Expository Paragraphs


Expository paragraphs are non-fiction. They give reasons, facts, or details to support a main idea. We use a stoplight to help us remember how to organize an expository paragraph. Students often use colored strips as one way to organize their writing. An example of a stoplight expository paragraph with colors is:
Rancho San Antonio

Topic Sentences (Green)

Power Statements:
Definition: Power (number) Statements: contain a number in the topic sentence to help to focus the writer and reader on the information to follow. Helpful number words include: Two A few Numerous Plenty of Three Some A number of Four Many A myriad of A couple Several Various Rules For Using Power Or Number Words In A Topic Sentence: 1. A power or number statement can be long or short.2. A power or number sentence contains a number word.3. The number or power word tells the reader that the writer will present a certainamount of information. Example Topic Sentences that Use Power or Number Words: 1. In the winter, I enjoy doing a variety of winter activities.2. The new orchestra students learned two ways to improve their playing.3. Second graders learned two ways to write topic sentences.4. My friends and I read many good books this year.

Reasons, Facts, and Details (Yellows)

Definition: The Yellows are the Reasons, Facts, and Details (RFD’s) that support the topic sentence. Transition words are used to let the writer/reader know that a new reason, detail, or fact is being introduced. Expository paragraphs may have two, three, or more RFD’s. Here are some basic transition words, but there are many others that fit special purposes. For example, In the spring...In the summer...In the fall....In the winter... Transition Words 1st Supporting Word 2nd Supporting Word 3rd Supporting Word First, Another, Next, First, Along with Likewise, First, In addition, Equally important, First, Also, Finally, First, After, Last, The first The second The third To begin, Next, Last, To start, After that, The last step First of all, Also, Next, First of all, The next Another First of all, In addition, Finally, It started when As a result, Therefore, One way Another way A third way For example, Also, All in all,

Examples, Explanations, Evidence, Elaboration (Reds)

The Reds are sentences that tell more about the Reasons, Facts, and Details by giving examples, explanations, evidence, or elaboration regarding the RFD’s. Reds “piggy-back” on and follow the Yellows. Sometimes, more than one Red may follow a Yellow. Some Yellows don’t need further elaboration. The E’s make the writing interesting and believable. (This is the hardest part for students!)

Conclusions (Green)

Definition: Conclusions are the last sentences in expository paragraphs. They should remind the reader of the topic. Conclusions should use key words or synonyms. The purpose of a conclusion is to summarize information, encourage readers, convince the audience, or challenge them to think. Rules: Writers should avoid writing things like, “Like I said,” or “That’s all about...” Good words to use in a conclusion sentence are: •All in all •Definitely •Obviously •Truly•Certainly •In conclusion •Surely •Clearly•In fact •To sum up
 Examples of some good conclusion sentences are: 1. Getting a good night's sleep is definitely important.2. To sum up, writing a paragraph is simple if you just remember to organize and use transitions.3. Clearly, Matsumoto is the best elementary school in San Jose. 4. Dogs are obviously awesome pets.

Personal Narratives


During the year, your children will be writing personal narratives, which are true stories from their lives. Our personal narrative units are meant not only to teach them qualities of good personal narrative writing, but they're also designed to help them develop stamina, focus, structure, detail, a sense of purpose, an appreciation for conventions, and an enthusiasm for writing.
You may wonder how you can help your child to prosper as a writer this year. The first thing we want to remind you is that for most of us, writing can be frightening. Please encourage your child by helping your child realize that daily life brims with stories that deserve to be told. When your family hears a noise behind the wall and you use a flashlight to find that the noise comes from a squirrel who has been living there, remind your child that this would make a great entry in his or her writer’s notebook! When you get the chance to see some of your child’s writing, for now, it would really help if you give your child what every writer needs above all: an interested, appreciative reader. Read your child’s writing not as a judge, but as a reader, paying attention to the content. If you do this, you will make your child feel like an author, and you’ll make it much more likely that your child will care about writing and will be ready to invest in the hard work required to grow as a writer.
Help your child be on the lookout for stories. Jog your memory of interesting things that have happened at home or on vacation, and talk about them with your child.

Great Short Answers

Students are often asked to write answers to questions. Great short answers use important or key words from the question, are written using complete sentences, and give details, examples, or explanations to support the answer. This strategy will help students write better answers on their assignments.
Here are some examples:
Question: Why do you think the animals wanted to move into Mrs. Brown’s house?Poor Answer: Because they wanted to see how it was.Good Answer: The animals wanted to move into Mrs. Brown’s house because they wanted to see how it was like to live there.

Question: How does Herbert Wong Yee make this story funny?Poor Answer: By adding funny details.Good Answer: Herbert Wong Yee made the story funny by adding many funny details.Great Answer: Herbert Wong Yee made the story funny by adding many funny details like animals flushing toilets and putting on makeup.

Question: Why wasn't the wolf able to blow down the third little pig's house?Poor answer: Because of some bricks.Fair Answer: The house was made of bricks.Good Answer: The wolf was not able to blow down the third little pig's house because the house was made of bricks.Great Answer: The wolf was not able to blow down the third little pig's house because the house was made of bricks. Bricks are heavy, so they can't be blown down easily.