4 Types of Writing

Expository
Persuasive
Descriptive
Narrative
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What is an expository essay? It

Gives

facts.
Explains.
Gives steps in a process.
Presents ideas in logical
order or correct sequence.

What are the key words that show it

is an expository prompt?
Most people enjoy some type of music. Think
about your favorite type of music and explain
why you like that particular type of music.
2.
Sometimes even the best drivers can get lost at
times. Explain how you would direct a lost
man to get back to the interstate highway from
your neighborhood.
Tell how to make a hamburger.
1.

YOU WILL FIND THESE WORDS IN THE PROMPT

EXPLAIN or TELL HOW.

What is a descriptive essay?

Sensory

images are
used to describe what
the writer sees, hears,
smells, touches, and
tastes.
It paints a clear
description of people,
places, objects, or
events.
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What are the key words that show it is a

descriptive prompt?
1.

Describe your bedroom. Imagine telling someone who

has never visited you.

2.

There are many tourist spots to visit in Birmingham.

Describe your favorite place to take visitors. You may
want to tell what you will see, hear, smell and how you
feel when you are there.

Tell us what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel on Christmas
morning.

YOU MUST

DESCRIBE
OR
TELL WHAT A PERSON CAN
SEE, HEAR, SMELL, TASTE OR FEEL.
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What is a persuasive essay?

You

are asked to
prove something.
Give reasons why.
Present arguments
against your
reasons. Show them
to be false.
Take a stand
Ask or call for an
action.
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What are the key words that show its a

persuasive prompt?
1.

2.

3.

Persuade a close friend to donate blood as part of a

blood drive that your school is sponsoring for the Red
Cross.
Some of your kid brothers friends have taken up
smoking and want him to start too. Write a convincing
letter to your kid brother to not take up this habit.
Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper telling why
citizens in Birmingham should support a tax increase
benefiting the local public schools.

YOU WILL NOTICE THE

WORDS PERSUADE, CONVINCE
OR TELL WHY SOMEONE
SHOULD DO SOMETHING.

What is a narrative?
A narrative

Tells a story.
Has chronological order
and sequence of
events.
Has action.
Has conflicts or
problems.
Has dialogue.
Has characters.
Has a definite
beginning, middle and
end.

What are the key words that show

that these are narrative prompts?

You and your friend find a big box that is labeled Do Not Open.
Your friend wants to open the box. Write a story about what
happens next.
Tell about a time when you made a serious mistake.
Two little girls found a wallet on the sidewalk. Tell what
happened next.

NOTE THE WORDS: WRITE A STORY

TELL ABOUT A TIME,

or

or

TELL WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

Ready to write? First determine what type

prompt you have. You should read your
prompt at least three times.
Expository--explain,

tell how
Descriptive--describe
Persuasive---persuade or convince
Narrative-- tell about a time
when, tell a story

Use your scratch paper to brain storm and then

make an outline, or web, for a five paragraph essay.
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Think Brainstorm-PACO
P-What is your purpose?
A- Who is your audience?
C- Content --What are

your ideas for

details, facts, or reasons?

O- Organization --Think

how you want to

structure your paper.

Jot down these ideas.

NOW START YOUR OUTLINE, OR WEB!

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First Paragraph
In t r o d u c e y o u r t o p ic
G iv e 3 d e ta ils , r e a s o n s , fa c ts o r s te p s in a p r o c e s s
Y o u w ill ta lk a b o u t in y o u r p a p e r .

