expository essays

Expository EssaysStandard W7.2

Day One Objective: Today, we will be able to organize information by arranging a recipe’s steps in sequential order.

For use with “Inside Writing: Expository Essays” by Write Source

Warm Up #1: Adventures in Eating! Think about food and finish these sentences:1. The most unusual food I ever ate was …2. The best thing I ever ate was….3. The worst thing I ever ate was…4. It sounds gross, but I would like to make up

a recipe for…5. I think my classmates would enjoy eating..6. My favorite kind of food is…

Make up a silly name for a made-up food: for example, Honey-Coated Bees’ Knees

Unit BasicsIn this unit, you will write an

expository essay that teaches your classmates how to make something to eat by following a recipe.

At the end of this unit, you will have a completed piece of writing to share with your classmates.

Writing Guidelines

SUBJECT: A how-to recipeAUDIENCE: ClassmatesPURPOSE: Teach classmates how to make a recipe.FORM: Expository essayVOICE: Interested, informal,

organized.

Skills you will practicePREWRITING: Planning your writing.

◦Collecting information about a topic◦Learning about the parts of a “recipe” essay

WRITING: Connecting your ideas◦Writing an effective beginning, middle, and

ending.

REVISING: Improving your writing◦Using specific cooking terms◦Peer Responding

EDITING: Checking for Style and CorrectnessUsing colorful adjectives and abbreviations

Expository EssaysUnit introduction, page 3Reading a Sample Recipe, page

5-6Reacting to the reading, page 7

HOMEWORK: Bring in pictures of foods from grocery store advertisements, newspapers or magazines.


Day Two Objective: Today, we will be able to organize information by brainstorming topics and supporting details.

Warm Up #2: How to Make a PB&JList the ingredients and other

items you would need (measuring cup, etc.) to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Then, describe how to make one.

PREWRITING: Choose Your RecipeCan you make an awesome meat and

cheese sandwich? Do you have an idea for an outstanding snack? Are you an excellent cook or baker? It’s time to choose your recipe!

On your note page, make 2 lists of foods that you can make, such as sandwiches, salads, and snacks. One list will be foods that do not require cooking and the other will be foods that must be cooked.

Choose a RecipeLook back at your list of foods

that you know how to make.

Choose the recipe that you would most like to share with your classmates and write it on your note page.

PREWRITING: What will you need?The next step is to decide what

items are needed to make the special food. Your readers will need certain ingredients – foods that go into your recipe – and other things like measuring spoons and pans.

Complete the chart on your note page, listing the ingredients and things you will need to make your recipe.

PREWRITING: Remember the StepsNext, you have to think about the

steps in your recipe. Remember, your reader may not have made this food before. You must write, very clearly, what to do from beginning to end.

On your note page, use your own words, write the steps for making this food from start to finish.

Homework:Finish writing the steps on your

note page.Look for pictures of the

ingredients needed to make your recipe and bring them to class.


Day Three Objective: Today, we will be able to introduce a topic clearly by creating several drafts of an introductory paragraph.

Warm Up #3: TransitionsWhen writing, you will want to use transitions to put the steps in order. Each of these transitions is either ADDING INFORMATION about or telling when (TIME) or where (LOCATION) something should be done.

On your note page, Circle the transition words that indicate TIME, underline the transitions that ADD, and put a box around those that show LOCATION

PREWRITING: Knowing the Parts of a “Recipe” EssayLike all kinds of expository

writing, your recipe will have three parts: a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Each part has a special purpose.

Today, we will learn the purpose of each part and focus on writing the BEGINNING.

Three parts of an essayThe BEGINNING gives

background information to grab the reader’s attention.

The MIDDLE lists the ingredients and other things needed. Then it gives the steps for following the recipe.

The ENDING includes some comments by the writer to bring everything together in an interesting way.

Sample Essay and ProjectYour teacher will now show you a

sample essay that points out each part.

You will also see a sample of the final project required for this unit.

Writing a Beginning

The beginning should grab the reader’s attention and share some interesting information. Ways to start your essay: (Teacher: see page 16)

◦Tell why the recipe is different or unusual.

◦Give some background information◦Be creative!

Write your beginning1. On a blank sheet of lined paper, write

three different beginnings for your “recipe” essay.

2. Read your beginnings to a classmate. 3. Choose the beginning you like best

and put a check mark next to it. 4. Show your teacher before you move

on to the next step.Homework: Finish this assignment; continue to bring in pictures of food!


Day Four Objective: Today, we will be able to develop a topic with relevant facts and details by creating body paragraphs.

Warm Up #4:On your note page, respond to the following journal prompt. If you need more space, please use a separate sheet of paper and attach it to your notes.

If you could have your own personal chef for a day, what foods would you request and why?

Writing a Middle

The middle tells the reader what to do – what ingredients and other things are needed, and what steps to follow.

The most important thing to remember about this part of the recipe is organization. This means using transitions!

Tips for writing the middleOn a separate sheet of lined paper, list

the ingredients and other things you will need.

Then write the how-to steps in order from first to last.

Add transition words to help keep track of steps.

Don’t skip steps! Pretend you have never made this before and write down everything from beginning to end!

Include exact measurements so your recipe turns out right.


Day Five Objective: Today, we will be able to provide a concluding section that follows from the information presented.

Warm Up #5On your note page, respond to the following journal prompt. If you need more space, please use a separate sheet of paper and attach it to your notes.

What is your favorite restaurant and what do you like to order when you go there?

Writing an Ending

The ending should wrap up the essay and tie things together in an interesting way.Some ideas for ending : (Teacher: see page 21)

◦Add some personal comments◦Tell why you like making this recipe◦Leave your reader with some

suggestions

On a separate sheet of lined paper, write your ending.

Put it all together: The First DraftWrite your first draft on a fresh piece of lined paper.Write on every other line.Write neatly!Keep your audience in mind – you are

writing for your classmates.Feel free to add new ideas.Make notes to yourself about things

you might want to change later.Your first draft is due TOMORROW!


Day Six Objective: Today, we will be able to revise our writing through peer editing.

Warm Up #6: Revising in ActionRevising means changing parts of your writing to make it better. Insert the following transition words into the body paragraph on your note page.

FirstNext

After thatFinally

Revising: Getting a Second Opinion

expository essays

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