Japan - Land of the Rising Sun

1. Learn how to write and explanatory paragraph.

EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH

Your main purpose in an explanatory paragraph is to give information about a subject. You may give directions, present ideas, or explain how to do something. An explanatory paragraph uses transitions such as first, then, after, and finally.

Getting started

1. Draft

Write an interesting introduction. Use any one of the several possible starting points.

a. Begin with a funny story.

b. Challenge your readers with a thought-provoking question.

c. Open with an impressive or fitting quotation.

d. List all your main points and treat your subject in a very serious, straightforward manner.

e. Provide a dramatic eye-opening statement.

2. Organize the ideas.

See to it that you use cohesive devices to connect your paragraphs or ideas.

3. Conclusion

Add a conclusion that reminds the reader of the main idea of the paragraph.

4. Check and revise.

Review your first draft to see how you feel about your writing. Use these questions as basic guide when you review.

a. Is the content interesting and worth remembering?

b. Is the style natural and effective in conveying my message?

c. Are there major parts that are unclear?

d. How can I improve my explanatory paragraphs?

5. Make changes.

Improve your writing by making changes until it says exactly what you want to say. Consider the following revising strategies:

a. Look at the big picture. Is there a focus or main idea? If none, write one focus statement.

b. Check specific information bits. Do they need to be rearranged to make them more effective?

c. Remove any information that doesn’t support your topic. Do I need to add more information? Are some parts unclear that they need to be reworded?

d. Go over your writing style. Are my ideas interesting, colorful, and smooth-reading?

6. Finalize

Write the final draft of your paper and proofread to check errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Let's Practice!

Echoes by Pat Mora

I sipped white wine

with the women in cool dresses

and sculpted nails shimmering

in the May heat as our children

whacked the piñata whirling

in the desert wind, candy

and colored paper carelessly tossed.

In her white uniform, Magdelena

set the table remembering such laughter

at fiestas in Zacatecas, enjoying

the afternoon’s songs and games,

trying to snare English words floating

in the air like the children’s

carefree balloons.

Her smile wavered when I spoke

to her in Spanish. Perhaps she wondered

why I’d leave the other señoras,

join her when she served, why I’d

drift to the edge.

Again and again I hear: Just drop the cups and plates

On the grass. My maid

Will pick them up.

Again and again I feel

My silence, the party whirring round me.

I longed to hear this earth

Roar, to taste thunder, To see proper smiles twist

As those black words echoed

In the wind again and again

Just drop...

My maid

Just drop...

My maid

Perhaps my desert land waits

To hear me roar, waits to hear

Me flash: NO. NO.

Again and again.

Write an expository paragraph about the poem Echoes by Pat Mora.

Read and study how a student responded to this activity through the model below.

Example

(1) The topic sentence that identifies the general topic of the paragraph.

(2) The directional sentence that names the supports or examples that will be used.

(3) Three supporting examples to illustrate or explain the topic, presented in the same order as in the directional sentence.

(4) The summarizing sentence to remind the reader of the three supports or examples.

(5) The closing sentence that strongly confirms the topic and may include a call to action.

Google Classroom

Class Code: g7n6szv