Expository Writing

Latoya Jackson

Boise State University

• Pick a topic

• Find facts and details

• Grow your ideas

• Group and organize your ideas

• Know your vocabulary

• Describe, describe, describe

• The goal: to tell your reader about a topic

• Pick a topic that you find interesting

• Brainstorm what you already know

• Choose 5 topics that sound interesting

1. Bears

2. Great Horned Owl

3. Wolves

4. Sea Otter

5. Sloth

Free Brainstorming Tools

SlothsWhat do you already know about your topic?

What do you want to learn about your topic?

What have you learned about your topic?

Tree-Dwelling Where do they live?

Sleeps 20 hours per dayWhat does their diet consist of?

Who are their enemies and how do they defend themselves?

Repeat chart for second choice and choose your topic!

You’ve chosen your topic now it’s time to do some research

Where can you find facts and details? – School library– Library Spot http://libraryspot.com/must/britannica.htm– BrainPop http://www.brainpop.com– Ivy’s Search Engine Resources For

Kidshttp://ivyjoy.com/rayne/kidssearch.html– Fact Monster http://www.factmonster.com

*For the full list of resources visit your class blog*

Use Words That are Related to Your Topic

Sloths

Topic-Related Words

Non-Topic Related Words or Phrases

Habitat Home

Herbivore Eats Plants

Species Type of Sloth

Use descriptive words to draw the reader in to your paper