Second Paragraph

Third

Fourth

K E Y ID E A
D e s c r ip tiv e (d e ta ils )
P e r s u a s iv e (r e a s o n s )
E x p o s ito r y (fa c ts /s te p s )

K E Y ID E A
D e s c r ip tiv e (d e ta ils )
P e r s u a s iv e (r e a s o n s )
E x p o s ito r y (fa c ts /s te p s )

K E Y ID E A
D e s c r ip tiv e (d e ta ils )
P e r s u a s iv e (re a s o n s )
E x p o s ito r y (fa c ts /s te p s )

e x p la n a t io n

e x p la n a t io n

e x p la n a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e x a m p le s

e x a m p le s

e x a m p le s

K E Y ID E A

K E Y ID E A

K E Y ID E A

e x p la n a t io n

e x p la n a t io n

e x p la n a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e x a m p le s

e x a m p le s

e x a m p le s

Fifth Paragraph

C o n c lu s io n
S u m m a riz e th e p o in ts
y o u m a d e in th e e s s a y
g o b a c k to th e in tro d u c tio n

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FIRST PAPAGRAPH
In t r o d u c e y o u r t o p ic
G iv e 3 d e ta ils , r e a s o n s , fa c ts o r s te p s in a p r o c e s s
Y o u w ill ta lk a b o u t in y o u r p a p e r .

K E Y ID E A
D (d e ta ils )
P (re a s o n s )
E (fa c ts /s te p s )

K E Y ID E A
D (d e ta ils )
P (re a s o n s )
E (fa c ts /s te p s )

K E Y ID E A
D (d e ta ils )
P (re a s o n s )
E (fa c ts /s te p s )

e x p la n a t io n

e x p la n a t io n

e x p la n a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e x a m p le s

e x a m p le s

e x a m p le s

K E Y ID E A

K E Y ID E A

K E Y ID E A

e x p la n a t io n

e x p la n a t io n

e x p la n a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e la b o r a t io n

e x a m p le s

e x a m p le s

e x a m p le s

C o n c lu s io n
S u m m a riz e th e p o in ts
y o u m a d e in th e e s s a y
g o b a c k to th e in tr o d u c tio n

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Lets prepare to write an essay!

Heres the prompt.
There are many good and bad
things about being in the seventh
grade. Explain what these things
are.
What kind of prompt do we have?
Did you say expository? Youre

right!
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Use your scratch paper

Jot down a few transitions.
What are transitions?
Words or phrases that connect ideas or
introduce the topic.
Such as one, if, although, however,
finally, in conclusion, first, second, next,
additionally,consequently
Make an outline or web. Develop a
1-3-1 plan. One Paragraph for introThree paragraphs for the body
One paragraph for the conclusion.
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W h a t 's G o o d & B a d A b o u t 7 t h g r
P r o v id e a h o o k - A s k a q u e s tio n
t a lk a b o u t th e g o o d , b a d a n d t h in g s b o t h g o o d a n d b a d

Additionally
One
First
Second
Next Anotherif
Although Finally
In conclusion
Indeed
Consequently

g o o d / fu n th in g s

b a d th in g s

th in g s th a t a r e g o o d
and bad

c h a n g in g c la s s e s
a n d te a c h e rs

S a t te s t

fie ld t r ip s

M s . T r u n c h b u ll
A nd M s. H oney

n o t lik e e le m e n t a r y s c h o o l

m is s s c h o o l

m o r e fr e e d o m

c o m p a r e t o s t a le f o o d

m ig h t b e b o r in g

n o lin e

m o r e te s ts a n d h a r d e r

n o t g e t t o s it w ith f r ie n d s

s tre s s -s to m a c h h u rts

PE

c h o o s e fo o d
Stars are
s p e n d in g t im e w it h f r ie n d s
key ideas or controlling
statements.
Explanations
Examples,
Evidence are listed below.

s it t in g in m a t h lo n g e r
m a k e s m e s ic k

c lo th e s s w e a t
F u n to p la y & c o m p e te
H O M EW O R K
to o m u c h
p u ll u p g r a d e s

Conclusion: Sum up what youve said. Refer back to your introduction.

16

This is an important step!

Dont try to write your paper
without doing an outline first.
Why?!

You will be graded on organization.

17

Introductions for expository,

descriptive and persuasive
essays should.
Grab
Or

the readers attention.

-- Let the reader know what youre going to talk about.

Or--Show

a plan for what youre going to be talking

about in the three body paragraphs.

