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Posted by Susan Hyde Apr 21, 2007 |
Expository writing, or writing to explain or inform, is perhaps the most important writing a student will learn in school. No matter how creative the final product, expository writing begins with a formula or strategy. The formula organizes the writer and, ultimately the reader, so that the thoughts of the first can be communicated to the other. Teaching writing as a process rather than as only a product encourages students to organize, compose, and edit their own writing so that they will be comfortable and fluent in almost any academic or work related writing situation.
The first building block to expository writing lies in the idea of general and specific topics. Understanding how specific ideas relate to general subjects helps students to determine how best to slant an essay for each individual audience, subject, and purpose. From this knowledge, students can construct a thesis statement that reflects the function of the writing.
In addition to telling students how to write, providing expository models of writing will help students to understand how general and specific applies to the written word. While student models are available on the internet, teachers may find that examples from past students (black out student names to keep writing anonymous) will provide the most authentic and obtainable examples. Be sure to show students a variety of expository structures. Cause and effect, compare and contrast, description, process narration, and problem and solution examples will prepare students for a variety of writing situations.
Start slowly, and before you know it, you'll have a classroom of confident writers.