ALEX Learning Activity

Expository Essay: Writing Prompt & Rubric

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Jessica Byrd
System:Butler County
School:Butler County Board Of Education
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2807
Title:
Expository Essay: Writing Prompt & Rubric
Digital Tool/Resource:
Expository Essay: Writing Prompt & Rubric
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

This resource includes a writing prompt and a rubric. The focus of this resource is expository writing. The document includes space for students to compose their essays within the resource. A rubric is provided to students for self-assessment. 

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 9
9. Compose both short and extended narrative, informative/explanatory, and argumentative writings that are clear and coherent, use an appropriate command of language, and demonstrate development, organization, style, and tone that are relevant to task, purpose, and audience.

Examples: paragraphs, constructed responses, essays

a. Write a memoir, narrative essay, or personal or fictional narrative to convey a series of events, establishing a clear purpose and using narrative techniques.

Examples: dialogue, pacing, description, reflection

b. Write explanations and expositions that incorporate evidence, using transitions and techniques that objectively introduce and develop topics.

Examples: relevant and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations

c. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning, relevant and sufficient evidence, transitions, and a concluding statement or section that follows from the information presented.
Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to compose an objective expository essay to explain a problem and offer solutions.

Students will be able to use transitions to communicate a message clearly and effectively.
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
After/Explain/Elaborate
Activity:

1. The teacher will share the Expository Essay: Writing Prompt with students by either adding it to their digital classroom or sharing it directly through email. 

2. Students will be prompted to make a copy of the resource. 

3. The teacher will explain the writing prompt to the students.

4. The teacher should review the rubric with the students before they begin writing.

5. The students should be given time to plan, draft, and revise their work.

6. The teacher will grade student work using the attached rubric and return it to students. It is suggested that teachers provide additional feedback in the document where appropriate. 
Assessment Strategies:

A rubric is included with the resource. This rubric will assess the following learning objectives: 

Students will be able to compose an objective expository essay to explain a problem and offer solutions.

Students will be able to use transitions to communicate a message clearly and effectively.

Additionally, the rubric will assess the student's ability to use support to develop their message and the student's command of conventions. 
Advanced Preparation:

Students should have been exposed to instruction on the main components of an expository essay and the writing process before completing this activity. The teacher will need to share the resource with students either by adding it to their digital classroom or by sharing it with students directly via email. 
Variation Tips (optional):

The resource can be adapted for use with a variety of expository writing prompts.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

This resource can be printed for pencil and paper use. 

Corresponding activities are available here--

Explanatory Writing: Building Background Knowledge

Expository Essay: Writing Lab
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: ELA202199b, essay, expository, informational, prompt, rubric, write, writing