Expository Essays: STAAR Review

Definition of Expository: Writing that analyzes and explains information to inform or educate
the reader; primary goal is to deliver information about an issue; also known as information or
informative writing.
Structure of Expository Essay: clear, concise thesis statement; clear, and logical transitions
between introduction, body, and conclusion; body paragraphs can include evidence and support;
evidential support may be factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal; creative; and a conclusion
that readdresses the thesis statement.
1. Expository Essay: prompts focus on issues that do not require students to have
any particular background knowledge or facts in order to write a good essay; and the task
requires students to clearly explain what they think about something.
2. Audience Awareness: the student is NOT trying to convince a reader to think a
certain way or to accept a single view as valid.
(a.) Students may use 1st or 3rd person point of view, though better to stay away
from one.
(b.) Prompts are written for you to give an explanatory response that reflects your
own thinking about your life and the world.
3. Remember, For STAAR and Benchmarks:
You will be provided one page of paper, 26 lines for essay. If done electronically,
your paper should be between 1500-1750 characters (with spaces).
Do NOT add lines or write outside the box.
Pre- write or outline before writing.
Check final copy for spelling, grammar, punctuation. Can use a dictionary on the
entire test (multiple choice section and compositions).

HELPFUL HINT: When trying to figure out ways to support your ideas with examples,
consider thinking about the following:
1. A personal experience.
2. A witnessed or heard about experience of someone else.
3. Facts, statistics, studies or research.
4. Film, Music or literature.
5. Historical Figures or Events

EXAMPLE OF A PROMPT AND ESSAY:

Read the following statement.

Think carefully about a law or rule that is in place to protect people.

Write an essay explaining the importance of one law or rule.
Be sure to

clearly state your thesis

organize and develop your ideas effectively
choose your words carefully
edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling

Read the following sample essay annotate for structure and organizational strategies.
Did you know that more than forty thousand reported deaths are caused from car accidents each
year? However, research has shown that more than half of these deaths could have been
prevented if the drivers/passengers followed the law and wore seat belts. This is why it is
important for everybody to follow seat belts laws and wear their seat belt: Seatbelts can prevent
injury and keep you alive.
Seat belts work to stop the person from hitting other parts of the car during collision. A person
traveling in a car traveling at 15 miles per hour is also traveling at the same speed. If the car
stops suddenly, the person inside the car would continue to move at the same speed until
something (steering wheel, windshield, etc.) stopped him/her. A person thrown from a vehicle at
30 miles per hour would hit these objects in the same manner as he/she would have hit the
pavement falling from a 3-story building. A seat belt, designed to tighten upon impact, stops the
body with the car, thus stopping a person from going forward in case of an accident.
Many wrongly believe that they do not need seat belts because they are not driving far, or fast.
They think they are not likely to get into an accident in a place that is very close and familiar, but
did you know that almost eighty percent of traffic deaths occur within 25 miles of a person's
home, with a person who was driving at a speed less than 40 miles per hour? They forget to
acknowledge although they can control their own actions behind the wheel, they have absolutely
no control on what happens outside of the car. What if another driver is speeding, texting, drunk,

or makes a mistake that results in a collision? If you are wearing a seatbelt, you are more likely
to survive the impact.
The evidence is clear. In many cases, seat belt usage prevents major injuries or death, and that is
why its important for people to follow the seat belt laws in place.
Sample Essay Excerpted and edited from http://www.tailoredessays.com/samples/expository-essay-onseatbelts.htm

Name: _____________________________________________ Date: ___________________

Period: ______
2015-2016 Brief Process Expository Essay Prompt
Read the following statement:

Rule of law is the most important element in any civil society.

Mo Ibrahim

Think carefully about one law or rule that is in place to protect people.
Write an essay explaining the importance of this one law or rule.
Be sure to
state your position clearly
use appropriate organization
provide specific support for your argument
choose your words carefully
edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling

Outline:
I.

Intro/Thesis

Hook:
Thesis: (2 examples)
II.

Example One and explanation

 Support- facts/personal
Support
III.

Example Two and explanation

Support
Support
IV.
Different words

Restate Thesis (in a new way) in a final sentence or paragraph