
“Take me out to the ball game!” Nothing can remind me
of my favorite activity like those few words!
Baseball is the most thrilling sport I know. The games
can even be played during the day or at night. It is a team
sport, yet it demands individual effort. If one player messes up,
the whole team suffers. Our centerfielder missed a popfly a
while back and we actually lost that game-just because of
that one play. Umpires are always there. That’s good
because they keep the peace, because batters and pitchers can
never agree exactly where a strike should be called.
One of the many reasons why I love baseball so much
is because I get to wear special equipment. As the catcher,
I get to wear a helmet and really thick leg guards for
protection. I have to make sure and wear all of it to keep
safe. Baseball will always be my favorite activity because of
how close the players are to the stands. I will never forget
my mom screaming for me when I hit my very first homerun.
I could hear her even as I rounded second base. The cracking
sound in her voice showed me how proud she was of me.
Hearing fans yell for a great play, like my mom yelled
for me that day, makes goose bumps rise on my arms every
time. Whenever I am not playing baseball, all I can think
is, “Take me out to the ballgame!”
45
45
Play Ball!
Baseball is the most thrilling sport I know.
The games can even be played during the day or at
night.
It is a team sport, yet it demands individual effort.
If one player messes up, the whole team suffers.
Our centerfielder missed a popfly a while back and we
actually lost that game-just because of that one play.
Umpires are always there.
That’s good because they keep the peace, because
batters and pitchers can never agree exactly where a
strike should be called.
46
46 Splash Here….Splash There….
But NOT Everywhere!
Cut out the symbols below.
Place the correct symbol by each sentence in the main body
paragraph(s) of your expository paper.
47
47
Splashing Around
Attach a paperclip so that you have created a spinner.
Spin the numbers first. Whatever number you have landed on, go to that
sentence in the main body of your expository paper. If it is already a
splashed sentence, spin again.
If it is an idea sentence, spin the splash spinner.
Whatever type of splash you land upon, verbally create that type of splash
for the idea you have chosen from your expository paper.
1
4
3
5
2 9
6
7
8
W
F
A
C
E
C
H
A
48
48
18 19 20 21 22
25 26 27 28 1
4 5 6 7 8
18 19 20 21 22
Expository Countdown
Narrative Countdown
Mar.
Feb.
49
49
Your students will be the stand-outs
when you teach them to avoid the pitfalls!
Feel free to contact us to do an inservice, a
camp, or even lessons at your campus!
Give us a call (281-538-3241) or
an email (info@twa.net)
if you have any
questions!
Enjoy Y
our Stu
dents an
d Happy
Writing!
Sincerel
y,
Randi