Or --State what the audience will learn in this

essay.

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Sample Introduction
Although I have taken many
wonderful vacations, my trip
with my two best friends to New
York City is one Ill always
remember. This was a fantastic
trip because of the sights we
saw, the peopleEach
we part
met,
the
of the plan
Whats
the
topic?
plays we enjoyed, and the
will be developed into
laughs
we
shared.
Whats the plan?
paragraphs.

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After you make your web or outline,

start writing your introduction.
Leave space at the top for two more
lines. ( It wont count against you.)You
might come back later to insert a little
background information in the
introduction. Remember to grab
interest and show the plan of your
paper in the introduction.
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Introductio
n
Have you ever thought about what are the
good and the bad things in seventh grade? There
are good things like changing classes and more
freedom. Some of the bad things are you have to
stay in school longer, you have SAT tests, and tests
get harder. Stay with me as I explain the good and
bad things about being in the seventh grade.

How does the writer grab your attention?

21

Lets start on the body. Go back

to your web or outline for the
second paragraph.
Good Fun Things
-Changing classes and teachers
-Ms. Trunchbull & Ms. Honey
More Freedom
- no line
-See friends at lunch

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First I will tell you about the good and fun things about
being in the seventh grade.You get to change classes so if
one teacher is like Mrs. Trunchbull in Matilda, you are only
with her for part of the day. If your teacher is like Ms.
Honey you will enjoy a fabulous time with her. Another
thing I enjoy is more freedom. We dont have to walk in
straight lines as if we were soldiers marching off to war.
Next, you can get your own food instead of having the
lunch ladies get it for you. I like spending time with my
friends so if there are not in one of my classes, I can see
them at lunch.

Transition words help!

Does he explain, give examples, use metaphors?

23

Look back at your outline for

the third paragraph
Bad things
SAT Test
-not like elementary school
-compare to stale bread
more test and harder
-stress stomach hurts
-math makes me sick
24

Next Im writing about the bad things you go through in

seventh grade. First of all you have to take the SAT test.
In elementary school you didnt have to worry about this
kind of thing. The SAT test is like eating stale food
because it can hurt you and it can be boring. The tests
get harder as you go on. We have so many of them they
can cause a major stress and make you feel like your
stomach was just pulled out. At my elementary school we
got out fifteen minutes earlier. Sitting in math class for
that extra minutes makes me feel terrible inside.

Did you find the transitions? What are the

key ideas? How does he explain his key
ideas? What is the metaphor?

25

Look back to your outline before

writing the fourth paragraph
things that are both good & bad
Field Trips
-miss school
-might be boring
PE
-clothes sweat
-fun to play and compete
Homework
-too much
-pull up grades
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Finally my next category is going to be things that

come good and bad. First field trips are extremely fun
because you can talk and miss school. However its bad if
you go somewhere boring or cant sit with your friend.
Everybody loves P.E. because we play real sports with
competitiveness. But sadly when were leaving PE, my
clothes get sweaty which doesnt feel good. Everybody
knows the pluses and minuses of Homework! We have so
much homework it just takes the energy out of you, which
is bad. What is good about it is that the more homework
you have, the better chance you have to pull up your
grade.

Did you find the transitions? What are the key ideas?
How does he explain his key ideas?
27

Now we are ready for the fifth

paragraph the conclusion which will
summarize our main points or key
Good and
things
ideas
inbad
the
body.
freedom
changing classes
SAT test
going to school longer
tests
Good and Bad
Homework
PE
Fieldtrips

28

In conclusion the seventh grade has good and bad things

involved. Such as more freedom, and changing classes.
Some other things are SAT test, going to school longer, and
quizzes and tests. Homework, P.E., and field trips fall into
both of those categories.

What are your transitions? Does the writer

sum up what he written? Does he refer back
to the introduction.
This paragraph was from an actual essay
written by a student for the state writing
assessment. His organization gave him a four.
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Whoops! What did we forget?

