Nonfiction Writing

Five tips for successful exposition.

TIP #1: STAY ON TOPIC ( a very narrow topic)
Activity: Graphic Organizer (model for the class)
* write a topic for the centre bubble
* write subtopics in the branching bubbles
* select one of the branching bubbles and start a new web
* keep going until you have a narrow topic

TIP#2: CHOOSE THE RIGHT DETAILS (meat and bones)
Activity: An outline of a person (copy for each student)
* convince the class why their favourite celebrity, athlete, or role model is the best at what they do
* fill in the outline with supporting details
* share their work with the class

TIP#3: SKIP THE EXTRAS
Activity: Cut up sentence strips in an envelop
* use news stories, but add some additional sentences that are related, but don't belong
* students can work in groups to identify the extraneous information

TIP#4: USE SEVERAL SOURCES
Activity: Interview family members
* talk to family members about an important event
* the children record the different responses
* the student then writes a single paragraph that incorporates their various interviews
* discuss with the class how people remember things differently, but how combining the memories results in a richer piece of writing

TIP#5: OFFER A CONCLUSION
Activity: Teacher prepared yes-or-no questions (Do you think the Pioneer children were happy with their homemade toys?)
* students are required to make inferences about the topics they are studying
* work in small discussion groups and share responses with the class (Why did groups answer the way they did?)
* talk about how we go from facts to conclusions
-Hannah Trierweiler (Instructor Nov./Dec. 2007)