CURRICULUM MAP: 10043.map

Sophomore Writing Workshop (ACP/SCP/GEN) 121, 122, 123
Writing in the Expository Mode

TIME FRAME: 5-7 days
GRADE: 10
CONTACT:

         MAP LEVEL: 4

23.2 LANGUAGE ARTS - EXPLORE AND RESPOND TO LITER --- 23.2.1.9.1
23.3 LANGUAGE ARTS - COMMUNICATING WITH OTHERS --- 23.3.1.9.2 --- 23.3.1.9.3 --- 23.3.1.9.4 --- 23.3.2.9.1 --- 23.3.2.9.2 --- 23.3.2.9.3
23.4 LANGUAGE ARTS - ENGLISH LANG CONVENTIONS --- 23.4.1.9.2 --- 23.4.2.9.1 --- 23.4.2.9.2 --- 23.4.3.9.1 --- 23.4.3.9.2 --- 23.4.3.9.3




What makes expository writing effective?





What is Exposition?

One of the most basic functions of writing or speech is to communicate information. Exposition is writing or speech that explains a subject or provides information to the reader. Encyclopedia articles, informational reports, how-to-instructions, and most textbook writings are forms of exposition. So too are expository essays whose chief purpose is to explain or inform. Often such essays communicate their information by explaining causes and effects, by comparing and contrasting data, or by stating a problem and offering a solution. Whatever form expository writing takes, it should be factual. If it contains opinions, those opinions should be based on stated facts.

How Exposition Fits Into Your Life

You most likely use exposition all the time without even noticing it. If you teach your kid brother how to tie his shoes or give a friend directions to your home, you’re using exposition. If you report to classmates on ancient Egypt or on modern computer technology, you’re using exposition. In fact, every time you explain something orally or in writing, you’re using exposition.

A lot of what you read and hear is also primarily expository – everything from weather reports on radio or TV to ballplayers’ stats in newspapers to the ingredients on food-package labels. Except for literature, your school textbooks are mainly expository, as are the reference works you consult when doing research. On the job, too, you’ll find that much of the material you read and write will be expository in nature, providing or summarizing information for employers, employees, or fellow workers.

(Prentice Hall. Writer' s Solution. Platinum Sourcebook, Annotated Teacher' s Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1997, 64-65.)

Paper Options may include:
-- Comparison and contrast essay
-- Cause and effect essay
-- Problem and solution essay
-- How-to instructions
-- Definition or classification essay

Paper expectations:
* MLA format
* Beginning, middle, end and title
* Organization strategy effective for purpose of essay
* Awareness of audience (reasonable and appropriate language)
* Clear thesis statement
* Transitions (enumeration, connection to position)
* Effective support of position or delineation of ideas
* Effective integration of description, narration, and/or persuasion
* Objective 3rd person style (exception -- for personal experiences)
* Acceptable level of fluency
* Grammatical correctness







When writing in the expository mode students will:

-- Develop and utilize prewriting skills and strategies,
-- Develop and incorporate drafting skills,
-- Develop and implement editing skills and strategies (peer and self),
-- Demonstrate awareness of audience by using reasonable and appropriate language,
-- State clearly the position of the paper (thesis statement),
-- Recognize and utilize effective transitions,
-- Recognize and select an organizational strategy effective for paper purpose,
-- Recognize and write paper in the third person (with exceptions for personal anecdotes),
-- Produce a final draft that meets standards of acceptability in fluency and grammatical correctness.




All students will:

-- Be instructed on the steps of the writing process.
-- Be shown models of quality writing in the various expository modes.
-- Be made aware of difference organizational strategies for different paper purposes.
-- Conference with his/her teacher to discuss the quality of his/her writing, and to determine the steps necessary for improvement.
-- Receive written feedback on the quality of their writing.




Assessment of student writing in the expository mode includes student-teacher conferencing to determine successful completion of editing and achievement of standards for acceptable quality of the final draft, and written feedback regarding the quality of the final paper.




Prentice Hall. Writer' s Solution. Platinum Sourcebook. New Jersey:
Prentice Hall, 1997.

Examples for Comparison and Contrasting essays may include:
-- "Personalities" by Suzanne Britt
-- "Neat People vs. Sloppy People" by Dave Barry
-- "We've Got the Dirt on Guy Brains" by Dave Barry

Examples for Cause and Effect essays may include:
-- "The Honesty Virus" by Clive Thompson

Examples for Problem and Solution essays may include:
-- "Skateboarding" by Nicholas Rider

Examples for How-to Instructions may include:
-- "How to Defend Someone You Know is Guilty" by David Feige

Examples for Definition/Classification may include:
-- "The Seven Ages of Walking" by Elizabeth Wray
-- "Spanglish" by Dan Cook and Christina Garcia