Expository Writing Project

Assignment Choices: Essay, Brochure, or Blurb

Think About Your Purpose and Audience

Purpose: What are you going to explain?

Audience: Other than your teacher, who do you intend to read this piece?

Getting Ready to Write Are there any

vocabulary words that your reader will need explained in order to make sense of your piece?

Remember, you are writing about something on which you are the expert.

Follow the Steps of the Writing Process Prewrite (brainstorm) Compose (rough draft) Evaluate (look for errors) Revise (make structural changes) Edit (make grammar corrections) Publish (final draft)

Choice #1 Write a Process Essay A typical 4 - 6

paragraph report explaining how to do something

Usually would not have illustrations, etc.

Essay Tips Begin with an attention-grabbing introduction. Write the instructions in a logical order, one

step at a time. Use transition words such as first, next, then,

when, after, and finally to indicate order. Be sure to include all the steps, and explain

each one clearly so the reader will be able to picture it.

Remember to end with an interesting conclusion.

Choice #2 Brochure

Describes a product, place, or situation using factual information

Usually folded in thirds

Contains 2-3 descriptive paragraphs plus pictures, illustrations, maps, etc.

Brochure Tips Use eye-catching

graphics that enhance the meaning of the writing

Write 2 or 3 descriptive paragraphs that fully describe the place, product or situation

Choice #3Blurb

Summarizes the contents of a novel in 3-4 carefully planned paragraphs

Designed to appear on a book jacket to help sell the book

Choose a novel that you have read in its entirety

Focus on the first few chapters, the conflict it sets up

Analyze the central character and how

Blurb Tips

they enter the plot Plan to leave the

audience hanging —do not give away the resolution!

Write 3-4 paragraphs—no graphics needed

Choosing Your Expository Project:

Essay: several well-written paragraphs that

explain step-by-step how to do something

Brochure: explains a product, place or situation using

paragraphs and pictures, illustrations, etc.

(multiple descriptive paragraphs)

Choosing Your Expository Project:Essay: several well-written paragraphs

that explain step-by-step how to do

something

Blurb: several well-written paragraphs that

tell a summary of a book—found on book jackets

Brochure: explains a product, place or situation using paragraphs and

pictures, illustrations, etc.

All 3: multiple

descriptive paragraphs

TimelineMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

November 14 November 15 November 16 November 17 November 18

November 28:

Take notes and choose a project.

November 29: Planning and Prewriting day

November 30: Work on projects in 7th grade computer lab

December 1:Work on projects in 7th grade computer lab

December 2:Work on projects in the classroom

December 5 December 6 December 7 December 8 December 9:Expository Projects Due

Thanksgiving Holidays — no school