Cat's Cradle and Expository Writing - Part 1
19 Abril 2016, 10:00 • Hilda Alexandra Prazeres Eusebio
Over the semester, the class has been looking at four traditional modes of discourse.
So far, we have looked at:
- Descriptive
- Persuasive/Argumentative
- Narrative
Today, we looked at: Expository.
- Expository writing is a type of writing that is used to explain, describe, give information, or inform.
- The text is organized around one topic and developed according to a pattern or combination of patterns.
- The writer of an expository text cannot assume that the reader or listener has prior knowledge or prior understanding of the topic that is being discussed.
- Since clarity requires strong organization, one of the most important mechanisms to improve skills in exposition is to improve the organization of the text.
- The patterns shown below are frequently used to create an expository essay. Additionally, more than one pattern may be used within an expository essay.
http://web.gccaz.edu/~mdinchak/ENG101/expository_writing.htm
Students will be getting in to groups to produce a piece of expository writing, i.e. an essay on Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s Cat's Cradle.
This will be done in class over the next few classes (just like with the persuasive piece).
To do this, we must first look at the themes of the novel:
- the dangers of technology, weapons of mass destruction, etc.
- love, maturity and responsabiltiy;
- science vs. religion or art/literature;
- love vs. knowledge;
- knowledge vs. belief;
- the visible vs. the invisible;
- etc.
Students struggled with this! Okay, you didn't like the novel....I get the picture!
Studendts got into groups and did the following:
- choose a theme;
- write up a thesis;
- organize the body of the essay;
- begin looking for evidence/quotes in the novel.
Students will be writing the full essay next class.