It doesn’t have to be difficult!

Expository Writing:

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?DescriptionSequenceComparisonCause and effectProblem 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?

1. Description2. Sequence3. Comparison4. Cause and Effect5. Problem and Solution

Which organizational pattern could explain the steps to follow to do something?

1. Description2. Sequence3. Comparison4. Cause and Effect5. Problem and Solution

Which pattern would be seen in a paper explaining the colors of the Olympic Rings?

1. Description2. Sequence3. Comparison4. Cause and Effect5. Problem and Solution

Which pattern would be seen in a paper discussing who is cuter: Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom?

1. Description2. Sequence3. Comparison4. Cause and Effect5. Problem and Solution

Which pattern would be seen in a paper discussing what to do for an organization that needs to raise money?1. Description2. Sequence3. Comparison4. Cause and Effect5. Problem and Solution

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!!

Topic

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

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

Topic

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

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 Topic

Step oneStep two Step three

Sub-step oneSub-step two

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

Topic

Step oneStep two Step three

Sub-step oneSub-step two

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

Element one

Element two

Venn diagram organizer This graphic organizer works best with

comparison-style papers

Element one

Element two

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

Problem

Solution one

Solution two

Solution three

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

Elements

Alike

example

Different

example

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?

1. Cluster2. List3. Venn4. Hierarchy

10

0 of 5

Which kind of organizer would be best for a paper explaining what rides are at Kings Island?

1. Cluster2. List3. Venn4. Hierarchy

10

0 of 5

Which kind of organizer would be best for a paper showing how middle school and high school are alike and different?1. Cluster2. List3. Venn4. Hierarchy

10

0 of 5

Which kind of organizer would be best for a paper describing options for keeping track of your homework?

1. Cluster2. List3. Venn4. Hierarchy

10

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!