Did you think title? You are right!
How about The Good and Bad Things About Seventh
Grade
Nah Boring. Interesting titles have an action word.
How about- Good and Bad Things Happen in
Seventh Grade better
How about Seventh Grade, Good or Bad- You Be the
Judge

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Remember we said to leave a little

space at the top. Lets look at a
classmates essay and see why
What My Near Future Would Be Like
Ive always found the solving of crimes
by DNA evidence to be interesting. A
forensic scientist is doctor who examines
data. In the near future I would like to

become a forensic scientist and help solve

crimes. The steps I would have to take to
achieve my goals are finishing school,
practice the procedure of my major, and
Afterberereading
she in
came
back to add
successful
everything
I do.a little background

information. This is an important step Reread to

IMPROVE.

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Now Lets Look At Narrative

Tell

about a time
Write a story
Chronological

Do you think
there is a love

sequence of events
Dialogue
Action
Problems, conflicts
Beginning, Middle,
End
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S T O R Y T IT L E
I n t r o d u c t io n

Use this
type of
web for
a
Narrative

E ven t
E ven t

E ven t

CLIMAX

E ven t
E N D IN G
33

Some typical story transition

words
Typically transitions
One

day

Suddenly

are about time. After,

before, since, later

During
Until
Yesterday
Meanwhile
Afterwards
While
34

How to get your story rolling

Begin

by
describing a
character.
LaDarius Smith,
a star on our
school
basketball
team, is very
lucky.
35

Get the story rolling with

dialogue
Whats that smell?
the seventh graders
complained.
Finish your experiment
and well head
outside to get away
from it, said their
teacher.

What punctuation goes

with the words said?
Did you say quotation
marks? Youre right!

36

Get the story rolling

Provide a where with
prepositional phrases:
Near the park
Below the surface of
the water
In Chicago
Throughout the
crowded room
Inside the lunchroom
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Heres an excellent beginning by one of

your classmates at Arrington.

It was an early Tuesday

morning in Tokyo Japan.
The sun started to rise
over Juan Lees house.
Boom! Juan Lee and his
friend Jen went to see
what was with all of the
commotion. Then the
door came crashing
down. It turned out that
Juans Aunt Lee kicked
the door down.

How does he start his

story? How does he grab
interest?

38

Can you tell which passage is

narrative and which is expository?
Marty and I jumped to our
feet. Ohhhh. I heard Marty
let out a frightened moan.
I started to back away. I
thought maybe I could
scramble out the other side of
the car.
But the snarling, growling
monsters came at us from
both sides. L-leave us
alone. I stammered.
A monster covered in tangled
brown fur opened

Expository

After Christopher
Columbuss voyages to the
New World, many Spaniards
came to this continent to
explore. One Spanish
explorer was Ponce De
Leon. He traveled through
present-day Florida to find
the Fountain of Youth. A
second explorer, Coronado
searched for the Seven
Cities of Gold. He and his
men traveled

Narrative

39

Put it all together and write!

Does

this give you an overall review of

what weve studied for writing?
There are many things that fit together to
help us become excellent writers.
Text
Text
Text

Tex
t
Text

Tex
t

Text
Text
Text
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Summary
Identify

your prompt
Plan your work with an outline.
Give your work a title with an action word.
Grab interest in the beginning
Build your paragraph with explanations, examples,
& evidence following the topic statement or key
statement.
Use strong action words
Use vivid adjectives
Use metaphors
Finished? Reread & reread to improve and clarify.
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Credits
Created by Chris Browning for Arrington Middle
School, Birmingham City Schools
Maureen Autum Step Up to Writing Program
Birmingham City Schools workshops presenters
Jerrie Foster, Gail Brown, Theresa Thomas,
Jacquelyn Washington, Janet McMiller
State of Alabama workshop presentations Rhonda
Silmon Teaching clear thinking before writing.
Lecture Demonstration with Rick Shelton & Write
Where You Are!
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