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What is exposition?. Reading Expository Writing English II 2012. What is exposition?. EXPOSITION, or an EXPOSITORY ESSAY, is : Writing that explains , describes , or discusses a topic An EXPOSITORY ESSAY : Is built around a thesis statement
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What is exposition? Reading Expository Writing English II 2012
What is exposition? • EXPOSITION, or an EXPOSITORY ESSAY, is: • Writing that explains, describes, or discussesa topic • An EXPOSITORY ESSAY: • Is built around a thesis statement • Includes factual evidenceto explain and support the thesis statement • The goal of an expository essay is: • To clearly explainwhat the writer thinks about a topic
A Thesis Statement: • Is one complete sentence • Is a statement, not a question • Is the controlling idea of an essay • Makes a claim that others might dispute • Is narrow and specific and can be supported with evidence and explanation
Thesis Statement Dos and don’ts: • “Do” – • Abraham Lincoln was one of our country’s best presidents. • “Do Not” – • During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln was the President of the United States. • “Do” – • Global Warming is a real threat, and Americans should do their part to conserve energy. • “Do Not” – • If our nation’s leaders do not act fast, Global Warming is going to kill us.
How are these thesis statements? • Prompt: • Write an explanation about how a sport or activity can teachlifelessons to thosewhoparticipate in it. • All sports teach you life lessons. • Everything in life teaches us a lesson whether it’s good or bad. • Volleyball is a great sport to learn life lessons because every time you get on the court, you have to work with five other girls to succeed. • There are a couple of things you can learn from shopping that will help you in life. • Like basketball, life demands good decision making, hard work, and cooperation. • Which of these thesis statements meets ALL the requirements of a quality thesis statement?
You Try It. • Prompt: • Write an explanation about how a sport or activity can teachlifelessons to thosewhoparticipate in it. • First – make a short list of sports or activities that you enjoy. • Next, pick one, and think about how it can be compared to life and the lessons you might learn from it. • Now, draft a thesis statement that has ALL the qualities of a strong thesis statement.
What does a writer “do” in an expository essay? • DO - • Clearly explains what s/he thinks about the topic. • Is aware of the audience/reader • Write in 3rdperson. • NOT DO– • Try to persuade or convince the reader to think a certain way. • Write in 1st or 2ndperson - “you” – No! No! No!
What does a writer use to develop & Explain the topic? • In order to thoroughly develop and explain the topic, a writer must use EVIDENCE. • Evidence used in expository writing comes in several forms. • We will focus on: • Logical Evidence • Empirical Evidence • Anecdotal Evidence
What is logical evidence? • Logical evidence, simply put, refers to FACTS. • When a writer uses facts to develop an expository essay and to support their thesis statement, the writer is using LOGICAL EVIDENCE. • Logical evidence is convincingfor the reader/audience because a fact is something that can be verified, something real or actual.
What is empirical evidence? • Empirical evidence is evidence that can be experiencedor observed. • Scientific research is considered empirical evidence. • Scientifically-based research from fields such as psychology, sociology, economics, and neuroscience is considered empirical evidence. • Empirical evidence is data used to analyze, compare, evaluate, and monitor progress.
What is anecdotal evidence? • Anecdotal evidence consists of an anecdote or a descriptive story about an event or experience. Another name for this type of evidence is a testimonial. • Weare all familiar with this kind of evidence and commonly use it in everyday decision making. For example, when choosing a babysitter or dentist, we would often ask for the experiences of friends and family. • Anecdotal evidence falls short of what is necessary for a reasonable standard of proof.
Quick review: • Expository writing is writing that clearly explains a topic; it is informational. • An expository essay is built around a thesis statement, or controlling idea. • A thesis statement must be specific and able to be supported with evidence. • There are several types of evidence used to develop expository writing. • Logical evidenceis factual. • Empirical evidenceis scientific; it is observable. • Anecdotal evidence is like “word of mouth”; it is based on personal experiences.