1. Expository Writing
Latoya Jackson
Boise State University

3. •
•
•
•
Pick a topic
Find facts and details
Grow your ideas
Group and organize your
ideas
• Know your vocabulary
• Describe, describe, describe

4. • The goal: to tell your reader about a topic
• Pick a topic that you find interesting
• Brainstorm what you already know

5. • Choose 5 topics that
sound interesting
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Bears
Great Horned Owl
Wolves
Sea Otter
Sloth

6. Sloths
What do you already
know about your
topic?
Tree-Dwelling
Sleeps 20 hours per day
What do you want to
learn about your
topic?
What have you learned
about your topic?
Where do they live?
What does their diet
consist of?
Who are their enemies and
how do they defend
themselves?
Repeat chart for second choice and choose your topic!

7. You’ve chosen your topic now it’s time to do some
research
Where can you find facts and details?
–
–
–
–
School library
Library Spot http://libraryspot.com/must/britannica.htm
BrainPop http://www.brainpop.com
Ivy’s Search Engine Resources For
Kidshttp://ivyjoy.com/rayne/kidssearch.html
– Fact Monster http://www.factmonster.com
*For the full list of resources visit your class blog*

9. Use Words That are Related to
Your Topic
Sloths
Topic-Related
Words
Non-Topic Related
Words or Phrases
Habitat
Home
Herbivore
Eats Plants
Species
Type of Sloth

10. Use descriptive words to draw the reader in to your paper