Expository Writing How to do something!

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Expository Writing How to do
something!
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What is expository writing?
When you explain anything, from directions to
rules, you are imparting knowledge. This type of
writing is crucial in our information-driven
world. What you write will be used, mailed,
published, produced, read, received, followed,
printed, presented, or sung!
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Turn to your partner directly across from you and
take turns explaining how you comb your hair.
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Did you notice that explaining things in the
correct order, one step at a time, is the best
way to make a process clear.
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Rewrite the following steps in the order you
would use to heat soup.
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Making
SoupChoose the most effective transition word
to introduce each step in the process, then
number each step. First Then
Finally After that Next- Remove
the top from the can, and pour the soup into the
pan.- Stir the soup over medium heat until its
hot and ready to eat.- Gather together a can of
soup, a pan, and a can opener.- Attach the can
opener to the lid of the can and turn it slowly
until the top of the can comes off.- Put the pan
on the stove, and turn on the burner to medium.
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Your expository writing project How to do
something!You will use the step-by-step process
to write directions for how to do something that
you will demonstrate in class. Your written paper
will be based on these steps, but expanded to be
a wonderful piece to turn in. Your project can be
preparing something to eat or drink, or how to
create, do, or operate something.
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How will we do this expository writing
project?In steps!
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1st step in the How to
FormulaA catchy title to tease the reader.
Hint Do not use How to in the title
thats too obvious!Examples The Best Sandwich
this Side of BirminghamWant to Win at Video
Games?Be the Poker Champion of your
SchoolFlying in your BackyardJuggling with the
Stars
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Now your turn.Take the following ideas and
turn them into catchy titles1. How to train a
puppy2. How to milk a cow3. How to ride a
skateboard4. How to water ski5. How to play
football6. How to get to my house7. How to do
the Cupid Shuffle8. How to make pancakes9. How
to make popcorn
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2nd
step in the
How to FormulaCreate a clever grabber as
your first sentence. You want to capture the
readers attention. Here are some tips and
examples1. Use a rhetorical question Are you
tired of the same old after-school snack?2. Use
dialogue Score! Thats a 20-pound catfish if
Ive ever seen one! or Bubba shot his finger
off!3. Use a mystery statement When I came
home from school, there was a very odd looking
box on the front porch.4. Use a shocking
statement The best way to make a perfect score
on your next test is to sleep.5. Use a humorous
statement Making cookies with my sister is like
teaching a monkey to bake!6. Use onomatopoeia
Crash! Ka-boom! Thats the sound that came from
our basement the first time we built a rocket.
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Now it is your turn.Take the
following ideas and write a grabber first
line(Copy them down, skip a line, and well go
back to the previous slide.)1. How to start a
dirtbike2. How to arm wrestle3. How to wrap a
present4. How to build a fort5. How to make
chocolate pudding6. How to bait a fishhook7.
How to braid hair8. How to play Uno
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3rd step in the How to FormulaWriting a
topic sentence
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The main idea is what your passage is mostly
about. To write a topic sentence, expand the main
idea into an interesting sentence that lets your
reader know right away what your paragraph is
going to be about.
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ExamplesMain
idea Traveling across Europe.Topic sentence
One of my favorite experiences was my visit to
Stonehenge.Main idea Cleaning the house.Topic
sentence I usually begin by dusting the
furniture.Main idea Learning to cook for
yourself.Topic sentence The first thing I
learned to make was Kraft Macaroni and
Cheese.Main idea Building a tree house.Topic
sentence After you have your plans, youll need
to secure your materials.Main idea Flying on an
airplane for the first time.Topic sentence One
way to pass the time is by watching the in-flight
movie.
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Now it is your turn Read the following main
idea statements and create a great topic sentence
for one of the paragraphs that would be in that
expository passage
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1. Main idea Making your own kite is a
fun thing to do in the spring.Topic
sentence2. Main idea Taking care of a pet is
a big responsibility.Topic sentence3. Main
idea There is a lot of interesting information
on the Internet.Topic sentence4. Main idea
There are several ways to learn a foreign
language.Topic sentence
The first thing I do is decide on the kind of
kite I want to make.
A very important thing I do every morning is take
my dog out and then I feed him.
A good place to begin is to ask your family or
friends which sites they like to visit.
If you like to learn by yourself, there are
programs like Rosetta Stone for your home
computer.
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4th step in the How to FormulaIncluding
details
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Authors look at a scene with a critical eye. They
notice details and then write descriptively. A
good descriptive passage appeals to the readers
sense of smell, sight, hearing, touch, and taste.
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For instance, a story about a baseball game at a
baseball park might include details with the
following words
Crowds Ball players Uniforms Grass mowed Hot dog seller Announcer
Shouts Diamond Bases Little kids Sunny thwack
Safe! Peanuts Organ music Scoreboard Families Stomping feet
Umpires The wave Strike one! Autographs Victory Dugout
The press Stomping feet Cheering Youre out! Home plate Pitching
Bats and balls Jeering fear Buttery popcorn Frozen Cokes sweating
National anthem Baseball cards Strike two! glove singing homerun!
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Now it is your turn . . .
Read the following passage. I love it when
my friend comes over to spend the night on Friday
nights. We stay up late and do many things. We
have a blast together. We fix snacks and do fun
things. Sometimes we go places. I always look
forward to the good times we have.

