Page 32 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade7_Flipbook

ACTIVITY 2
Writing a Class Essay
WRITING PROMPT: Think about an activity that you enjoy or do very well. You might choose a sport, a hobby, or a pastime. With your class, write a multi-paragraph essay that explains this activity in detail. Be sure the essay meets the requirements listed in the learning targets for writing an effective expository essay:
• Presents effective introductory and concluding paragraphs. • Contains a clearly stated purpose or controlling idea.
• Is logically organized with appropriate facts and details.
• Includes no extraneous information or inconsistencies.
• Accurately synthesizes ideas from several sources.
• Uses a variety of rhetorical devices.
• Uses a variety of sentence structures
• Uses a variety of transitions within and between paragraphs.
Prewriting
1. Reread and mark the writing prompt above to clarify the task.
2. Write notes here about your ideas for the essay. Be prepared to share them
with the whole class.
3. In addition to your prewriting brainstorming, examine the resources your teacher has provided about the topic. What examples can you gather from these resources that will be helpful in writing an informational expostitory essay? Are there experts you could consult?
4. To create an effective draft of your expository essay, you will need a thesis to provide focus for the essay. A thesis is not the title of the esssay (for example, Computers) or an announcement of the subject to the reader (In this essay, I will tell you about computers.) A thesis is the point the writer is making about that subject. With the class, generate a one-sentence working thesis statement that makes a point about a subject.
Drafting the Essay
5. With your class, create an outline for the body paragraphs of the essay. As you create the outline, think about how to organize the information in your essay. How will you present your information in a logical way?
Writing Workshop 3 • Expository Writing: Writing to Inform 5
© 2017 College Board. All rights reserved.