Expository Writing and Methods of Organization

Expository Essays

Writing to _________ or to _________.

Can be ________ in a ________ of ways.

Can _______ ______ or _____ ______.

Expository Essays

Writing to explain or to inform.

Can be organized in a variety of ways.

Can explain how or explain what.

Six Methods of Organization

__________ Order ____________ Order _________-and-__________ Order _________-and-__________ Order __________-__________ (next slide for #6)

Six Methods of Organization

Spatial Order Chronological Order Cause-and-Effect Order Comparison-and-Contrast Order Problem-Solution (next slide for #6)

Sixth Method of Organization

__________________a. Order of __________b. __________c. _______ _______ and

_______ Detailsd. ____________________

Sixth Method of Organization

Listinga.Order of Importanceb.Degreec.Main Idea and Supporting Details

d.Classification

Spatial Order

Presents details according to their ______ in _______.

Helps readers understand what something _________ ________.

Spatial Order

Presents details according to their location in space.

Helps readers understand what something looks like.

Spatial Order Can be described:

________ to ________ ________ to ________ ________ to ________ ________ to ________ ________ to ________, etc.

Spatial Order Can be described:

near to fartop to bottom left to rightfront to back inside to outside, etc

Spatial Order (Continued)

Tells where the object is in _________ to __________ __________.

Often used in __________ paragraphs because it helps readers _________ the __________.

Spatial Order (Continued)

Tells where the object is in relation to other objects.

Often used in descriptive paragraphs because it helps readers visualize the subject.

Now YOU Practice:

Read the paragraph that begins, “My apartment is so small that it will no longer hold all of my Possessions.”

Circle all words or phrases that indicate spatial order organization.

Practice for Mastery:

Read the excerpt from “Bighorn Medicine Wheel,” by Jay Ellis Ransom.

Using complete sentences, answer the ten questions.

Chronological Order:

Presents details in the __________ in which __________ __________.

Tells when one __________ happened in __________ to __________ __________.

A __________ of __________. May explain a __________. Also called __________ __________.

Chronological Order:

Presents details in the order in which they occur.

Tells when one event happened in relation to other events.

A sequence of events. May explain a process. Also called time order.

Now YOU Practice:

Read the paragraph which begins, “For the command “Sit,” hold the leash in your right hand…”

Circle all the words or phrases that indicate time order organization.

Secondary Practice:

Read the paragraph which begins, “Sitting in church between her father and David…”

Write what she did FIRST. Write what she did SECOND. Write what she did THIRD. Write what she did LAST.

Tertiary Practice

Sometimes events are not arranged in their normal time order.

Read the excerpt from “Two Were Left” by Hugh B. Cave.

Then list what happened FIRST, what happened SECOND, and what happened THIRD.

Cause-and-Effect order:

Used to __________ __________ something happened.

Cause-________ something ________ . May be a ________ of ________ that

begin with an initial happening. Highlight the list of words which may

________ a ________ and ________ ________.

Cause-and-Effect order:

Used to explain why something happened. Cause-makes something happen . May be a series of events that begin with

an initial happening. Highlight the list of words which may

signal a cause and effect relationship.

Examples

In your packet, there are example sentences. The signal word is printed in boldface, the cause is underlined once, and the effect is underlined twice.

Now YOU Practice:

Read the paragraph which begins, “Bees create their own air conditioning.”

List the initial event or cause and each subsequent event or effect that occurs as a result.

Practice for Mastery:

Read the excerpt from “The ABZs of Sleep” by Tom Slear.

Using complete sentences, answer the ten questions.

Then complete the five “Exercise 2” questions by underlining the cause once and the effect twice.

Comparison-Contrast Order

Notes how ________ are the ________ and how they are _______.

Can be arranged by discussing the _____ of _____ subject first and _____ those of the _____subject.

Can also be arranged by discussing _____ _____ by _____, _____ in _____ subject and _____ in the _____.

Comparison-Contrast Order

Notes how subjects are the same and how they are different.

Can be arranged by discussing the characteristics of one subject first and then those of the other subject.

Can also be arranged by discussing characteristics one by one, first in one subject and then in the other.

Comparison-Contrast Order (Continued)

Compare-how things are _________.

Contrast-how things are __________.

Comparison-Contrast Order (Continued)

Compare-how things are similar.

Contrast-how things are different.

Now YOU practice:

Read the paragraphs from A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry in which Meg tells about her sister, Molly.

Follow the directions at the end, FIRST by writing COMPARE or CONTRAST in the blank at the right, and THEN by filling in the Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting two people YOU know. FINALLY, write a short paragraph comparing and contrasting the same two people you described in the Venn Diagram.

Problem-Solution Order

Problem-an __________ question. Solution-an __________ to __________

that question. Highlight the words which may _____ a

_____-_____ __________.

Problem-Solution Order

Problem-an unanswered question.

Solution-an attempt to answer that question.

Highlight the words which may signal a problem-solution relationship.

Now YOU Practice:

Read the paragraph which begins “For years, DeLee Springs has provided…”

Then identify the problem and the proposed solution.

Listing

A _____ of items, all of which fit into a particular __________.

_____ that suits the subject is used to ________ ________.

May be used when writing about a ______ of ________.

Topics can be _____ into _____ or _____. Highlight the words which may indicate that

listing is being used by the author.

Listing

A collection of items, all of which fit into a particular category.

Quality that suits the subject is used to rank ideas.

May be used when writing about a number of ideas.

Topics can be divided into groups or categories. Highlight the words which may indicate that

listing is being used by the author.

Listing (Continued)

Listing may be used for a _______ of ________ situations.

1. Order of __________.

2. __________.

3. _______ _______ and _____ Details.

4. __________.

Listing (Continued)

Listing may be used for a variety of writing situations.

1. Order of Importance.

2. Degree.

3. Main Idea and Supporting Details.

4. Classification.

Order of Importance

Create a list of items you would like to purchase when you go shopping for a major event. You might be shopping for your birthday party, an upcoming holiday, or simply grocery shopping. Start with the most important item and end with the least important item.

Compose a paragraph using the list you just created.

Order by Degree

Create a list of dangerous animals. Begin with the most dangerous and end with the least dangerous.

Compose a paragraph using the list you just created.

Main Idea and Supporting Details

_______ _____ may be stated first (but not always).

_____ and examples are provided next to _____ the ______ _____ (supporting details).

_____ sentences give _____ _____ that _____ or _____ the main idea.

_____ sentences may use _____ _____, _____, or _____.

Main Idea and Supporting Details

Main idea may be stated first (but not always).

Details and examples are provided next to support the main idea (supporting details).

Supporting sentences give specific details that explain or prove the main idea.

Supporting sentences may use sensory details, facts, or examples.

Now YOU Practice:

Read the excerpt from “Strange and Terrible Monsters of the Deep,” Boys’ Life. Circle the main idea and underline each supporting detail.

Classification:

Create a list of sports. Keeping in mind what these activities may have

in common (location played, equipment used, team or individual, etc.) divide these sports into two or three categories.

Compose a paragraph using the list you just created to explain different types of sports. Don’t forget a good topic sentence.