Conquer Expository Essay Writing Grades 6-9 -- 15-page Complete Lesson

This packet shows your students how to write a good expository composition, from scratch, under time pressure. I have taught expository composition writing for years, and I have helped many students achieve mastery on the state test and also high school and college-entrance compositions.

For college-bound students, improving their expository writing skill is worth the time and effort. Expository writing prompts are the go-to writing assignments for junior and senior-level AP tests, the ACT, many End-of-Course high school Literature courses, and many state assessments. For those students who aspire to go to college, becoming better at expository writing opens up more opportunities.

I have used topic examples from the 7th grade STAAR writing (state of Texas assessment). However, this lesson is not limited to junior high, or to Texas residents. It is a good general guide to planning and writing any timed expository essay.

The packet includes:

· Step-by-step suggestions on how to brainstorm, organize and write;

· A blank template page that can be adapted and used for any expository topic;

· A sample expository topic (often called a prompt), from a prior released STAAR test

· A page of brainstorming ideas for that topic, and suggestions on how to choose most effective ideas;

· A pre-writing page, using the template already given, on that specific topic

· A sample essay on that topic, written from the pre-writing page

· A second sample expository topic (often called a prompt), from a prior released STAAR test

· A page of brainstorming ideas for that second topic, and suggestions on how to choose the most effective ideas.

Two pre-writing pages and two sample essays on that second topic.

This lesson, comprising 15 total pages, takes at least three class periods to go over. It is intended as an introductory lesson before assigning an expository writing topic to your students.