• It doesnt create much of a picture in your head,
  does it? So make a list of words that refer to
  DETAILS you might include! Use your five senses
  to create your list. Put the words into five
  columns.

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Friday Nights at the Funny Farm
Hear See Smell Feel taste
Laughs Moonlight Popcorn popping Soft pillows Cinnamon rolls




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Now for a little fun, read Detail Court, a play
where Judge Trudy expects more from a young
writer. Listen for details and be careful not to
break your funny bone!
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5th step in the How to FormulaConclude with
re-stating the most important message of your
writing
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Restating means to say the same thing in
different words. Authors restate a point to keep
it fresh in the readers mind. This is especially
true when you are writing a conclusion. Read
the following sentences along with a restated
version.
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Cycling is a great way to stay in shape and have
fun, too.
Give cycling a chance and I think youll like it
as much as I do.
Raising earthworms to sell for bait is an
interesting and profitable hobby.

• I never thought Id enjoy raising earthworms, but
  I think the worms and I are going to be friends
  for a long, long time.

My sister Ellen and I cant wait for winter to
come so we can build a snowman.
Stop by this winter so you can see the worlds
most beautiful snowman!
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Your Turn!!You will be divided into 4 groups and
given a topic sentence. Your group will use the
topic sentence to write a good conclusion
sentence.
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Now it is YOUR turn Read
the following topic sentences then write a
restatement for a strong, memorable conclusion.
1. After school, kids should eat healthy snacks
instead of junk food.
2. Having a garage sale is a lot of work but a
great way to make some money.

• 3. A scarecrow is a good way to keep birds from
  eating your garden.

4. The best way to spend a beautiful spring
Saturday is on a hike in the North Alabama
mountains.
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We are going to make a class poster to help us
remember how to write a good How To expository
paper. The same groups that wrote conclusion
sentences will write two reminders. The reminders
will be placed together on a poster and hung in
the room.
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Reminders

• Use correct spelling and punctuation
• Use correct paragraph form
• Use strong verbs
• Use adjectives and adverbs
• Use figures of speech
• Use transition, or sequence words
• Be creative make it interesting
• Youll be presenting this, so choose
• something you can do in class

Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
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Your rubric for your paper looks like this

• ____ 0-10 catchy title
• ____ 0-10 grabber first sentence
• ____ 0-10 clear topic sentence
• ____ 0-10 spelling grammar, including paragraph
  form (At least
• 3 paragraphs)
• ____ 0-10 at least 5 ordered steps
• ____ 0-10 transition (sequence) words
• ____ 0-10 clear, descriptive details
• ____ 0-10 use of at least 5 uses of adjectives,
  adverbs, or figures
• of speech
• ____ 0-10 restatement of topic sentence as a
  conclusion
• ____ 0-10 this rubric is included with your paper
• 100 possible points possible

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Your rubric for your presentation looks like this

• ____ 0-20 speaking clearly with appropriate
  volume
• ____ 0-20 eye contact with audience
• ____ 0-20 expression
• ____ 0-20 all materials ready
• ____ 0-20 present steps in process
• 100 possible points

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Example of an Expository
Writing/Presentation Project
Whistling til the Cows Come Home Is it
your nightly job to call everyone to dinner when
it is time to eat? Ive discovered a great way to
successfully get everyone to come to the table at
the same time and hopefully, while the food is
still piping hot. Thats my job at our house and
most times its like herding cats! Ive finally
hit upon the solution. Just whistle! Thats
right, a whistle can be the signal for everyone
to come to the dinner table immediately. If you
dont know how to whistle, Ill teach you. Its
as easy as pie, as they say. Hey, maybe if this
works, the apple pie for dessert will still be
warm from the oven. You can learn to whistle in
just five easy steps.
catchy title
grabber first sentence
topic sentence
simile
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First, wet your whistle! Thats not just an
expression, it is really necessary. Gulp a
swallow of water before you get going, so you
have plenty of moisture in your mouth. Next,
straighten your two pointer fingers and hold them
toward your mouth. Then, place them firmly on the
tip of your tongue. Now, you must push your
tongue forward and hold the tip against your two
straight fingers. Finally, while keeping your
fingers straight, blow HARD between your teeth.
Remember that everything worth doing requires
practice, so I suggest you go outside where no
one can hear your screeches and repeat the steps
until you have a smooth, shrill, loud, long,
lovely, lingering lullaby for the lips.
Step 1
transition words
step 2
step 4
step 3
step 5
alliteration
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Now you can start relaxing about calling
everyone to dinner. Your job just became a lot
easier because your family will never miss the
signal again. Whistling for dinner will get
everyone running to the table while the gettin
is good!
restating the main idea in conclusion
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