Expository Writing

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Expository Writing

• Week Two
• Getting started
• Dr. M. Connor

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Prewriting techniques

• Freewriting
• Brainstorming
• Clustering
• Hybrid of the two
• The W H Questions (Reporters questions
• Asking your own questions

3
Freewriting

• Free writing is just what it sounds like. You
  just write whatever pops into your head, no
  matter how silly it is.
• Silliness is helpful to the creative process, so
  dont hold back!

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Timing is everything

• Say to yourself, I will brainstorm on this topic
  for say, five/ten/fifteen minutes.
• I use a kitchen timer to time myself sometimes!
• Now I usually use my cell phone.

5
Whats the point?

• The point of freewriting is to write so quickly
  that ideas can flow without comments from your
  inner critic.
• Who is the inner critic?
• Its the voice inside your head that says Thats
  a dumb idea! Cross that out!
• This lets you say back Thank you for your
  opinion. Once I have a lot of ideas and words on
  the paper, Ill invite you back for comment.

6
Computer writing tip

• If you write on a computer, try turning off the
  screen and writing blind.
• Almost every time I try this with students, they
  are suprised that they write more than when they
  can see what they are writing!

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Brainstorming

• Just quickly writing down everything that comes
  to mind on a certain topics.
• I will brainstorm on this topic for say,
  five/ten/fifteen minutes.

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Then what?

• After you have brainstormed, read over your list,
  underlining interesting or exciting ideas that
  you might develop further.

9
Clustering

• Some writers use clustering or mapping to get
  their ideas on paper.
• To begin, simply write an idea or topic, usually
  one word, in the middle of a piece of paper.
• Then make associations and add them in branches.
  You can then branch off them.

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Clustering example

• Example based on rain forest

Alternate medicines
medicine
animals
extinction
plants
exploitation
extinction
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Hybrid

• First you brainstorm a while then see what works
  together

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Reporters six questions

• Newspaper reporters often answer six basic
  questions at the beginning of an article
• Who
• What
• Where
• When
• Why
• How

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On the rainforest

• What- rainforest exploitation
• Why - overuse of raw materials
• Who - natives and others
• Where - Brazil
• When - now
• How - how does this happen?
• Key question that will lead me to topics I can
  write about

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Your own questions

• If the reporters six questions are too
  confusing, you can always ask your own questions.

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Some examples

• What do I know about this topic?
• What would I like to know about this topic?
• Where can I get more information?
• What would I like to focus on?
• What is my point of view?

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Further information

• For more information on prewriting, you can check
  out these websites
• OWL at Purdue--Paper planning
• Hatching new ideas
• English Works! From Galludet University