Highlights: Wk 5 Sess 1_L02

Warm up exercise: Word Game

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Recap

• Module 2
• Writing purpose and audience
• Difference between general writing and academic writing
• Expository essays
• Some implications on Assignment 1

Recap

• Module 1
• Dealing with unfamiliar vocabulary
• Affixes
• Scanning

Writing purpose and intended audience

Academic writing is:

• clear
• concise
• focused
• structured and
• supported by evidence

Writing purpose and intended audience

The purpose is to aid readers' understanding

Even though it has a formal tone and style, try to make your writing reader-friendly.

With a targeted audience in mind, the following should be carefully considered.

• how much background information should be given,
• what tone and style and jargon terms should be used,
• whether definitions should be provided.

Writing purpose and intended audience

Summary

Non-academic writing

• no specific rules to follow when communicating and conveying your message and ideas

Academic writing

• more structured
• adhere to specific rules in terms of what you are writing and who you are writing for

Expository essays

What is an expository essay?

a type of academic writing that writers

• investigate an idea; evaluate evidence; explain the idea and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner
• has frequent references to sources and/or evidence

Expository essays

The writer of an expository essay

• cannot assume that the audience has prior knowledge or understanding of the topic
• should present evidence, examples or definitions to enhance the readers' understanding instead

Expository essays

Types and purposes of expository essays

• Descriptive essay: explains an issue in detail and provides examples to help readers better understand the issues
• Cause-and-effect essay: explains why an issue occurred and the impact brought about by it

Expository essays

Types and purposes of expository essays

• Comparison and contrast essay: identifies and explains the similarities and differences of different aspects of an issue
• Process/Sequential essay: explains processes or describes events over a period of time

Expository essays

Types and purposes of expository essays

• Problem-solution essay: identifies an issue, provides details and examples, and suggests solutions to tackle the issue

Expository essays

Assignment 1 is of the problem-solution type.

As a member of Food Wise Hong Kong, you are required to

• identify the food waste problem,
• provide details and examples related to the seriousness and causes, and
• suggest solutions to tacke the food waste problem in Hong Kong

Identifying essay types

Activity 2.4

Read the following extracts and identify the type of expository essay for each extract based on its organizational structure.

Hints: essay types in Activity 2.3

Descriptive essay; Cause-and-effect essay; Comparison and contrast essay; Process/Sequential essay; Problem-solution essay

Identifying essay types

Extract 1

Identifying essay types

Extract 1:

Comparison and contrast essay

Compare and contrast online learning and traditional face-to-face learning

Identifying essay types

Extract 2

Identifying essay types

Extract 2:

Cause-and-effect essay

explain why more university students in Australia choose online study and the benefit of online study

Identifying essay types

Extract 3

Identifying essay types

Extract 3:

Problem-solution essay

potential eye problems and the solution

Identifying essay types

Point to remember:

Clarity and conciseness are two important elements in expository essays. They require strong organization so one of the most important mechanisms in developing expository essays is to improve the organization.

Writing Process

Writing process of expository essays can be divided into 3 main phases:

• pre-writing
• while-writing
• post-writing

Writing Process

Activity 2.6 (P.7)

Listen to the dialogue and complete the flowchart on the writing process.

Writing Process

Activity 2.6 (P.7)

purpose of writing

audience

topic

Brainstorm

research

Read

Writing Process

Activity 2.6 (P.7)

organise

draft

citations

Writing Process

Activity 2.6 (P.7)

coherence

self

peer

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substituting

information

Writing process

Summary

For Tips for making writing easy, please refer to P.8

Writing involves coming up with ideas, creating content, addressing and adequately informing about the topic, incorporating research and facts for validity, presenting the information in an organized format, and polishing the final presentation with regards to word choice, spelling, grammar, usage, and punctuation.

Thesis statement and topic sentence

Thesis statement:

• acts as a road map
• a strong statement that you can prove with evidence
• tells the readers what to expect from the rest of the paper

Thesis statement and topic sentence

• It covers only what will be discussed in the paper.
• It should be supported by specific evidence and have an angle/point of view/stance/attitude towards an issue.
• It is found in the last sentence of the introduction.

Thesis statement and topic sentence

Topic sentence:

• a sentence at the beginning of each body paragraph that states the main idea of the paragraph
• a strong set of topic sentences will work together to support a thesis

Thesis statement and topic sentence

Example (Activity 2.8):

Thesis statement:

• The pressures of higher education in Hong Kong have led to increased stress among students and the problem can be solved by
• putting greater effort into addressing the stress faced by students within the education system in Hong Kong,
• changing the current 'spoon-feeding' teaching style to a more student-centred teaching style with interactive activities which require critical thinking, and
• introducing programmes to help students gain self-esteem and increase their resilience and coping skills