Marcia L. Gerencser
Expository Writing
The Blackfeet Indians have passed down the myth “Sky Dogs” which recounts how horses came to be in the life of the Blackfeet Indians. An expository writing prompt will be employed to explain how horses came to these people. After reading and discussing this myth review the prerequisites for expository writing.(13)
Expository writing is writing that informs or explains a topic to a reader. Begin by following these foundational steps.
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1.
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Consider your topic: what are the facts that you want to cover.
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2.
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Consider your purpose: what is your reason for writing
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3.
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Consider your audience: who will read or listen to your writing.
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4.
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Gathering information: select the material or ideas that you want to include in your writing.
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5. Elaboration: add details to make your writing more interesting.
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Each writing will follow the M6DF pattern which is described below.
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Each writing exercise shall be composed of 5 paragraphs.
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2.
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Each paragraph shall have a MAIN IDEA.
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3.
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Each paragraph shall have 6 sentences.
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4.
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Review each paragraph and add in DETAILS.
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5.
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The last sentence in each paragraph should express some FEELING.
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The prompt should read as follows:
You are a horse appearing for the first time on Earth and to beings that you have never seen before. You regard these h as being very odd and you are confused as to what they look like, how they sound and what they do. Write to a horse friend in your homeland about these people. Describe three things about them that you find very different, amusing or frightening.
Having the children write from the point of view of the horse win expose them to the literary term personification. It will help them to understand how the Indian gave humanness to all living things.
